Fish need to be fed often, but what they eat and how much they eat are important for their health and well-being.
Commercial fish food makes feeding fish easy – just sprinkle some flakes or pellets into the tank and you’re done. But variety is important for your fish’s health. Feeding the same processed food day in and day out can lead to nutritional deficiencies over time
Luckily, there are many healthy, natural foods you can supplement with or use in place of fish food to give your fish a balanced diet
In this article, we’ll explore 15 nutrient-dense alternatives to standard fish food and the benefits they provide. We’ll also offer tips on how to feed these items safely. Read on to discover new options beyond boring flakes to keep your fish happy and healthy!
1. Blanched Vegetables
Vegetables like spinach, kale, zucchini, peas and lettuce provide vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber for fish. Blanche them briefly in boiling water, then cool and cut into small pieces before feeding to soften them up and remove any tough cell walls. Offer vegetables 2-3 times per week.
Vegetables are great for omnivorous fish like goldfish, mollies and plecos. Stick to green veggies and avoid starchy ones like potatoes which can pollute the water.
2. Fresh Fruits
Slices of apple, pear, melon and oranges give fish natural sugars and nutrients. But only feed soft, seedless fruits occasionally since excess sugar isn’t good for fish. Remove any tough peels first and cut into tiny cubes.
Try fruits like grapes for larger fish who can nibble on whole pieces. Or puree fruits like berries to feed as a liquid treat. The texture adds enrichment.
3. Cooked White Rice
Plain cooked rice provides carbohydrates for energy. Rinse it well to remove starch before feeding. Only offer small amounts once a week or less since it can dirty the water as it decays. But rice makes a nice supplemental treat.
Some fish even enjoy pecking at whole grains of rice. For smaller fish, crush into a fine powder first. Rice is great for bottom feeders like loaches and plecos.
4. Shelled Peas
Both fresh and frozen peas (fully thawed) are healthy for fish. Peas contain vitamin C, fiber, protein and carbohydrates. Rinse shelled peas before putting them into the tank, or smash larger ones so all your fish can eat them.
You can also boil peas briefly to soften them up before feeding. Peas work for any omnivorous fish species.
5. Shelled Edamame
Like peas, boiled shelled edamame provide plant-based protein, vitamins and minerals. Allow edamame to cool fully after cooking before placing a few pieces into the tank 1-2 times per week.
Pinch or cut bigger pieces in half for smaller fish. The bright green color and interesting texture make them an entertaining snack for both fish and their owners.
6. Meat and Seafood
Occasional bits of cooked lean meat or seafood offer quality protein for fish. Try a tiny pinch of minced chicken, turkey, beef, pork, salmon, shrimp or lobster. Ensure any seasoning is rinsed off first.
Only feed meat to larger carnivorous species like oscars a few times monthly to supplement their diet. Excess protein can harm some fish. Never feed raw meat due to bacteria risks.
7. Hard Boiled Egg Yolks
A few tiny bits of hard boiled egg yolk provide fatty acids, vitamins and minerals for fish. Egg yolks are easy to digest. Cool yolks fully before feeding to prevent heat damage. Yolks also add vivid color to delight both fish and aquarium viewers.
Egg yolks work for omnivores and carnivores but feed sparingly, like once a week. The high-fat content can cause issues if overfed. Rinse the yolks to remove any seasonings.
8. Unsalted Nuts
Crushed walnuts, almonds and other unsalted nuts in small amounts make a great treat. Their oils provide healthy fats while proteins and fiber add bulk. Use a mortar and pestle to grind nuts into a fine powder or meal for smaller fish.
Nuts are enjoyed by larger plant-eating fish like plecos. Only offer a pinch once a week or less since they can foul the water as they decay. Rinse nuts before feeding to fish.
9. Live or Frozen Brine Shrimp
Brine shrimp provide protein, fats, vitamins and minerals for omnivorous and carnivorous tropical fish. Feed thawed frozen shrimp or use a hatchery to provide live shrimp for maximum enrichment.
Use sinking pellets to target bottom-feeders. Limit brine shrimp to 1-2 times per week to prevent malnutrition from excess protein. Rinse frozen shrimp before use to remove any preservative residue.
10. Sinking Algae Pellets/Wafers
Made from concentrated aquatic plants and veggies, algae pellets provide fiber, vitamins and carbohydrates. They come in sizes perfect for nibbling by both small and large fish. The pellets sink, allowing bottom-feeders like plecos easy access.
Use algae pellets as your fish’s primary plant-based food 2-3 times per week in place of flake foods. Soak in tank water before feeding for softness. The slow breakdown won’t dirty the tank like raw plant matter.
11. Dried Mealworms/Bloodworms
Dried insect larvae like mealworms and bloodworms are packed with protein and healthy fats. They provide a crunchy, natural treat for carnivorous fish like bettas and tetras.
Use sinking larvae for mid and bottom-dwellers. Soak dried worms in tank water until soft before feeding for safety. Offer this high-protein food only occasionally, like once a week, to supplement the diet.
12. Raw Shelled Shrimp
A raw medium shrimp with the shell removed makes for an occasional fun feeding. The shell provides enrichment as fish nibble away at it. The remaining meat offers essential fatty acids and minerals.
Only offer raw shrimp to larger carnivorous fish who can eat it quickly before it decays. Remove uneaten portions within 4 hours. Never feed raw seafood to smaller, delicate fish due to bacteria risks.
13. Spirulina Powder
Spirulina is a supplement made from highly nutritious blue-green algae. It provides protein, vitamins, minerals, carotenoids and antioxidants. Simply mix a small pinch into a cup of tank water and pour it into the aquarium.
Target plant-eating fish that will appreciate the vegetarian nutrition boost. Feed spirulina powder 1-2 times per week. The vivid color excites fish at feeding time. Rinse the cup afterward to avoid contamination.
14. Sliced Zucchini
Zucchini is made up of mostly water, making it hydrating for fish. It also provides fiber, potassium, vitamins A, C and B6. Cut thin slices and parboil for 20 seconds before rinsing and feeding to soften it up.
The mild flavor and bright color entice omnivorous fish. Offer zucchini once a week for variety. Uneaten pieces should be removed within 4 hours before they begin decaying.
15. Crushed Oyster Shells
Finely ground oyster shell powder provides calcium and trace minerals for healthy bones, scales and teeth. Just a pinch twice a month sprinkled into the tank is sufficient. Target plant-eating fish and bottom-feeders.
Always use food-grade oyster shell powder meant for animals. Rinse the powder before feeding to remove dust. Proper calcium levels prevent skeletal deformities in fish.
Mix It Up for Variety
Offer two or more alternate foods per week to provide a balanced, interesting diet. Try different foods to see which your fish prefer.
Avoid feeding the same alternatives constantly. Variety ensures all nutritional needs are met. Supplement staple prepared foods with fresh fare.
By using healthy natural foods along with quality commercial diets, your fish will thrive on a diverse, enrichment-boosting menu.
General Feeding Tips
When trying alternative foods, keep these safety tips in mind:
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Wash produce and rinse off any seasonings before feeding to fish.
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Remove peels, seeds, shells or bones before feeding. Mash or cut into tiny pieces for small fish.
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Feed only what fish can consume quickly, within 2-3 minutes.
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Uneaten fresh foods should be removed after 4 hours maximum to prevent fouling the water as they decay.
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Avoid overfeeding. Offer small portions of alternatives once or twice per week along with regular fish food.
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Do not feed mammal or raw seafood to delicate fish due to bacteria risks.
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Soak dried items in tank water before feeding to rehydrate and soften them up.
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Turn off tank filtration for 30 minutes before and after feeding to allow fish access to foods before they wash away.
With a little creativity, you can give your fish delicious, healthy treats beyond basic flakes or pelle
What To Feed Your Fish | RSPCA – RSPCA
Fish need to be fed often, but what they eat and how much they eat are important for their health and well-being.
A well-balanced diet for pet fish
You need to buy the right type of food for your fish. For example, dont buy your goldfish tropical fish flakes. This is because they contain different levels of nutrients.
Its also important to supplement fish food flakes with other foods for balanced nutrition and enrichment.
For example:
- Goldfish love chopped vegetables such as peas and spinach.
- Tropical fish vary in what theyll eat. If the fish is frozen, make sure it is fully thawed first. Then, crumbled boiled egg yolk and lettuce leaf may work.
- Some types of plecos need to eat plants, like potatoes, or pieces of wood to chew on.
- Water fleas, also known as daphnia or brine shrimp, are great for tropical fish and are easy to find in frozen packs. Because they are high in protein, you should only give goldfish small amounts of them.
Different tropical fish species may need their food given to them in different ways. Middle and bottom-dwelling species will need their food in quickly sinking food or compressed food tablets. Nocturnal species, like some catfish, need to be fed last thing at night.
STOP Wasting Money On Fish Food! What is THE BEST Food For Your Fish?
What can I Feed my Aquarium Fish?
Cooked vegetables (peas, cauliflower, pumpkin, carrots, etc.), boiled or steamed, are great food alternatives to fish food flakes once in a while for your omnivorous and herbivorous aquarium fish. You can even feed some fish (goldfish and koi in particular) cooked rice or oatmeal.
What can I Feed my herbivorous fish?
And with small stomachs come frequent feedings! Here’s what you can feed herbivorous fish other than fish food flakes: Steamed/boiled root vegetables (broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, pumpkin, potatoes, etc.); Edible live aquatic plants (duckweed, Brazilian waterweed, Hygrophila).
What do fish eat in a tank?
Brine shrimps and blood worms are the most common live foods for fish in tanks. Live food is not just good for its fresh nutritional value; it also resonates with the fish’s natural instincts of hunting and finding food. Though live and fresh food would be welcomed most by your fish, feeding your fish on only these two can get pretty expensive.
What kind of food do fish eat?
Flake food is the type of dry food used for herbivore and omnivore fish. It contains a number of high protein ingredients like plankton, shrimp meal, and kelp. Planktons, brine shrimps, bloodworms and krill are some of the favorites of omnivore and carnivore fish. They can be freeze-dried.