Did you know that most fish are omnivorous? In other words, they need to eat both plant- and meat-based foods.
For those with pet fish, the easiest option is to use commercial fish food such as pellets or flakes; they contain all the nutrients that they need to thrive.
With that said, a varied diet can make your fish healthier. For example, you can feed them live foods.
Interested? Thinking of getting some for your tank? If so, you’re at the right place. We’ll be going over a few options below.
Keep reading to learn more!
Brine Shrimp
Brine shrimp, also known as sea monkeys, are tiny crustaceans that are naturally found in saline lakes and ponds. One great thing about them is that you can easily grow them yourself.
Start by filling a two-liter bottle 3/4 full with saltwater. Next, add an air stone; that’ll help aerate the water. Add one to two teaspoons of brine shrimp eggs and place the bottle under a light. Hatching should occur within 24 to 48 hours.
Once the shrimp have hatched, you can use a dropper to remove them from the bottle and place them where you want them to go.
Grindal Worms
Grindal worms are small, non-parasitic worms that make excellent live food for a variety of fish, including those in a saltwater aquarium. Compared to other types of worms, they’re easy to keep and can tolerate both warm and cool temperatures.
While you can start a culture yourself, it’s probably easier to get a kit; it’ll come with everything you need to get started. If anything, you’ll just need to provide some grow media (e.g., coconut fiber, potting soil, peat moss) and a container.
You’ll also have to feed the worms. For instance, you can use oatmeal, vegetables, or aquarium food such as fish flakes.
Feeder Fish
Feeder fish refers to inexpensive fish that are commonly used as live prey for predatory fish. Some examples include guppies, platies, mollies, and minnows.
Assuming that you get them from the pet store, it’s highly recommended that you quarantine them (in a separate tank) for at least two weeks before feeding them to your fish. That way, you won’t be introducing any diseases or parasites to your fish tank.
Or if you want, you can breed your own feeder fish; that’ll give you an endless supply of live foods for your aquarium.
All you need is a breeding tank. You can either use one large tank (20 gallons) or two smaller tanks. The former will allow you to keep the fry and smaller fish separate from the larger feeders.
Feeding Your Fish Live Foods
And there you have it—three types of live foods that you can feed to your fish. As you can see, there are several types to choose from. At the end of the day, it all depends on what you (and your fish) prefer.
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