Tropical fish are fun, colorful, and great pets. However, although they are easy to maintain animals, they require certain care. You will need to regularly clean the aquarium and feed them properly. Feeding is usually not complicated once you get to know your fish, although you will have to avoid making mistakes to keep your fish healthy and happy.
Find out how your fish eat
Each species likes food in a different way, since their mouths are designed to approach food in a certain way. You will have to look at your fish’s mouth to find out where in the aquarium it prefers to eat. Fish that rise to the surface, such as ax fish or gouramis, often have their mouths turned upward to reach for food. In contrast, fish that eat in the middle of the tank, such as tetras, have their mouths slightly forward and prefer food that sinks.
On the other hand, bottom-feeding fish, such as plecos or cory catfish, have their mouths facing downward. If you buy fish of this type you will have to buy heavy granules that sink to the bottom of the tank.
Do you know their diet?
There are many different species of tropical fish, so each one has a specific diet. Carnivorous fish like food rich in protein, so they likely have large mouths full of sharp teeth. If you have predatory fish, you should be very careful with the other fish in your aquarium, as they could try to eat them.
In contrast, herbivorous fish have smaller stomachs and flat teeth to digest plants and vegetables. You will have to feed them in small amounts and more regularly. Also, omnivorous fish tend to eat a wide variety of food, making them easier to care for.
If you have doubts about what type of diet your fish should follow, it is best to ask at a specialized pet store.
Most frequent mistakes
Like people, fish get bored of always eating the same thing. Therefore, you should vary his food from time to time. In addition, by changing the food you will be providing different nutrients, so it will be healthier and more colorful. You can also give them treats once a week, like shrimp or seaweed.
Also, if you have young fish (less than three months old) you will have to feed them more often but in smaller meals. If your fish is less than a month old, you may need to feed it up to six times a day, otherwise it could eat too much and damage its stomach.
