Watching your fish frolic is mesmerizing. They dazzle and dive from end to end, effortlessly gliding through the water. Whether it’s a fish in a bowl or a miniature marine ecosystem in an aquarium, our fish brings us joy just like the rest of our pets, even if we can’t cuddle the little slime balls. Because we care about our fish, we want to make sure they’re getting the best care possible, so continue reading for some answers to frequently asked questions regarding the feeding and general care of your fish.
How frequently should I feed my fish?
The final determining factor here is the specific type of fish that you have, because every species is different from the next. In general, however, the majority of fish require feeding AT LEAST once per day, and many people will feed their fish once in the morning and once in the evening. While this is usually a fine practice, some suggest feeding your fish very small amounts 4-6 times each day to mimic natural feeding habits. For more information, ask local experts for breed-specific advice on feeding your fish.
How much should I feed my fish at a time?
The best way to answer this question is by conducting a small experiment. You don’t want to feed your fish more than it can eat, so sprinkle some food into the water and then let the fish eat for three to four minutes. The amount eaten in this time will be the appropriate amount of food to feed your fish in the future.
Can fish be overfed?
Absolutely. Fish will eat even when they’re not hungry, so it’s up to you to make sure they’re not overfed. Overfed fish can become overweight and less active. Permanent body deformation is also a common result of overfeeding.
How often should I change my fish’s water?
If you have a fishbowl with a goldfish, Betta fish or another common species, it is recommended that you switch out the water at least every other day. Make sure that you are using distilled water each time. To make your own distilled water, simply set out tap water for at least 24 hours so that fish-harmful chemicals may dissipate from the liquid.
If you have a tank or aquarium, you should plan on doing tankwater maintenance at least once per week, although you probably won’t be changing all of the water every time. Commonly, a water change will be about 10% to 20% of the water in the tank, with the goal being to allow nitrate, nitrite and ammonia levels to balance.
Admittedly, this is a very limited FAQ that is meant to answer only beginner questions about fish care. We want people to realize that having a fish isn’t a completely hands-off pet ownership – there’s a lot of work that goes into making your fish’s environment a healthy and happy place to live. If you have any more technical questions about fish care, don’t hesitate to ask. If you need someone to drop in and feed or care for your fish, we would love to meet them! As always, thanks for reading.