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The word fish is an all-encompassing term used to describe every aquatic organism, such as ray-finned fishes, sharks, whales, lampreys, and coelacanths, to name a few. Besides being an aquatic organism, fish is a major source of protein to man. As a matter of fact, statistics provided by the Food and Agriculture Organization show that fish alone constitute 16% of the total protein consumed by man. Judging by such statistics, one fact is clear – fish is very significant to man, and as such, activities like fishing or fish farming are capable of offering a huge string of incomes to its proprietor. It is, however, imperative to know that besides being a good source of food and income, there exists a huge percentage of people that keep fish as pets. Irrespective of the reason why we love fish (either for farming, fish keeping, or consumption), it imperative we know what fish eats, as no knowledge is lost.
A pond is a small still body of water that is formed naturally or artificially and used majorly in fish farming. Types of pond fishes are goldfish, koi carps, and fathead mommies, etc. most pond fish are omnivores and are open to a wide range of diet. That being said, there are four categories of what pond fish feed on.
For most fishes to survive, they require a certain level of protein (usually high in amino acid). As a result, it is good to provide pond fishes with food rich in protein. This protein can be derived either from animals or plants. Pond fishes like goldfish and koi are capable of eating insects, flies, small snails, tiny fish, silkworm, blood worms. A major component of Protein plant-based feed is water lettuce and water lily. While younger fish require more level of protein in their feed, it is imperative that it is introduced in bits as excess might lead to several complications.
Fish like every other living organism requires a certain level of energy to carry out its activity efficiently and effectively, and as such, it is required that carbohydrates constitute 10% of a pond fish diet. That being said, it is important to give pond fish the required level of carbohydrates by giving them food like raspberries, broccoli, shelled peasants Cheerios, etc.
Fish with a low level of fats in their diet tend to witness stunted growth and deformity. Besides being a strong supplier of metabolism in fish, it also serves as nature’s insulator. Hence it is important that you feed your pond fish with food rich in fats like brine shrimp and soybean meal.
The ocean, besides being a huge body of water, is a natural habitat for several plants and animals like fish. Fish in the ocean can be grouped into three classes, which are herbivores (plant eaters), carnivorous (meat-eaters), and omnivores (plant and meat-eaters). A typical example of herbivorous fish is rabbit fish, parrotfish, and damsel fish. They are known to eat plants like turfs, sargassum, and funnel weed, to name a few.
Carnivores, on the other hand, are fishes that eat small fish, insects, crustaceans, and larvae. Since most carnivorous fishes are predators, they possess sharp pointed teeth that give them the added advantage when chasing prey, examples being piranha, hatchet fish, tuna, etc. Although carnivores can eat plants if they desire, they can’t derive any nutrients from it as their digestive system isn’t built to digest vegetables.
There are fishes in the ocean that can be classified as omnivores; on the other hand that has the ability to derive nutrients from meat and vegetable matter and, as such, consume a wide range of food. Examples of omnivores fish are freshwater angelfish and barb.
Yes and no. Of a fact, fish based on their feeding pattern can be grouped into three classes, which are herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores. From that classification, it can be further deduced that fish in the same class eat basically the same thing. However, the diet of a fish is based on factors such as water temperature, breed, and size. Hence small and big fish might eat the same food, but in different quantities, as small fish require food with high protein content than their much older counterpart. In some omnivores, small fish tend to eat only animal diets and begin consuming plants when they increase in size.
After establishing that different fish consume different kinds of food, we must understand that feeding your pet fish is a different thing altogether. There is a plethora of commercially prepared fish food that is commonly used for feeding pet fish. They include
We have flake food for all kinds of fish. Tropical flake food is specially made for freshwater fish living in groups (referred to as community fish), while marine flake food serves the dietary needs of the saltwater fish. Cichlids, bettas, and goldfish shouldn’t be exposed to generic food as they have their own formulated flake foods specially made for them. When it comes to pet food diets, flakes are among the easiest, just sprinkle the surface of your fish pond with a few flakes and watch as the fishes swim up to the surface to feed. However, you should guard against overfeeding.
This kind of fish diet comes in sinking or floating variety and are prepared to satisfy the dietary requirement of some specific kinds of fish. Pellets are best suited for larger breeds like groupers, oscars, and cichlids. Ensure that the pellets are not too big for the fish as it can result in severe indigestion issues.
Frozen and freeze-dried foods include brine shrimp, bloodworms, plankton, krill, and many more. All these make wonderful treats that can be used as supplements to a regular fish diet. They can be bought off pet stores in your locality and can be preserved in the freezer. These tasty treats can be enjoyed by your pet fish, but your best bet is to go for the frozen or freeze-dried varieties. This is because; a fish can get infected by eating live food such as worms.
If your pet fish falls under the omnivores or herbivores groups, you might consider feeding with spirulina, which is highly nutritious. Seaweed is commercially prepared in dried sheets and can be purchased from the pet stores and fed to your fish, but you must apply caution.
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