The most essential thing to keep in mind about feeding is that overfeeding is one of the most typical causes of pollution in aquariums. The appetite of fish is linked with environment, the warmer the natural conditions, the quicker they breathe and grow (in reality, the entire procedure is speeded up) and also the much more they’ll wish to eat.
Cold-water fish don’t eat as a lot as tropical, under conditions which are regular to both. At a lower temperature than that to which they’re accustomed, tropicals lose their appetite, but you are able to persuade them to regain this by raising the temperature.
The very best technique would be to feed just a little and frequently, and in this way the quantity of food left uneaten is reduced to a minimum, though I realize it is impossible for the aquarist who is away all day at business to feed in this way.
The next greatest method to feed is once in the morning and then in the evening. With dried foods the quantity should not exceed that which could be consumed within five minutes. If the fish are especially ravenous just a little much more might be given. The perfect, nevertheless, would be to maintain the fish just hungry to ensure that they’re usually foraging for food.
Feeding rings that float on the surface and contain the food in an area of say 4-in. square arc fairly helpful in a tank with only one or two fish, as any uneaten food falls in the exact same place every time, and should you place a flat rock there it is simple to maintain the tank clean.
The disadvantage of ring-feeders might be seen when about twenty fish congregate under a ring, a fantastic deal of pushing and shoving takes place, and also the little fish need to rely on what is left over by their larger companions. It is not so essential that live foods, like tubifex worms, are consumed instantly, for they’ll live on in a healthy condition until they’re eventually eaten.
During holiday periods, when it is essential to be away for a week or much more, you are able to give a heavier feed for a week prior to leaving, and should you drop the temperature to 70° F your fish will suffer small or no harm from a week with out food.
If a longer period of absence is contemplated, along with a friend has been asked to oblige, be certain to give him explicit instructions with regard to quantity. Frankly, a fortnight of wrong feeding can undo lots of care, and I have discovered it greatest to offer the food in small packets of paper to ensure that he only has to empty them into the tank.