Prior to having an aquarium of your own– perhaps prior to even contemplating having one– you probably heard the phrase, \”never overfeed fish.\” This is actually very sound advice. Nothing contributes more to aquarium fish deaths than fish overfeeding.

The popular myth is that fish can literally eat themselves to a point where their stomachs explode. This does not actually occur in real life, but the results of fish overfeeding can be equally as severe.

Although in some fish species, overfeeding can contribute to fatty tissue surpassing the threshold for healthy liver function leading to the death of a fish, the dangers posed by fish overfeeding are more pervasive in other ways. Chief among these is the way that uneaten food contributes directly to elevated levels of ammonia and nitrites in the water. As the uneaten food decays it also lowers pH levels in the water. Since food decay is an aerobic process, it also lowers oxygen levels in the water. These changes in the water chemistry are what pose the greatest risk to the fish in your aquarium. The physical signs of an overfeeding situation can take the form of sudden and excessive algae growth, cloudy water and even fungus outbreaks on the substrate of the aquarium.

Preventing problems with fish overfeeding can begin with the simple task of removing any uneaten food from the tank. A basic guideline which can be followed is to remove any food which your fish have not eaten in a 5 minute period. Of course, you must make adjustments to this guideline to allow for all of your fish to eat. Keep in mind that surface eaters will be the most obvious to you when they are eating, but do not neglect to take into account bottom feeders. A good habit to get into at feeding time is to spread the food that will be eaten in a 5 minute time frame over a large surface area. This allows all of your fish the chance to eat at the same time without displays of aggressive behavior.

A more thorough approach to prevent fish overfeeding would be to spread the feeding of your fish into two or three sessions throughout the day. Establish the feeding schedule based on the eating behavior that you have observed with your fish in the past.

Many aquarium enthusiasts do not experience fish overfeeding problem until they leave for vacation. Many times, if one plans to be away from home for a weekend, the temptation is to overcompensate for those days that one cannot feed the fish by overfeeding them just before departing. This is a terrible mistake and should be avoided. If you are only going to be away from home for less than 3 or 4 days, feed your fish as normal before leaving. They will not suffer any ill effects if left unfed for that short period of time. Likewise, upon returning do not try to overcompensate for the skipped feedings. Resume with the normal feeding amounts and schedule as before you left.

Make certain that other members in your household are aware of the feeding schedule for the aquarium so as to prevent duplicate feedings, etc. If you ever have to be absent for a period longer than 4 days, instruct the person that you are entrusting with the care of your fish on the proper feeding schedule that you have established.

In short, the best axiom in fish care, \”do not overfeed fish,\” is true. As an aquarium, enthusiast, however, it is important to know the real reasons why this is so. This way, eliminating fish overfeeding problems are easily avoided.

Author Bio: If you want to learn more about Fish Overfeeding, you can visit my website at http://www.learnfreshwateraquariums.com for helpful tips on setting up, maintaining and caring for both your Freshwater Aquarium and the fish that inhabit it.

Category: Pets
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