The health and life expectancy of aquarium fish in many ways depends on how correctly the issue of organizing their nutrition is resolved. What should be taken into account when drawing up a ration of aquarium fish, which types of feed exist, how to choose and store food for the inhabitants of the domestic reservoir - consider in this article.
Types of food
The assortment of modern pet stores shows the widest range of feed, differing in organoleptic properties, energy value, storage time. Depending on how much a product must be stored, the following categories of feed are distinguished:
- with a long shelf life (dry feed mixtures);
- With a limited storage (live food).
Aquariums with experience know that for the full development and well-being inhabitants of the home water reservoir, not only balanced, but also a varied menu.
Competently combining in the diet of fish various types of feed and feeding, the owner of the aquarium can be confident that his pets will receive the entire complex of nutrients they need, micro- and macroelements.
In the diet of aquarium fish, such basic sterns may include:
- dry;
- alive;
- frozen;
- vegetable.
An additional part of the diet of the inhabitants of the home reservoir can represent various useful additives and feeding. For example, predatory aquarium fish (astronotuses, major Somov) owners are often fed by seafood, pieces of raw meat, minced meat. As a useful additives to the main food, the aquarists often use special water and fat-soluble vitamins, as well as feeders containing amino acids and trace elements.
These additives allow to strengthen the immunity of the inhabitants of the aquarium, strengthen the brightness of their coloring, increase the stress resistance.
Dry food
This category includes various types of dehydrated feed mixtures with a long shelf life. Products of this type are produced in the form of powder, granules, chips, pills, flakes. As the main ingredients in such feeds, usually appear:
- Daphnia, Cyclops, Moth, Ghammar;
- dried and ground molluscs, crayfish;
- flour (fish, squid, shrimp, curves);
- grain crops;
- oils and fats;
- Vegetable additives (alfalfa, algae, nettle, parsley, soybeans);
- Auxiliary additives (beer yeast, egg powder, sources of polyunsaturated fatty acids).
The rate of its softening, decay and sedimentation in water depends on the size of the fractions and composition of dry food. From these same characteristics, it also depends on what appetite and speed the inhabitants of the aquarium will ease the treats offered to them.
- Powdered. Powder feed is suitable for feeding grown fry and adult smallfish. They are pretty quickly soaked with water, after which small flakes are settled at the bottom of the tank.
- Granulated. The feed of this type swell in the water gradually. Depending on the characteristics of the components included in the composition, swollen particles can fall on the bottom of the tank or remain on the surface of the water. After maximizing water, the granules disintegrate into small fragments that even small fish are eagerly eaten.
- Flakes. Food in the form of flakes have a fragile and pretty loose structure. They are quickly soaked with water, after which they are disintegrated into small knitting fragments. Usually flakes are used to feed moving fish small sizes.
- Crisps. The feed of this type has a lamellar round shape, a dense and rigid structure. If you get into the water, they will swell very slowly, practically without falling into fragments. This option is recommended to use for feeding large prey fish.
- Pills. Tableted feed when entering water gradually falls on the bottom of the tank. For this reason, they are recommended to be used to feed the inhabitants of aquarium leading predominantly bottom lifestyle (some species of fish, mollusks, crustaceans).
The main disadvantage of the use of dry feed is considered Fast water pollutability in the tank. To the greatest extent, this minus is peculiar to powdered feeds, which not only quickly pollute water, but also clog filters, in the smallest - tableted.
Preparation and drying of raw materials in the manufacture of feeds of this category is carried out in various ways. Most useful are considered Dry sublimated feeds in which the maximum amount of nutrients, macro and trace elements is preserved.
In the manufacture of such feeds, raw materials are dehydrated by a sublimation drying method, which involves removing moisture from a frozen product in a special vacuum chamber.
Live feed
So that aquarium fish develops fully, they felt well and gave healthy offspring, Sources of protein must be present in their diet. With a protein deficiency, the inhabitants of the domestic water reservoir marks a noticeable lag in development, imminent immunity, reducing reproductive functions.
The main sources of protein in the diet of aquarium fish are live food. The most famous varieties are:
- Moth;
- Correstra;
- tubener;
- gammarus;
- Cyclops;
- Daphnia;
- Worm raincoats.
Their characteristics.
- Motyl - Brightly alast-shaped mosquito-dergun larva, dwelling in the bottom of the flow and standing reservoirs. The size of the body of the larvae varies from 1 to 2.5 centimeters. In aquarium, the moth is considered one of the most valuable and nutrient types of live feed containing a large amount of protein.
- Coretra - Translucent predatory larva of a harmless thickness mosquito, feeding with zooplankton. The dimensions of its body vary in the range of 1-1.3 centimeters. In the aquarium fish farming, the coretra is used as an easily disabled living feed, slightly inferior on the food value by moth.
- Tube - a small stray worm of pale-pink color, living in the bottom of the reservoirs with standing and running water. The sizes of its body can reach 3-4 centimeters. Aquarisists use pipelines as a nutrient living feed containing a large number of essential amino acids.
- Gammarus - Small vegetable wrapping of white-gray coloring, inhabiting reservoirs with fresh and salty water. The magnitude of the body of an adult individual reaches 1 centimeter. In aquarium, gammarusi is considered one of the best varieties of live feed with high energy value.
- Cyclops - tiny predatory wraps living in freshwater reservoirs. The magnitude of their body can vary from 1 to 5 millimeters. Aquarists use these crustaceans as food for grown young and small fish (up to 3 centimeters). Large fish cyclops does not cause interest due to their small sizes.
- Daphnia - tiny crustaceans that feed on single-cell algae and bacteria. The maximum magnitude of their body is 5-6 millimeters. Aquarists grow daphnia at home as a living food for young and small fish.
- Raincoats (rainworms) - Another popular type of live feed, which can be used in a diet of large fish. Before feeding the inhabitants, raincoat aquarium is thoroughly washed and sent to the tank entirely either in the sliced form.
It is important to note that Non-quality living foods may be dangerous for the inhabitants of the aquarium. To avoid infection of fish with parasites or infectious diseases, it is recommended to be displaced before serving live feed. Usually, the feed is used to disinfect the feed, as a result of which the pathogenic bacteria and parasites die.
Some aquarists are washed in a weak solution of manganese before supplying feed.
Frozen
All those listed above the types of living feed can be stored for a long time in a frozen state. For convenience, they are frozen in the form of briquettes or flat tortillas. Before serving the next portion Food can be fully or partially deforn.
Vegetable
Ferrium feed containing a large amount of fiber, aquarium fish is needed For good digestion and normal metabolism. As a rule, industrial plantific foods consist of dry compressed algae (spirulina, laminaria, fus) with the addition of protein ingredients - fish flour, dried and ground seafood.
Experienced aquarists recommend to feed the inhabitants of the domestic reservoir living algae. These can be such aquatic plants as:
- Riccia;
- Wolfia;
- Elodea;
- Wallinia.
Large aquarium algae fishes are fed entirely, small - in a sliced or overgrown form.
Many aquarium fish willingly eaten other vegetable foods - lettuce, plantain and nettle leaves, slices, fresh cabbage, boiled zucchini, pumpkin. Before feeding, raw vegetables and greens are covered with boiling water and cut finely.
Review manufacturers
Among professional aquarists are popular with living and dry food from such well-known manufacturers as:
- Tetra (Tetra);
- Hikari ("Hikari");
- Tropical (tropical).
Tetra (Germany) - One of the leading leaders in the global market for the zoostovarov, whose name is familiar to each professional aquarist. In the range of products of this brand there is a wide range of high-quality feed for aquarium fish of various breeds.
In the product line, multicomponent protein and vegetable feeds are presented in the form of balls, chips, flakes, pills, sticks, small plates for predatory and vegetable fish.
Hikari (Japan) - The largest manufacturer of feed mixtures for aquarium fish of various breeds. The product range includes sinking and premium floating feed.
In the manufacture of products, this manufacturer uses the highest quality raw materials - sources of protein of animal origin, cereals, algae, fats and oils, vitamin and mineral complexes.
Tropical (Poland) - a well-known company specializing in the manufacture of inexpensive, but high-quality feed for predatory and vegetable fish. The product range includes over 200 types of feed and vitamine-containing additives.
The product line contains universal, therapeutic, vegetable, protein and special feed, enriched with beta-glucan, polyunsaturated fatty acids.
How to choose?
When choosing live food for aquarium fish, you must pay attention to such important parameters as:
- painting individuals;
- mobility;
- smell.
Coloring a moth suitable for fish feeding is brightly (not pinking and not dark cherry). The core must be translucent, with a greenish, yellowish or reddish tint. The painting of the pipe can vary from pale pink to pale red. Rain Worms, suitable for fish feeding, have a dark pink or red-brown color.
The larvae, worms or wraps must be movable and active. Mobility or noticeable lethargy of individuals indicates that feed is infected or spoiled.
High-quality live feed has a specific aroma, a little resembling the smell of fish or algae. A sign of damage is a pronounced and sharp smell of rotten, mold, decomposition.
Feed, having an unnatural color, raid, third-party impurities, debris or an unpleasant sharp smell, cannot be used.
When buying frozen food, it is necessary to estimate its color. The color of frozen larvae or worms should be the same as in living individuals (or slightly darker). A very light color of a frozen briquette indicates the presence of a large amount of water.
When choosing a dry feed, pay attention to its composition, form and dimensions of fractions, shelf life. For bottomfish, drowning feed are required, and for fish preferring to hold onto the surface of the water or in its middle layers - floating.
In the composition of dry food, natural ingredients should be present - fish or fish products, curves, shrimp or squid flour, oils and fats, products of plant origin (algae, cereals). It is also desirable that the product be enriched with beta-glucan, which helps to strengthen the immunity of fish. It should be noted that high-quality hypoallergenic feed does not contain third-party additives - food stimulants, dyes, flavors.
For feeding, the firings usually acquire live infusories, micro-repurbs, outupats of Artemia. Suitable for young and specialized dry mixes - for example, TetraMin Baby from Tetra.
How to calculate the daily rate?
The calculation of the daily feed rate of the feed. Experienced aquarists are usually carried out practically. For this, fish for 7-10 minutes feed 2-3 times by micropions, evaluating the speed of eating food. Optimal is considered when the inhabitants of the aquarium eat all the food with almost no residue for 2-3 minutes. Satisfied, fish are becoming less mobile and lose interest in food.
You can calculate the approximate daily rate, focusing on the weight of fish. Thus, for adult sexually mature individuals, the daily feed rate is about 6-8% of the body weight.
For fry aged 2 weeks to 1 month, the norm is about 90-100% of the body weight.
How many times a day feed?
Feeding inhabitants of the home water reservoir is recommended twice a day. In the morning, fishes are fed 15-20 minutes after waking up (after dawn or turning on lighting). The second time pets are fed a couple of hours before sleep. Things aged 1-5 weeks are fed 3-5 times a day.
How to store?
Live types of feed should be stored in low glass or ceramic dishes with a small amount of water. After buying food is placed in the container and placed it at the bottom of the refrigeration chamber. Periodically, the contents of the tank must be carefully stirred by a clean spoon or glass stick. The average storage time in this case is 1-2 weeks.
Frozen feed is stored in a freezer in pure polyethylene packages or food containers. Storage time range from 2 to 6 months.
Dry feed mixes are stored in hermetic packaging or factory can with a tightly closing lid. Store the product should be away from moisture sources and unpleasant odors. Storage time in this case may vary from 6 months to 1.5 years.
What can be replaced?
If the feed is suddenly ended, you can resort to alternative options, which is not difficult to prepare yourself. Thus, the predatory inhabitants of the domestic water branch are not rebeling to treated by pieces of scratched lean beef, stuffed balls, chopped marine fish fillets, crushed boiled squids or shrimps.
Purpping fish with pleasure will eat aspires of green lettuce, hercules flakes, a semolia. You can give pets and sliced apple, observing caution and moderation (it should be remembered that this fruit contains acid).
But feed fish with bread extremely undesirable because it can cause gas formation and digestive problems.
Leaving pets for some time alone (for example, at the time of vacation or business trip), should not try to feed them in advance . The unbearable food will decompose, which will lead to damage to water and, as a result, to deterioration of well-being and even the death of the inhabitants of the aquarium. The optimal solution in this case is autocorgus with software control. After setting up the desired parameters, the device will produce portions of food to fish in the established quantity and at certain hours.
Another effective solution is a day off day. This is the name of special tablet compounds, which, when entering the water, dissolve very slowly. Possessing a neutral taste, they do not represent much interest to the full fish, so they will eat such a tablet only when they are experiencing strong hunger.
About how to feed the aquarium fish, see the next video.