Aquarium Fish Need Proper Nutrition

This Rhino Pleco (Pterygoplichthys scrophus) is a "bottom dweller". So its food must be available on the bottom of the tank. It is omnivorous, meaning that it eats both animal tissue and vegetables. In this picture it is offered cucumber. Pleco of this size (Total Length about 30cm) can eat 300 grams of cucumber in a single day. Cucumber contains almost solely water and its nutritional value is poor, but if given on a weekly basis it can save hobbyist`s aquarium plants.   

A modern day Aquarium hobbyist can be confused about the information we get from various aquarium fish food ads. Still the basics are the same as before:

a) You have to use food that your fish eat.
b) Your fish food must contain all nutrition your fish need.
c) Your fish food must not contamine the water.

Some fish food manufacturers claim that their product will suffice for all aquarium species. That of course is untrue:

- Some fish are herbivorous.
- Some fish are carnivorous.
- Some fish need both kind of nutrition.

Further difficulties may occur because the behaviour of the fish species:

- Some fish eat exclusively on the surface.
- Some fish are bottom-dwellers.

And to make things even more difficult different species have various abilities and restrictions in eating. Mouth can be too small to eat larger sized food or teeth are missing limiting the capability to get a bite on the food. Challenges may occur if an aquarium owner has so called finicky eaters. They may prefer only certain kind of fish food and this may result to problems on nutritional perspective. Fish must get enough minerals, fat, proteins and vitamins to thrive and spawn. Fortunately we have very good multivitamin products on the trade. The most common problem in aquarium hobby is however overfeeding. You should not give more food than the fish can consume in about five minutes. Feed the fish at least two times a day. One day in a week without any food is recommended. On vacation and holidays you can leave adult fish without feeding for as long as 2-3 weeks.

Bottom-dweller-type fish are usually nocturnal. If this is the case, it is advisable to feed them when the lights are off.

This Pleco (possibly Hemiancistrus sabaji L075) has done horrible damage  to Echinodorus bleheri on the left.
Such a damage can be avoided by proper nutrition. Many plecos enjoy cucumber and zucchini.

Smudge Spot Cory (Corydoras similis) spawns multiple times in a year if given proper nutrition.
Here a male is on the top. The age is about five years. Total length 4-4,5cm.

Angel fish (Pterophyllum scalare) and discus feed mostly on detritus in the nature. Detritus is dissolved organic material consisting of both animal and plant waste. Normal commercial dry fish food is optimal for these fish.