Aquarium fish feed

Aquarium fish feed consists of plant or animal matter given to pet fish living in tanks or ponds. These foods typically supply macronutrients, trace elements, and vitamins needed to keep captive fish healthy. About 80% of hobbyists rely solely on prepared foods, most often in flake, pellet, or tablet form. Some commercial feeds include additives like sex hormones or beta carotene to artificially boost the color of ornamental fish.

Prepared foods are non-living and can be homemade or purchased ready to use. Dry foods, a common type of manufactured feed, suit many tropical and saltwater fish and invertebrates. They work well for surface and mid-water feeders, though bottom-dwelling species also eat flakes that settle. Flake food is baked to remove moisture, which extends its shelf life; the more moisture a food holds, the faster it spoils. Dry foods come as pellets, sticks, flakes, tablets, granules, and wafers, designed to float or sink depending on the target species.

Vacation foods, or food blocks (smaller versions are called weekend blocks), are placed in the aquarium to feed fish while the owner is away. These blocks release small amounts of food as they dissolve. They can work for small tropical fish but may pollute the water if left too long.

Medicated fish food delivers medication safely and effectively. It avoids contaminating the aquatic environment and, unlike bath treatments, does not harm fish, filtration, or algae growth. Because the fish ingests the food, parasites are treated directly.

Freeze-dried and frozen fish diets were originally developed for tropical and marine species. They add variety or meet specialist needs, including tubifex worms, mosquito larvae, bloodworms, water fleas (Daphnia and Cyclops), and brine shrimp (Artemia salina). Frozen food, often sold in blister packs or resealable packets, preserves perishable ingredients like bloodworms, Daphnia, or brine shrimp. It is commonly used for fish such as Discus, which need a high-protein diet. Beef heart, often fed in the aquaculture industry, is a popular frozen mixture for Discus, though other fish also benefit from it.

Live foods are small living creatures in recognizable form, available alive, dried, or frozen. Examples include earthworms, sludge worms, water fleas, bloodworms, and feeder fish.