Aquatic predators such as oscars, catfish, and pet turtles feed on other fish in the wild. But is feeding live fish a good idea in a home aquarium? It depends on the species and how comfortable you are with giving your aquatic pets live prey. Feeder fish offer a high amount of nutrition, particularly when they’re gut-loaded, and can support sick fish with a faster recovery. To answer the question whether your aquarium needs feeder fish, this guide explores the pros and cons with tips to keep aquatic pets healthy.
Feeder Fish vs. Pellets and Flake Food
Feeder fish are small live fish, such as guppies and goldfish, that are fed to other freshwater, brackish water, and marine animals. While a little controversial, many hobbyists feed live fish to aquatic predators because capturing live prey mimics their environment and provides stimulation. Giving your pets feeder fish is a personal choice, but there are circumstances where it is necessary to add live prey. For example, certain predator species simply won’t accept traditional pellet or flake food. If you don’t introduce feeder fish, the animal will starve and die. Cichlids, catfish, and turtles can benefit from feeder fish because it fulfils their hunting instincts.
While certain species naturally eat live prey in the wild, domestic fish and turtles can be introduced to thawed bloodworms and shrimp. Feeder fish is suitable when your pet won’t accept pellets or flakes or when they’re ill because gut-loaded prey is more nutritious. Apart from feeder fish, other factors, such as water parameters and tank size, are extremely important to raise healthy pet fish.
The Pros and Cons of Feeder Fish
When your predator fish aren’t eating regular bloodworms or flake food, feeder fish are the only alternative. Small fish obtained from your local pet store are added to the tank and captured by the larger fish as food. You can transition predatory fish to frozen foods and pellets over time, but it takes patience and a fair amount of trial and error. Be sure to source feeder fish from a trusted pet supplier. This ensures the stock is raised in healthy conditions, so you don’t pass any aquarium diseases or parasites on to your pets.
A problem that many aquarists encounter with feeder fish is nutritional imbalances. For example, goldfish are high in fat, and it isn’t natural to constantly feed one type of fish species to predators. If feeder fish are not properly sourced, it can introduce pets to bacteria and parasites. Alternatives to live fish include worms and thawed shrimp or small crustaceans based on the dietary requirements of the larger species. Live feeding is not for everyone, but if your pet fish won’t eat pellets, you may have no choice but to offer them feeder fish.
Your Aquarium Needs a Suitable Filter
A necessary part of owning fish is keeping the water clean, and that means investing in a good filtration system. Filters will remove food particles and debris in the tank that quickly turn into ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites. You shouldn’t solely rely on the filter to maintain healthy water parameters, but it prevents performing daily water changes. Filters remove waste and provide aeration and water movement that fish need to remain healthy. It can assist in clearing cloudy water by encouraging steady water flow and removing chemicals when you add carbon.
When selecting a good-quality filter, consider your fish tank’s size, bioload, and the desired flow rate for your pet fish. You can choose between an internal filter placed inside the tank or an external one positioned outside the aquarium. Whether a submerged or external filter, these mechanisms must be cleaned with freshwater to remove algae deposits and dirt. A decent filter for a small fish tank or large aquarium supports all types of aquatic life.
The Substrate You Need Depends on the Fish
While your aquarium’s species will determine whether you need feeder fish, you absolutely should consider getting a proper substrate. The best type depends on the species you’re keeping. Regular gravel and soft sand are ideal because they’re easy to clean. If you’re housing bottom feeders like kuhli loaches or catfish, sand is gentler on their delicate mouths and barbels.
It is best to avoid artificially colored gravel or silica sand that easily clumps and may cause impactions if consumed by fish. Exercise caution when adding decor to the tank, such as untreated wood or rocks. These items should be cleaned with boiling water to remove pathogens and prevent contamination. You can clean plastic aquarium decor with a good scrub to remove surface dirt.
Your Aquarium Requires Balanced Water Parameters
Every fish species requires specific water parameters to prevent illness and life-threatening conditions. Ideally, you should do a partial water change weekly or biweekly and clean the filters to prevent the build-up of algae and bacteria in the aquarium. The most important parameters to assess for freshwater and brackish water aquariums are temperature and overall water chemistry. You’ll need to evaluate the ammonia levels, as most fish are sensitive to spikes.
Most tropical fish prefer a pH of between 6.8 and 7.8. If you have African cichlids, they prefer pH levels of up to 8.5. Other than goldfish, most freshwater and brackish water fish need a heater. The water temperature should range between 72℉ and 82.4℉ using an aquarium heater, but again, this is species-specific. For instance, African cichlids need a pH of around 8 and a temperature of 75 to 82℉. Big fish, such as oscars, require a pH of between 6 and 8 and a temperature range of 74 to 80℉.
