ABC of feeding your goldfish

Did you know that goldfish can actually eat till they burst? Yes! The intestines of goldfish may actually burst, killing the fish due to overfeeding. Goldfish do not stop eating on their own, therefore you have to caliberate their diet. As a general rule, feed your fish only twice a day and only as much as they can consume in 3-4 minutes.

 

The most important thing to remember about feeding goldfish is that they cannot digest excess protein. So the food you choose has to be low on proteins and high on carbohydrates. A proper diet for your goldfish will be varied and will follow proper procedures and will be in right quantities.

 

All species require different diets and it is imperative for you to know the correct diet of the specie you are feeding. Goldfish do not thrive well on carnivorous diet and become dull colored and sluggish if fed a carnivorous diet. You can make the goldfish diet healthier by supplementing it with shelled and deskinned peas and blanched green leafy vegetables. Again, be careful about the quantity.

 

Feeding the fish only one type of food can cause constipation, diarrhea and even diseases since over time the fish’s resistence is lowered owing to poor nutrition. You should give your goldfish a variety in food. For instance, add lettuce and brine shrimp to the flakes. With variety your goldfish will become more active and colorful.
 
Food is an indicator

Sometimes a fish will stop eating if it is not well or if it suffering from shock. Sometimes the fish might just be shy and unable to compete for food. As their caregiver, you will have to watch out for all these symptoms and take action.

 
Some fish are plain finicky and don’t like the food you are giving them. You might have to vary the diet in such cases. Before you take any action, make sure the fish is not diseased. If a fish is too shy to compete for food, you might have to separate it from the rest of the fishes by using a tank divider at feeding time. If one of your fish is eating but is still looking pinched and wasted then you have a diseased fish. Either take it to a vet or refer to fish diseases if you think you can handle the problem at home.
 
Will your fish starve when you are away on the weekend?

No, they won’t! Goldfish can live without food for a day or two though they may nibble on your plants. If you are going to be away for longer duration, you will have to make arrangements for feeding your fish, lest they start eating the smaller inhabitants of the tank! Electronic automatic food dispensers are available for the purpose these days. It is best if a human can feed your fish so that in case of an emergency, they can call you and take action.

 
You have to remember that fishes are not immune to whims like variety and picky eating. There are fishes that will behave like spoilt children and you will have to take care of feeding them to keep them healthy and beautiful. Be observant and enjoy feeding your pets as you see the colors of your labor actually develop on their golden scales!
 

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