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I know it is unhealthy to overfeed fish.

In fact, I was told that it is healthy for fish to eat (all they can eat in about 20 minutes) every Other day, or Third day and that is good(even natural) for them. Because they don't necessarily find food in the wild everyday.

That's what I've done for a couple years now.
It may slow their growth some, and that is not what I'm trying to do....just keep them heathy.

Maybe you guys won't agree, but that's why I'm asking the question here.

Your thoughts please.
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most people on here are going to tell you that what you are doing is not quite ok... it is best to feed daily and skip a day or two in the week. also it depends what you are feeding. YOu dont want to feed the same flakes everyday the resto fo their lives! you should alternate flakes (different varieties) pellets (if necessary and different varieties) and live/frozen foods (blood worms, brine shrimp etc). Also feed cooked veggies or clean veggies a couple times a week... Fish dont always have food, but more likely than not they will always find food in the wild (or in your tank)... it is better to moderatly feed than it is to feed to little... also you dont want to keep a pattern, you want to keep them guessing!!! find your niche and stick to it!

\\\\\\\"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure\\\\\\\"

Obviously it depends on the species what the best type of feeding schedule is. Some fish should be fed everyday (grazers and filter feeders) while other fish should only be fed once a week, if that (ambush predators). With the former types, they depend on a constant source of food, even in the wild, while with the latter, food may actually be seldomly found in their environment. Most fish, however, are somewhere in the middle. Many people on this site usually give their fish a break by not feeding only about once each week, rather than feeding every other day.

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The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

OK, thank you for your input.
I must say that I do feed Just a little for a few daily period now and then, and that every 3 days is rather unusual...but something I do, if I think they've had "too much" on a previous feeding. Ever other day is more the way I do it (when I skip feedings).

I got rid of most of the Preditory fish I had for a brief time in both my tanks, and now have "pretty peaceful" fish in both pf them. I didn't want the aggression...and want tranquility.

I appreciate your learned information, guys.

If you look in My Profile you will see all the different foods I have used over the years.
My feeding program is like clock work, it is the first thing I do before I have my own breakfast. The tank lights have been on about one hour apparently this is better than feeding them with the light off.
They get fed every day except on the day I do the water changes. They also get the extras any time during the day. With some of the extras I only feed that on the day before the water changes.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

thank you, keithgh
I'll check it out.

dS
keithgh. I just looked at it and you are far, far more knowledgable and experienced than I am (especially in "Part 3"

But please tell me the brand, and type "wafers" you use, please!

The wafers I use are the Hikari Tropical Algae wafer. When I could not get these I bought the plain sinking wafer. I always break them up other wise the big CLs would take the whole one and eat it all by them self.
I hope this helps you

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

Once per day. Enough that they eat it all in a minute or two (diff for each type of fish. Some will forage in substrate. Others will only eat from surface or mid region - so anything falling in the gravel will not get eaten so I avoid that by feeding lesser amt.

Usually one day per week with no food. Sometimes by default because I get home after 'lights out' or it is the work tank and I am not in on that day.

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~~~ My fish blow kisses at me all day long ~~~

....A "minute or two"? There are a lot of fish in there(both top/middle water and bottom feeders).

Shouldn't the time be more like 10 or 15 minutes, or so?

It doesn't take long for fish to eat since they generally swallow food whole. A few minutes is fine. The exception is grazers, which are adapted to feed throughout the day; leaving a vegetable in the tank for such a fish to chew on throughout the day or night is a good way to feed such fish, as opposed to nutrient-rich, fiber-deficient foods that are processed. Most fish are not in this category, however, and a pinch of flakes can feed a good number of top-feeders with a pinch of pellets for the bottom feeders (depending on the size of your pinch, of course).

Bottom feeders should preferably be fed with foods that sink, thus you don't have to wait a long time for food to travel from the top of the tank to the bottom.

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The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

I feed little and often - sometimes 3/4 times per day. Small amounts each time.