What Should You Feed Saltwater Fish?

Food is definitely one of the most important saltwater aquarium supplies. There are many different forms of fish food on the market, and some are specifically formulated for saltwater fish. When deciding which type of food to choose for your saltwater fish, it’s of utmost importance to consider the species of fish being kept. By first considering which foods are best for the specific types of fish in your saltwater tank, providing your aquarium inhabitants with a proper diet will come easily. Having a variety of food types on-hand will be most effective, especially if you have a variety of saltwater species in one aquarium. Here are some of the top saltwater fish food options to choose from.

Frozen Foods

Although live foods are sometimes the best choice for certain fish, it’s not always the practical or most cost-effective option. Science has come to the rescue and formulated pellets with an exorbitant amount of balanced nutrients that offer a remarkable substitute.  Many saltwater fish enjoy Mysis shrimp or Silverside for large, aggressive fish. When feeding, some aquarists prefer to portion the cubes and put them directly in the tank, while others use some tank water to defrost the cubes before feeding.

Flake Foods

Flake foods are losing popularity because they often remain at the water’s surface longer than other types of food, and the particulates are not eaten and add pollutants, which is a detriment. This option is also not ideal for tanks including bottom feeders because the food might not reach the bottom of the tank before being eaten.

Pellet Foods

As mentioned above, pellets are a good option because they come in slow sinking formulas, which allow fish that dwell at different tank areas a chance to eat. Any uneaten food will also float to the bottom of the tank to be eaten by bottom or filter feeders, or it can be removed from the tank to prevent fouling the water. Remember the 3-minute rule: If there’s any food anywhere in the aquarium after 3 minutes, then you’re overfeeding.

Live Foods

By far the most nutritious food option for aquarium inhabitants would be to offer it live. Choosing this option takes more time and effort compared to other foods, but it’s the best way to go if breeding is desired. Some species of saltwater fish need to consume live foods to promote breeding. Also, newborn fish fry need very tiny foods such as newly hatched baby brine shrimp.

Gel Foods

A newer food option available is offered as a gel. To prepare the gel, the powder is mixed with boiling water and cooled. This type of food is versatile because it can also be used to coat tank decorations before solidifying into a gel. Once the coating hardens on the desired surface, a food-coated decoration can be placed at the bottom of the aquarium, which ensures bottom feeders and grazers such plecos are fed. In some cases, the powder can even be fed directly to small fry or other small organisms, and the gels will not foul the aquarium water if prepared correctly.

If you have additional questions about caring for saltwater fish, reach out to the aquarium experts at Aquatic Warehouse. We also carry a wide array of freshwater planted aquariums, koi pond supplies, and much more. Check out our website, or give us a call at 858-467-9297.