Cookies seem to be disabled in your browser, therefore this website will NOT work properly! Please, consider enabling Cookies in order to maximise your user experience while browsing.
Recent discussions at Aqua-Fish+
  1. ja at Comprehensive Care Guide for Peacock Cichlid (Aulonocara) – Habitat, Breeding & Tank Setup on
  2. ja at Caring for Rainbow Sharks: Tank Setup, Behavior, and Maintenance Guide on …display more of the recent discussions
  3. ja at Comprehensive Guide to Clown Loach Care: Habitat, Diet, Behavior & Health on
  4. ja at Comprehensive Guide to White Cloud Mountain Minnow Care: Habitat, Diet, and Breeding on
  5. ja at A Comprehensive Guide to Aquarium Air Stones: Usage, Suppliers, and Product Images on
  6. ja at Comprehensive Guide to Caring for and Breeding Electric Blue Haps on
  7. ja at Complete Guide to Growing and Propagating Hygrophila Corymbosa in Aquariums on
  8. PondSealer at Maintainging a garden fish pond tasks on
  9. TheFishWorks at A guide on growing aquarium plants with FAQ, forum and species on
  10. Salviashaman at A guide on caring for Congo tetra (Phenacogrammus interruptus) on

Essential Vitamins and Feeding Guidelines for Aquarium Fish

Brine shrimp, resized image Different types of fish food - flakes, granules, tablets, resized image Flakes fish food, resized image Granules - fish food, resized image

Frozen daphnia fish food, image 1, resized Frozen daphnia fish food, image 2, resized Frozen white mosquito larvae fish food, image 1, resized Frozen white mosquito larvae fish food, image 2, resized

Brief Description

This article explores the role of various vitamins in the diet of aquarium fish. For more information on fish food, check out our other pages: Types of Aquarium Fish Food - Pictures, Types, and Tips and Feeding Fish Frozen Food - Types and Benefits. Feel free to share your experiences, ideas, or questions about fish nutrition at the bottom of this page!

Introduction

Every aquarist takes pride in maintaining fish that display their natural colors and remain healthy. The health of fish largely depends on their diet, which should closely resemble what they would find in the wild. Different fish species have varying dietary needs, including worms, maggots, algae, plants, or fruits. Some fish are carnivores, while others are omnivores.

In addition to common foods like flakes, granules, or brine shrimp, consider incorporating the following into your fish’s diet:

  • Daphnia
  • Bloodworms
  • Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
  • Angelica root (Angelica archangelica)
  • Capsicum
  • Carrot
  • Wheat
  • Spinach
  • Nettle
  • Borage (Borago officinalis)
  • Spirulina
  • Seaweed
  • Glycine soja

Daphnia and bloodworms are highly nutritious and easily consumed by fish. Basil and Angelica root help reduce stress. Capsicum and carrot aid digestion and are rich in vitamins, with carotene helping maintain vibrant colors. Wheat provides carbohydrates, while spinach and nettles offer essential minerals and trace elements for natural growth. Borage supports overall health and reduces stress. Spirulina and seaweed provide amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, while Glycine soja supports the immune system.

Feeding Habits

Different fish species feed at various water levels, so it's beneficial to use at least two types of food. The choice of food also depends on the specific needs of your aquarium's inhabitants. For example, Plecos typically feed at the bottom of the tank. However, if you have plants like Vallisneria Gigantea growing, you might notice that Plecos swim to the top and feed from the plants until the food is consumed. In general, all fish should have access to food, whether it's hidden behind rocks or if the fish are waiting for food all day long, like Guppies or Platys.

Fish with flat backs, upward-facing mouths, and rearward spinal fins tend to prefer flakes. Fish with downward-facing mouths, such as those with crown-shaped backs and bellies, often prefer granules, which can be placed on the glass. These fish generally eat food that doesn’t fall to the bottom.

Lastly, some fish, like Corydoras and other bottom feeders, prefer food that sinks. These fish, with flat bellies and downward-facing mouths, fall into this category.

All fish food should be rich in essential vitamins. Key vitamins include A, B1, B2, B5, B6, B12, C, D3, E, H, and K. In addition to vitamins, high-quality fish food should contain proteins, carbohydrates, oils, minerals, and trace elements.

Feeding Guidelines

It is recommended to feed fish at least twice a day. Avoid overfeeding and distribute the food evenly so that every fish gets its share. Regularly changing the type of food is beneficial, as fish, like humans, can become bored with eating the same food daily.

Feeding time also plays a crucial role in monitoring the health and behavior of the fish. For tanks with many territorial species, smaller fish may struggle to get enough food. It's advisable to check all tankmates weekly to prevent potential health issues and ensure proper nutrition.

When introducing a new type of food, it may take time for fish to accept it. They might need a few days to become accustomed to the new food, with some accepting it within 1 to 2 days, while others might take up to 7 or 14 days, or in some cases, may refuse it entirely.

Since leftover food can accumulate at the bottom of the tank, keeping some Plecos is recommended. They will consume the fallen food, helping to maintain a clean environment and varying their diet naturally.

Essential Vitamins for Fish

  1. Vitamin A – Supports vision and growth, protects the skin, and aids in breeding.
  2. Vitamin B1 – Enhances nerve function, provides energy by converting carbohydrates, and supports brain function.
  3. Vitamin B2 – Promotes muscle health and protects the skin.
  4. Vitamin B5 – Essential for enzyme function.
  5. Vitamin B6 – Crucial for the nervous system.
  6. Vitamin B12 – Necessary for digestion and the production of hemoglobin, which is vital for oxygen transport.
  7. Vitamin C – Boosts the immune system and supports skeletal development.
  8. Vitamin D3 – Regulates calcium and phosphorus absorption, important for skeletal formation.
  9. Vitamin E – Stimulates reproductive hormone production and stabilizes other vitamins and fatty acids in the diet.
  10. Vitamin H – Functions as a growth factor.
  11. Vitamin K – Assists in blood coagulation.

Video Resources

Explore our video library to enhance your understanding of fish feeding practices:

Please, verify whether your login and password are valid. If you don't have an account here, register one free of charge, please. Click here to close this box.

You have been logged out successfully! This box will close automatically!

Something went wrong during processing your message, please try again!

Your message has been sent, thanks a lot!

Page has been saved, refresh it now, please!

The page has been created, you will now be redirected!

URL already exists!

Path to the photo is not unique!

Really delete this page from the database?

The page has been removed successfully, you will be redirected now!

The page couldn't be deleted!!

Unfortunately this page doesn't allow discussion. Please, find any other page that fits your area of interest as over 99% of our pages allow discussion. The reason why no discussion is allowed here is this page is too general. Thanks a lot for understanding! Click here to search, please!

Really delete this comment from the site?

Really delete this image from the site?

Really delete this image from the site?

Selected comment has been removed successfully!

Selected image has been removed successfully!

Either login or email address is required

Account has been recovered, please check your email for further instructions