4 Practical tips on how to feed fish in summer

In the previous article we discussed the impact of summer temperatures on the balance of our aquarium. We emphasized the importance of paying attention to the feeding to avoid the accumulation of pollutants and the proliferation of algae. Now let’s see how to manage the feeding in detail.

The choice of food is essential to ensure the well-being of our aquarium’s inhabitants and to reduce leftovers that could compromise water quality. First and foremost, it’s crucial to have a thorough understanding of the nutritional needs of the fish and invertebrates we are raising. Each species has unique nutritional requirements, and providing adequate nutrition is essential to facilitate nutrient assimilation and reduce waste.

Favor reduced and frequent meals

Unlike us, fish and invertebrates are organisms that adjust their body temperature to that of the external environment. This means that high summer temperatures influence the speed of metabolic processes and chemical reactions within their bodies. As a result, during the hotter months, their growth rate will be higher, and thus, they will require more food than usual.

A good summer practice is to divide food portions into smaller and more frequent meals. This approach helps to avoid waste, as the fish will have time to consume all the offered food. Additionally, feeding them multiple times a day allows us to better observe their behavior during meals and ensure that all individuals receive an adequate amount of food.

Provide the right amount of food

In summer, it is essential to avoid overfeeding the animals, as excess food can quickly decompose, leading to waste accumulation and pollutants in the water, worsening its quality and promoting the growth of unwanted algae.

Offer a varied diet

Another important aspect to consider is the variety of the diet. Offering a diverse diet to our guests ensures that they receive all the necessary nutrients for healthy growth and optimal health. This can be achieved by selecting a mix of dry, frozen, and live foods that best suit the needs of our fish.

When choosing the foods to be administered to our fish, it is crucial to take their needs into consideration. Amtra feeds are designed to provide the correct balance for each species that can be raised in an aquarium. For omnivorous or predominantly vegetarian fish, an excessively protein-rich diet can pose several risks to their health. Excessive protein can overload the fish’s kidney and liver, causing organ damage. Moreover, excess protein is not absorbed, increasing the production of ammonia, compromising the environment’s quality, and the overall well-being of the tank.

Similarly, for predominantly carnivorous fish, a diet too low in protein can cause growth and development issues, increasing susceptibility to diseases, and reducing their life expectancy.

Practical tips for basic feeding of your fish

That being said, the majority of small to medium-sized fish that we can raise in our aquariums have a diet primarily based on the consumption of small aquatic invertebrates, larvae, and adult insects.

For the basic feeding of your fish, we recommend Amtra Pro Natural Flake and Amtra Pro Natural Gran Soft, which contain 28% flour of invertebrates such as Tenebrio molitor, Chironomus sp, Lumbricus terrestris, Bombyx mori, providing a food similar to what they would find in nature. For omnivorous and vegetarian fish, an excellent supplement is Amtra Pro Vegetal Flake, a high-quality complementary food containing Spirulina and Chlorella algae. As for carnivorous fish, we suggest trying Amtra Pro Black Pearl 5.0, which is formulated to favor the digestive functions of fish with fish and crustacean flours, imitating the diet of this fish type.

Offer food for quality fish

Special attention should also be paid to the quality of the food: avoid using expired or poor-quality food, and handle dry foods with dry hands and only thaw the required amount of frozen food.

If the temperatures rise too much, the fish may start showing signs of discomfort: most fish reduce their movements and become apathetic. In such cases, it is essential to lower the temperature and increase the tank’s oxygenation, as we have seen in the previous article. Additionally, it is advisable to reduce or suspend feeding and regularly dose bacteria to prevent the filter from collapsing.

In definitiva, se c’è un segreto per proteggere l’acquario dall’arrivo del caldo, è quello di mantenere il nostro prezioso ecosistema stabile, come durante il resto dell’anno. Concentrarsi sulla regolazione accurata della temperatura, sull’ossigenazione, sull’alimentazione equilibrata e sui cambi dell’acqua regolari contribuirà a preservare la salute e il benessere degli ospiti.

Con attenzione e cura costanti, possiamo affrontare con successo le sfide dell’estate e assicurare un ambiente sano e armonioso per il nostro amati pesci.