| Rule number one of keeping tropical fish is you should | | | | There are some flakes on the marked designed |
| never overfeed them. Don't turn your aquarium into | | | | especially to bring out your fishes' colours for a more |
| a snow dome! If your fish are still guzzling five | | | | attractive display. Some freeze dried foods, such as |
| minutes after you dropped the flakes in, you've given | | | | bloodworm and brine shrimp, can be helpful with |
| them too much. Uneaten flakes will drift into the | | | | breeding. Live food is great, being much closer to |
| nooks and crannies, and rot causing water pollution, | | | | what your fish would eat in the world, and makes for |
| which in turn will lead to disease. Some fish, such as | | | | a nice treat. It isn't advisable though to go out and |
| the discus are very sensitive to water pollution, and | | | | catch your own as this can easily introduce disease |
| with these species it is best to feed them very little | | | | to your aquarium. Live food is readily available for |
| and often. But for most varieties of tropical fish, | | | | purchase. |
| twice a day should be sufficient. Just be careful that | | | | If you're off on your hols, your fish should do just |
| everyone else in the house knows that the fish have | | | | fine without being fed for a few days. Beware they |
| been fed to avoid doubling up. | | | | may just nibble at any live plants, however. If it'll be |
| Just like we humans, your fish will appreciate variation | | | | longer than that and you have a relative or a friend |
| in their menu. If you had the same put down in front | | | | to rely on, then so much the better. It's best to |
| of you for breakfast, lunch and dinner for months on | | | | show them yourself how much food your fish leave |
| end you would soon grow tired. There is a huge | | | | rather than leave it to them to decide. Most people |
| range of fish food on the market nowadays and it's | | | | are tempted to give much more than your fish |
| a good idea to keep at least two different kinds of | | | | actually need, which can lead to a homecoming |
| food to keep your fish interested at dinnertime. For | | | | nightmare. There are now automatic feeders on the |
| the average hobbyist, he will do well to buy small jars | | | | market for tropical aquariums which are the ultimate |
| and replacing them regularly. It might be cheaper to | | | | answer. These can facilitate several feedings per day, |
| buy in bulk, but tropical fish food does, in fact, | | | | with separate storage bays for different types of |
| deteriorate over time and this way you can help | | | | food! |
| keep it fresh. | | | | |