There’s no point feeding tropical fish food flakes to goldfish as their ingredients differ significantly from what a goldfish requires.
Goldfish in their natural environment are omnivores that feed on algae, plants, insects and crustaceans. Goldfish require a diet high in protein and fiber.
Instead of feeding their goldfish flakes, try offering dry pellets or water fleas (daphnia). Both options can sink to the bottom.
Contents
Protein
Tropical fish food and goldfish food contain similar proteins; however, goldfish require less protein and more carbohydrates. So feeding tropical fish flakes to goldfish could prove harmful over time.
Flake foods are perfect for fish of all species and come in various forms – some can be crushed and thrown onto the surface while others need to be broken up and dropped into mid or bottom tanks. Flake food ingredients typically include fish derivatives, cereals, oils & fats, vegetable matter (containing 0.8% beetroot), yeasts and minerals.
Your goldfish may also enjoy eating live foods such as insect larvae, mosquito larvae, daphnia and bloodworms; however, these should only be fed as supplements to their regular diet rather than as their primary source of protein. Gel foods are another popular food option and can even be pushed under the surface of the water’s surface with ease; however, these could potentially cloud up their environment and affect gill function negatively.
Carbohydrates
Goldfish require a diet high in fiber to promote digestion. Unfortunately, many people make the mistake of feeding their goldfish flakes designed for tropical fish species which tend to contain more protein and less fiber – this could have devastating long-term repercussions for its health.
Flake food for goldfish tends to be high in fat content; too much fatty diet may lead to health complications in goldfish.
As such, if you must feed your goldfish flakes for any extended period, try switching out to more natural alternatives like shelled peas (with shell removed), boiled vegetables, bloodworms or brine shrimp instead. These will provide more nutrition to your goldfish and sink to the bottom of their tank, more fitting for their mid to bottom water feeder nature.
Fat
Goldfish are omnivorous fish that require both protein and plant-based foods for sustenance, including algae, insects, fish eggs and vegetation in their natural environments. Pet owners can supplement the Goldfish diet in their tank or pond by providing gel food or freeze-dried frozen foods that mimic some of the live prey that wild Goldfish would eat as part of their natural diet.
Some fish owners also opt for tropical fish flakes and pellets when running low on Goldfish food or trying to save money, although this isn’t ideal as such foods often contain higher concentrations of proteins and fat than necessary for Goldfish. Furthermore, most betta food is designed to float while goldfish prefer items that sink beneath the surface, leading to inhaling more air than food that may lead to digestive issues in Goldfish – for these reasons it’s wiser not to feed Goldfish regularly with Betta food.
Fiber
Goldfish in the wild are opportunistic omnivores, feeding on plants, algae, insects and crustaceans as needed. Protein and fat intake is particularly essential. Unfortunately, most commercial fish foods contain too many carbohydrates and not enough fiber; for optimal health in goldfish tanks this diet should consist of high-protein, low-carbohydrate content food only; substituting their natural diet with tropical fish food will have adverse consequences in terms of longevity.
Feed your goldfish gel food that includes invertebrates and plant matter like spirulina algae to maximize health and prevent digestive issues, and maintain color retention for longer lives. You can find this type of food at most pet stores and should be fed twice per day to maximize color retention while helping avoid digestive issues like bloat. An automatic fish feeder makes feeding your goldfish even simpler!
