Tropical fish and goldfish share similar properties; however, they differ considerably when it comes to their dietary requirements. When looking at popular tropical fish foods for ingredients and nutrition content comparison purposes, carbohydrates tend to be much higher than goldfish needs.
Goldfish thrive when fed a diet composed of mostly vegetables and less protein than tropical fish food contains, which is why it is crucial to feed goldfish a variety of foods.
Contents
Live Food
Goldfish require a varied diet, consisting of high-quality flakes or pellets specifically formulated for them, along with live whiteworms (daphnia) and brine shrimp for supplementation. Both these sources provide plenty of protein.
Feed goldfish several times each day as they wander their natural environment, in small meals that contain 40% energy, 44% carbohydrates, 10% fat and 6% vitamins and minerals. Flake and pellet foods should contain 40% energy, 44% carbohydrates, 10% fat and 6% vitamins and minerals; inverts and plant matter should also be provided; any uneaten food must be promptly removed to avoid waste or bloat. Frozen or freeze-dried food sources can also be used; these may however not provide as many essential nutrients.
Gel Food
Goldfish in the wild consume both plant and animal matter, such as spirulina and green peas for plant food sources; while insects, mosquito larva, daphnia, and brine shrimp provide protein sources.
Gel foods provide your goldfish with all of the nutrition it requires in one handy bite; however, many manufactured foods contain fillers which might not provide optimal nourishment for their diet.
If you decide to feed your goldfish gel food, carefully observe their appetite over multiple days in order to determine an appropriate feeding amount. Too much could make your fish sick while overfeeding can lead to bloat. As some gel foods float at water level rather than sink, pre-soaking frozen products is essential or they could block their intestines completely and be harmful for their health.
Invertebrate Food
Goldfish have delicate stomachs, so they require high protein diets in order to remain healthy. Furthermore, raising fish in tanks has progressed considerably over time and now there is an array of food available that meets these requirements; from flake foods and pellets to freeze-dried invertebrates.
Vegetables like carrot, beans, cabbage and lettuce are ideal foods to feed a goldfish because they’re easy for it to digest while providing important antioxidants to promote health and strength in its life. Fruits also provide great nourishment; just be wary when feeding bread-type products as this could lead to digestive issues in your pet!
Goldfish are opportunistic feeders and should only eat when hungry. Therefore, it’s recommended to feed your goldfish two or three times each day and monitor their feeding habits closely. If you plan on leaving home for several weeks at once, consider asking a friend or neighbor to care for your goldfish or use an automatic feeder system instead.
Other Foods
Tropical fish flakes offer similar nutrition to goldfish, yet do not contain enough protein and fat to match their natural diet in the wild. Crucian carp, their ancestor fish species, feed on algae, plants and crustaceans found throughout the ocean environment.
Goldfish feed on flakes floating near the surface that float to them, often in large numbers. Overfeeding can result in build-ups of waste in their system that create poor water conditions.
Pellet food is more suitable for fish tanks because it sinks to the bottom and contains more protein than flakes; many brands provide added supplements like spirulina and alfalfa as well. Some aquarists also create homemade foods using veggies, proteins and spirulina for optimum results.
Foods such as live or frozen brine shrimp may also provide benefits, if thawed and their legs trimmed off before use as occasional treat food. They’re rich in nutrition and encourage healthy gut bacteria.
