Goldfish enjoy eating an assortment of foods. As omnivorous scavengers, goldfish feed on aquatic vegetation in their natural environment. In aquarium environments they will also nibble at aquatic plants for sustenance.
Frozen brine shrimp, daphnia and tubifex worms provide your goldfish with protein-rich food sources to supplement its diet. Be wary of giving live insects from your yard that may carry diseases that could endanger their wellbeing.
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Vegetables
Goldfish fish feed on any natural food source they find at the bottom of their underwater environments, from algae, feces, detritus left from other fish or even pebbles.
Vegetables can provide valuable supplements to a goldfish’s diet. They especially enjoy eating lettuce (iceberg or red), kale and spinach as these contain many vital vitamins and minerals for health. Furthermore, frozen, shelled peas provide additional fibre which aid digestion.
Broccoli can also make for a nutritious treat for goldfish tanks, providing both vitamins and fiber. Simply toss some into their tank to nibble on. Just be wary not to overfeed as too much broccoli could lead to bloating and digestion issues!
Fruits
By providing goldfish with additional foods, it can help create a more varied diet. While additional treats should only constitute a small portion of their overall food consumption, these low fat alternatives can be offered either alone or alongside their regular pellet or flake food as snacks or as an add-on option.
Kale can provide your goldfish with essential calcium, potassium, folate, vitamins A and C as well as additional nutritional value. Shred some kale into their food or toss some large pieces into their tank so they can snack on it freely.
Carrots make an excellent dietary addition for goldfish. Rich in vitamins and fiber, carrots help ensure proper digestion in your goldfish tank. Drop a thin slice into their tank once or twice weekly or offer small handfuls as treats!
Cucumber
Goldfish fish enjoy snacking on cucumbers, which are water-based food items packed with vitamins. Furthermore, this vegetable makes digestion easy and fiber content is great source. Provide them with this vegetable every few weeks for best results.
Green beans can make an excellent treat for your goldfish. Packed full of vitamin K and calcium – two vital nutrients to their wellbeing – green beans provide plenty of sustenance without overfeeding, causing constipation in some instances.
Feed your goldfish strawberries and raspberries that are high in vitamin C to strengthen its immune system and promote better skin and scale health. Doing this will also strengthen its skin and scale health and maintain an improved appearance of scales on its body.
Insects
Goldfish are omnivores and will consume anything available on their aquarium or pond bottoms, such as algae that accumulates, detritus from other fish or debris left by other marine animals, etc. To add variety to their diet and keep them at optimum health, consider offering them special foods occasionally so as to offer variety to their diets.
These foods also provide essential vitamins and minerals not found in regular fish food flakes, although you should keep in mind that any insects found outside the aquarium or pond could contain pollutants or pesticides from your yard that may harm goldfish.
Pet stores sell insects that are safer for goldfish than insects found naturally, including crickets, worms and mosquito larvae.
Worms
Goldfish are omnivorous scavengers and, as such, they consume both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food sources, such as aquatic insects, small crustaceans, tadpoles, and of course worms.
Goldfish enjoy eating food high in protein and carotene to stimulate their natural foraging instincts while providing their bodies with essential amino acids needed for development. A diet rich in worms also offers additional carotene benefits which will promote brighter colors in their skin and increase brightness of color in their fish.
Pet stores can also provide freeze-dried food that contains all of the same essential nutrients found in live foods like blood worms, brine shrimp, daphnia and krill for goldfish aquariums, yet does not cause diseases to their inhabitants.