Do you have a goldfish? If so, you’ve probably been trying to figure out what the best fish food for goldfish is. Goldfish are one of the most popular types of freshwater fish kept in a home aquarium and come in many different shapes and sizes. It can be hard to decide which type of fish food your pet should eat, but this article will help!
Some images and products shown in this article are affiliate links, we may earn a small commission, we hope you find the information useful.
What is a Goldfish?
A goldfish is a type of fish that originated in China over a thousand years ago. Goldfish are one of the most popular types of freshwater fish kept in an aquarium at home and come in many different shapes and sizes. There are some breeds that grow to be small, others that can reach lengths over 30 inches long! The scales on this species range from silver to orange or yellow with greenish-blue highlights.
Goldfish are hardy fish which makes them perfect for beginners. They can survive in a wide range of water conditions and temperatures, goldfish are also very friendly which makes them very popular with younger children as they will approach the glass of the aquarium when they are looking in.
What is the Best Food For Goldfish?
There are many types of goldfish food and it is always a good idea to feed them a varied diet so that they are happy and healthy, let’s take a look at some different types of fish food that would be suitable for goldfish.
Fish Flakes
Fish Flakes are the most common food choice for goldfish, it is fed to your fish by sprinkling a small amount onto the surface water of your tank, The food flakes float and then very slowly sink down to the bottom which allows your goldfish to easily gobble up their breakfast before it disappears into your water filter.
Fish Flakes are certainly a great fish food for goldfish as they are easy to feed and store and a practical choice when keeping goldfish.
Fish Pellets
Fish pellets are a specially formulated food for goldfish which helps your fish meet their dietary needs, only feed pellets to larger goldfish as small fish will struggle with this type of food.
Pellets, unlike flakes, sink to the bottom quickly and if not eaten could cause water pollution, I tend to pop a couple of pellets twice a week into the aquarium just to add some food variety.
Live Food
Goldfish love live food such as snails, glass worms, even shrimps, once again only feed live foods to large goldfish and no more than 3 times a week.
Larger goldfish really enjoy this type of fish food but make sure it is balanced with flakes during the week.
Frozen or Freeze-Dried Foods
Frozen and freeze-dried foods are the same types of food as live food only they have been frozen, some people prefer this option rather than placing live food into the fish tank, once again only feed them this type of food no more than 3 times a week.
One of the best ways to feed your goldfish with frozen food is to make sure that when you offer the food, the pieces are no larger than what can be swallowed whole by your fish (larger pieces may get stuck in their mouth and make them ill). Many people say “frozen or live is one of the best goldfish foods.”
Plant Matter
Using plant matter is a great option for goldfish, as herbivores goldfish will enjoy things such as peas or boiled broccoli, algae wafers are also a good choice of fish food, once again introduce this type of food to your tank only 3 times a week.
Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Feeding a Goldfish
Similar to many other types of fish, goldfish will always appear to be hungry when you approach the fish tank, it is important to not overfeed pet fish as this will make them poorly.
Determining how much food you should feed your goldfish will depend on how many fish you have.
If you have one goldfish then a very small amount of fish food would be required, try to judge the feeding by the time it takes your fish to eat the food you have given them, 2 minutes would be a recommended time frame to aim for.
Any food that is not eaten by your goldfish because they are are full will rot in your fish tank, this can cause your fish tank water to become unhealthy for your fish, cause algae and make your aquarium become green and dirty looking, view our useful guide Taking Care of Goldfish.
Points to Remember Before Feeding Goldfish
- Size of your Goldfish
- Quantity of Fish
- Nutrition
- Easy to digest Food
- Varied Diet
- Flakes
- Pellets
- Live Foods
- Frozen or dried food
- Plant Matter
- Don’t Over Feed Goldfish
Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Conclusion
Overall my recommendations for feeding your goldfish would be to choose a quality brand of goldfish flakes for smaller and larger goldfish, introduce some different kinds of food such as plant matter, live food, pellets, frozen or dried food a few times a week for larger fish, Fish flakes come out on top as being the best choice food for your goldfish, but introducing other types of food into there diet will keep them happy and healthy in your aquarium.
I hope you found this article “Best Fish Food for Goldfish Various Options” useful for choosing your fish food.
