Post by Bumblebee on Aug 16, 2005 22:14:55 GMT 10
Guppies are an Omnivorous fish, which means they eat both plants and animals. Therefor a guppies diet must be varied. So what can you do to improve your fishes diet.
Flake Food
Possibly the cheapest alternative is to buy a Total Tropical, or Community Tank food. These foods are usually slightly more expensive than normal food but are usually supplemented with both greens and meats to cover all possible fish types. They are also usually supplemented with vitamins and pigments for colour and health. A very good product that can improve colour and possibly size of fish. Another good food is the Fortified flakes with added pigments and vitamins.
Freezedried foods
The next cheapest alternative is the freezedried foods. These are Freezedried bloodworm, Tubifex worm and brineshrimp. These can be given as a treat every other day, or a VERY small amount crumbled up with every feeding. Beware as although these high protein foods will increase growth they will also severeley stunt it if fed in excess as the damage a fishes kidneys in large amounts.
Frozen Foods
possibly the freshest foods you can purchase without the trouble of live food. These give good nutritional value and fish LOVE them but there are good points and bad points to consider.
Good:
Fish LOVE frozen Bloodworm and brineshrimp, possibly contains more nutrient than freezedried product.
Its very fresh
Promotes breeding and growth in fish.
Bad:
Uneaten product Spoils and contaminates tank VERY quickly.
May contain Pathogens (disease) and eggs from other organisms, unless its irradiated.
Has a Huge water content and this is what you are paying for.
Live Foods:
The freshest and most nutritious supplements are of course live foods, the most commonly used being Baby brine shrimp, tubifex worm micro-worms and vinegar eels. Baby brine shrimp being favoured as a growth supplement to fry food by most breeders. as with the above foods care must be taken not to feed too much of these protein rich foods.
Other supplements:
Spirulina, a mineral, protein, vitamin and pigment rich food, highly reccomended as a supplement in very small doses, available as a pure powder from health food stores or in flake form.
Beef Heart Flake: A nutrient and protein rich flake used for growth.
Lean meat+veg:
blanched greens, squashed shelled peas and very lean minced meat can also be used for treats. Beware as these should be removed as soon as the fish have finished eating.
Flake Food
Possibly the cheapest alternative is to buy a Total Tropical, or Community Tank food. These foods are usually slightly more expensive than normal food but are usually supplemented with both greens and meats to cover all possible fish types. They are also usually supplemented with vitamins and pigments for colour and health. A very good product that can improve colour and possibly size of fish. Another good food is the Fortified flakes with added pigments and vitamins.
Freezedried foods
The next cheapest alternative is the freezedried foods. These are Freezedried bloodworm, Tubifex worm and brineshrimp. These can be given as a treat every other day, or a VERY small amount crumbled up with every feeding. Beware as although these high protein foods will increase growth they will also severeley stunt it if fed in excess as the damage a fishes kidneys in large amounts.
Frozen Foods
possibly the freshest foods you can purchase without the trouble of live food. These give good nutritional value and fish LOVE them but there are good points and bad points to consider.
Good:
Fish LOVE frozen Bloodworm and brineshrimp, possibly contains more nutrient than freezedried product.
Its very fresh
Promotes breeding and growth in fish.
Bad:
Uneaten product Spoils and contaminates tank VERY quickly.
May contain Pathogens (disease) and eggs from other organisms, unless its irradiated.
Has a Huge water content and this is what you are paying for.
Live Foods:
The freshest and most nutritious supplements are of course live foods, the most commonly used being Baby brine shrimp, tubifex worm micro-worms and vinegar eels. Baby brine shrimp being favoured as a growth supplement to fry food by most breeders. as with the above foods care must be taken not to feed too much of these protein rich foods.
Other supplements:
Spirulina, a mineral, protein, vitamin and pigment rich food, highly reccomended as a supplement in very small doses, available as a pure powder from health food stores or in flake form.
Beef Heart Flake: A nutrient and protein rich flake used for growth.
Lean meat+veg:
blanched greens, squashed shelled peas and very lean minced meat can also be used for treats. Beware as these should be removed as soon as the fish have finished eating.
