Melody
Apr 9th 2007, 02:01 AM
Herbivores / Omnivores / Carnivores
Shirlie Sharpe, About.com's Freshwater Fish expert, sums it all up nicely...
"Not all fish require the same diet. Like other organisms, a fish is designed with a mouth, teeth, and an digestive tract that is intended for certain types of food. It's important to keep in mind that any living creature will eat virtually anything if they are hungry enough. In other words, don't make broad assumptions about the dietary needs of a fish based on observation alone. Do your homework and find out what the fish needs to eat to remain healthy."
Too many fish foods claim to be the Holy Grail. They claim that one staple food is all you need, regardless of what type of fish you have. That couldn't be farther from the truth, based on many considerations. The broad consideration is the general classification of the fish in regards to diet: Herbivore, Omnivore or Carnivore being the main categories. Those classifications alone make a mockery of any claim that one food is sufficient for all fish. Combine that with the fact that fish in these categories can have difficulty digesting/utilizing foods that are appropriate for another category, and there is just no way that any one food can be optimum for them all.
Herbivores and Omnivores can be kept in the same tank and fed the same diet for the most part. Some Omnivores lean more towards one category than the other, but that can be addressed with feeding more of what they need a few times/week. Since it won't inhibit digestion if the variety is there, all of the fish will remain healthy. There are exceptions to this rule though, with some Herbivores having a more efficient and tolerant digestive system than others - research is important.
Carnivores, on the other hand, require a great deal of protein derived from seafood, crustaceans, insects, etc. They do ingest vegetation in the stomachs of their prey, and that's about it. Their stomach is big and their digestive tract is short. They cannot digest vegetable matter and therefore they get no nutrition from it. It is recommended that they have a tank of their own so their specific requirements can be met. That is also recommended because they're more inclined to make a lunch of the other tank occupants if they can do so.:wideeyed:
Herbivore
Herbivores are probably the most abused fish in regards to nutrition in captivity. Most Herbivores use an intestine to break down vegetation, rather than having a stomach. This means they absolutely require vegetation and their intake of other foods should be very limited. Too much of the latter can cause serious digestive issues that can lead to their untimely death or leave them in a constant state of distress.
The amount and frequency should also be a concern for your Herbivore. They can't fill their stomach and be done with it for hours, they have to eat smaller amounts of food, more often. Vegetable protein should make up a great deal of their protein requirements, such as that found in Algae/Seaweed. This is also an often overlooked fact - not all protein comes from meaty foods.
Herbivores are often considered to be 'messy' fish due to the amount of waste they produce, so be prepared to clean up after them. Don't buy into the 'cleaner' claims of foods when it comes to these fish - if they're not producing a considerable amount of waste, they're not digesting their food properly and are not being fed a proper diet.
The average Herbivore should be fed a diet which contains approximately 30-40% protein, 1-3% fat and 2-6% Fiber. (Rhett A. Butler, Mongabay)
Some examples of Herbivores are Pacu, Tropheus, Silver Dollars and Yellow Tangs.
Omnivore
Omnivorous fish are easy to accomodate in home aquaria for the most part, and they are the most common of all in the aquarium trade. They can't digest everything efficently (such as some grains), but with a varied diet their needs are easily met. Some Omnivores require more of one food type than the other, such as algae-loving fish needing their veggies, making specific research helpful in this category as well. Plecos, for example, are classed as Omnivorous but should be fed more vegetable matter than your average Omnivore.
The average Omnivore should be fed a diet which contains approximately 30-40% protein, 2-5% fat and 3-8% Fiber. (Rhett A. Butler, Mongabay)
Some examples of Omnivores include Platy's, Discus, Tetras, Gourami, Rams and Clownfish.
Carnivore
Carnivores are the meat-lovers of the crowd. They wolf down chunks of food and don't bother chewing it. Their digestive system is built to handle their impolite eating habits, but it is not built to derive nutrients from vegetation. Some of these fish will only eat live foods, others will also tolerate frozen or freeze-dried foods. Still others will take flakes or pellets. If I had to choose a fish that pellets are most appropriate for in regards to processed foods, it would be this group.
Some Carnivores should also be fed smaller amounts, more frequently, such as those which feed primarily on small crustaceans, zooplankton or insects in the wild.
The average Carnivore should be fed a diet which contains approximately 45-70% protein, 3-6% fat and not more than 2-4% Fiber. (Rhett A. Butler, Mongabay)
Some examples of Carnivores are Halfbeaks, Piranhas, Oscars and Triggerfish.
As you can see in this very brief summary, the dietary requirements of our fish can vary widely. Even within the main categories, there are exceptions and special considerations. As always, I recommend a varied diet based as closely as possible on the wild feeding habits of your specific fish.
=====================================
Sources:
About.com Freshwater Fish
Mongabay
Feeding Tropical Fishes the Right Way (Book by S. Dreyer)
=====================================
© Please note: While you are welcome to link directly to this thread, the contents are copyright CanadianAquariumConnection.com and cannot be copied (all or in part). Thank you for respecting the effort that we have put into our content.
=====================================
Shirlie Sharpe, About.com's Freshwater Fish expert, sums it all up nicely...
"Not all fish require the same diet. Like other organisms, a fish is designed with a mouth, teeth, and an digestive tract that is intended for certain types of food. It's important to keep in mind that any living creature will eat virtually anything if they are hungry enough. In other words, don't make broad assumptions about the dietary needs of a fish based on observation alone. Do your homework and find out what the fish needs to eat to remain healthy."
Too many fish foods claim to be the Holy Grail. They claim that one staple food is all you need, regardless of what type of fish you have. That couldn't be farther from the truth, based on many considerations. The broad consideration is the general classification of the fish in regards to diet: Herbivore, Omnivore or Carnivore being the main categories. Those classifications alone make a mockery of any claim that one food is sufficient for all fish. Combine that with the fact that fish in these categories can have difficulty digesting/utilizing foods that are appropriate for another category, and there is just no way that any one food can be optimum for them all.
Herbivores and Omnivores can be kept in the same tank and fed the same diet for the most part. Some Omnivores lean more towards one category than the other, but that can be addressed with feeding more of what they need a few times/week. Since it won't inhibit digestion if the variety is there, all of the fish will remain healthy. There are exceptions to this rule though, with some Herbivores having a more efficient and tolerant digestive system than others - research is important.
Carnivores, on the other hand, require a great deal of protein derived from seafood, crustaceans, insects, etc. They do ingest vegetation in the stomachs of their prey, and that's about it. Their stomach is big and their digestive tract is short. They cannot digest vegetable matter and therefore they get no nutrition from it. It is recommended that they have a tank of their own so their specific requirements can be met. That is also recommended because they're more inclined to make a lunch of the other tank occupants if they can do so.:wideeyed:
Herbivore
Herbivores are probably the most abused fish in regards to nutrition in captivity. Most Herbivores use an intestine to break down vegetation, rather than having a stomach. This means they absolutely require vegetation and their intake of other foods should be very limited. Too much of the latter can cause serious digestive issues that can lead to their untimely death or leave them in a constant state of distress.
The amount and frequency should also be a concern for your Herbivore. They can't fill their stomach and be done with it for hours, they have to eat smaller amounts of food, more often. Vegetable protein should make up a great deal of their protein requirements, such as that found in Algae/Seaweed. This is also an often overlooked fact - not all protein comes from meaty foods.
Herbivores are often considered to be 'messy' fish due to the amount of waste they produce, so be prepared to clean up after them. Don't buy into the 'cleaner' claims of foods when it comes to these fish - if they're not producing a considerable amount of waste, they're not digesting their food properly and are not being fed a proper diet.
The average Herbivore should be fed a diet which contains approximately 30-40% protein, 1-3% fat and 2-6% Fiber. (Rhett A. Butler, Mongabay)
Some examples of Herbivores are Pacu, Tropheus, Silver Dollars and Yellow Tangs.
Omnivore
Omnivorous fish are easy to accomodate in home aquaria for the most part, and they are the most common of all in the aquarium trade. They can't digest everything efficently (such as some grains), but with a varied diet their needs are easily met. Some Omnivores require more of one food type than the other, such as algae-loving fish needing their veggies, making specific research helpful in this category as well. Plecos, for example, are classed as Omnivorous but should be fed more vegetable matter than your average Omnivore.
The average Omnivore should be fed a diet which contains approximately 30-40% protein, 2-5% fat and 3-8% Fiber. (Rhett A. Butler, Mongabay)
Some examples of Omnivores include Platy's, Discus, Tetras, Gourami, Rams and Clownfish.
Carnivore
Carnivores are the meat-lovers of the crowd. They wolf down chunks of food and don't bother chewing it. Their digestive system is built to handle their impolite eating habits, but it is not built to derive nutrients from vegetation. Some of these fish will only eat live foods, others will also tolerate frozen or freeze-dried foods. Still others will take flakes or pellets. If I had to choose a fish that pellets are most appropriate for in regards to processed foods, it would be this group.
Some Carnivores should also be fed smaller amounts, more frequently, such as those which feed primarily on small crustaceans, zooplankton or insects in the wild.
The average Carnivore should be fed a diet which contains approximately 45-70% protein, 3-6% fat and not more than 2-4% Fiber. (Rhett A. Butler, Mongabay)
Some examples of Carnivores are Halfbeaks, Piranhas, Oscars and Triggerfish.
As you can see in this very brief summary, the dietary requirements of our fish can vary widely. Even within the main categories, there are exceptions and special considerations. As always, I recommend a varied diet based as closely as possible on the wild feeding habits of your specific fish.
=====================================
Sources:
About.com Freshwater Fish
Mongabay
Feeding Tropical Fishes the Right Way (Book by S. Dreyer)
=====================================
© Please note: While you are welcome to link directly to this thread, the contents are copyright CanadianAquariumConnection.com and cannot be copied (all or in part). Thank you for respecting the effort that we have put into our content.
=====================================