The Food the Fish is very varied. Depending on the species, they eat everything that swims in front of their mouths, from plankton to small fish. In Europe, there are no pure herbivores. A distinction is made between coarse fish and predatory fish, although coarse fish, when fully grown, also like to eat a smaller fish from time to time.
There are real gourmets among fish. Trout, for example, when they live in nutrient-rich rivers, feed exclusively on freshwater shrimp. They are a delicacy for the trout. Feeding on freshwater shrimp turns the fish's flesh red and contains a lot of vitamin A. A trout whose flesh is white has only fed on insects. If a trout is large but very slender, its diet consisted only of fish. However, this is only the case in their natural environment.
Feeding habits of fish
If you take a closer look at the fish in the aquarium, you will find that they are divided into different categories. A distinction is made between:
- Herbivores and algae eaters
- Omnivores
- Carnivores
All fish belonging to the coarse fish family also feed on plants. Some fish, such as tench and crucian carp, can even switch entirely to a purely plant-based diet. Even trout eat a certain amount of aquatic plants. Their preference is filamentous algae.
Native predatory fish, which include the pike, mainly eat small fish. The catfish has very special preferences. Its menu includes not only fish but also frogs, beetles, mussels, water rats, and water birds. The pike and the zander are not so demanding. They eat the fish that are found in the waters. Perch eat small crustaceans and fish.
Some fish also get their food from the air. They are insectivores and catch any insects that are near the water surface.
As you can clearly see, most fish that live in our local waters are omnivores.
The food must be suitable for the mouth, which means that the food should be adapted to both the size and the shape of the fish's mouth. Small nano-fish need smaller food in the form of granules or dust. Furthermore, you have to pay attention to how the fish want to take the food; some fish take food from the bottom, so sinking food, e.g., in tablet form, is needed here.
Fish in the aquarium
Fish in the aquarium have a very special advantage over their counterparts living in the wild. They don't have to worry much about finding food. They get their food from human hands, tailored exactly to their needs and preferences. There is an amazing amount of different types of food in pet shops. Fish food contains everything a fish needs for a healthy life. Make sure you dose the fish food exactly according to the instructions. If you feed too much, the fish can become obese and die prematurely.
Read also:Â Which pets are suitable for children?
Photo by Sabine, meinhaushalt.at
