Full Version: Feeding 1-2% Body Weight Of Food Per Day
Since I plan to weigh my fish regularly, I want to feed my fish a more exact amount each day. I had read from Goldfish Connection that their product Medigold was designed to be effective with the sick fish eating 1% of its body mass in food per day. I figured that if a sick fish can eat 1% of its body weight, then a healthy fish should eat at least this amount.
So, I weighed all of my fish, and the total mass of my fish was 350 grams. Yesterday, I tried to feed my fish 5 grams of food (~1.5% body weight) in two servings (2.5 grams in the morning and 2.5 grams at night). They finished the food, but it took them 30 minutes to finish each serving! Incidentally, this amount was way more than what I've been feeding them during the last month. I had heard that goldfish should only be fed what they can eat in 5 minutes. I sure don't think my fish can eat 1% of their body weight using two 5-minute servings per day. What do you guys think?
Thats very interesting. I say break it up into more frequent feedings, maybe a small bit 4-5 times per day? That way they don't stuff themselves all at once. You could try it for a month and see how they do.
QUOTE(Chishower @ Nov 7 2005, 06:24 PM)
Thats very interesting. I say break it up into more frequent feedings, maybe a small bit 4-5 times per day? That way they don't stuff themselves all at once. You could try it for a month and see how they do.
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Bingo! I feed mine at least three times a day; sometimes more if I'm at home during the day.
Wow, that sure sounds like alot of work! I have never weighed my fish....sounds a little stressful. But I have "just fed" my fish for years and it works for fine! 
4-5 times a day! Gosh, these fish have it better than me.
It sounds pretty much like, "Feed them as much as you can"! I wonder if I fed them every two hours, if I could get more than 5% of body weight per day into them. Not sure if it'd be good for them. I guess now that I'm weighing my fish I can try different feeding strategies and see how it affects their growth.
QUOTE(gchen @ Nov 8 2005, 01:10 AM)
4-5 times a day! Gosh, these fish have it better than me. It sounds pretty much like, "Feed them as much as you can"!
I wonder if I fed them every two hours, if I could get more than 5% of body weight per day into them. Not sure if it'd be good for them. I guess now that I'm weighing my fish I can try different feeding strategies and see how it affects their growth.
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It sounds pretty much like, "Feed them as much as you can"! I wonder if I fed them every two hours, if I could get more than 5% of body weight per day into them. Not sure if it'd be good for them. I guess now that I'm weighing my fish I can try different feeding strategies and see how it affects their growth.
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Not quite.... it's "Feed them as much as they'll eat." I've not really found an upper limit on what they'll eat but I haven't really investigated it either. I'm pretty sure they would eat at least once an hour if I was around to feed them that much.
As to the 4-5 times a day bit - it's not really that big a deal; I feed them when I wake up, when I get home from work, sometimes after I eat supper, and before I go to bed. There it is, three or four times. On the weekend, I'll usually make it 4-5 instead of 3-4.
On a feeding schedule like that, they will grow like crazy but the corollary is that you MUST make regular big water changes. My routine is to change 50% of the water in each tank weekly. I hope this helps.
P.S. I'm glad to see that you're studying this scientifically, please share your results with us.
Hmm... After one week, my smallest fish definitely looks like he gained weight. I think he eats a dispropotionate amount of food. His stomach bulges after each meal!
The first week or so when I got my fish, I think i fed them too much and they stomach bulged 
so I cut down on the food. Too much food can lead to intestinal problems.
But again, the another forum encourages "pumping up" ur fish by feeding them for 30 minutes each session, 4-5 sessions a day! The fish grow like crazy, look plump & real fat, but only live 5-6 years before they die of old age. Then again it might be because of the tropical weather in that country that encourages the fish to grow too fast too much
so I cut down on the food. Too much food can lead to intestinal problems.But again, the another forum encourages "pumping up" ur fish by feeding them for 30 minutes each session, 4-5 sessions a day! The fish grow like crazy, look plump & real fat, but only live 5-6 years before they die of old age. Then again it might be because of the tropical weather in that country that encourages the fish to grow too fast too much
So, what other forum are you referring to? Now, I'm curious how Bruce "The Giant Goldfish" was fed. :-).
Hi george , I believe the other site in which is being referred to is Rafflesgold.com. A very good site but a bit harsh for newbies. I read and read alot from that site and is very good.
Not sure what the feeding schedule would have been for bruce but I know he grew up in a tank that was around 700ltrs! Im sure with that amount of space , you could pretty much feed him most of the day!!!!!
stuey
Not sure what the feeding schedule would have been for bruce but I know he grew up in a tank that was around 700ltrs! Im sure with that amount of space , you could pretty much feed him most of the day!!!!!
stuey
I think Bruce's gigantic proportions is mostly due to genetics I guess he's fed the same food as his pond-mates
I guess he's fed the same food as his pond-mates
Another feeding and my little fish is bulging again! The scary thing is I've never seen this little fish poop! Is he just constipated or is he just assimilating everything he eats to muscle mass?!
If he's really bulging, I'd cut down the food better to have healthy fish rather than obese fish
better to have healthy fish rather than obese fish
George - if he's not pooping then he's badly constipated. Depending on how much you feed in a sitting, small amounts several times a day is good. A goldies digestive tract is like a tube that goes from their mouth to their behind and when overfeeding, what comes in the entrance will usually push out what's already in the tract... and the best way to tell if your feeding habits are good is when your goldie does small 1/4 inch stubby poops - but when they don't poop, then something in the diet may be causing a blockage. When you see long poop trailing, it means that they're not really digesting anything and it's just coming out as it goes in.
So in moderation, and with careful monitoring - several feedings is ok.... but you need to address why they're not going to the loo. What is their diet made up of? Is there too much protein?
Just as an aside - when feeding several times a day, keep your eye on your waterquality as it can play havoc with your parameters
So in moderation, and with careful monitoring - several feedings is ok.... but you need to address why they're not going to the loo. What is their diet made up of? Is there too much protein?
Just as an aside - when feeding several times a day, keep your eye on your waterquality as it can play havoc with your parameters
Well, I don't watch my fish all the time. Just because I don't see the little fish poop doesn't mean that he doesn't. Are there any sure ways to tell if a fish is constipated. I've been feeding my fish mostly Pro-Gold.
QUOTE(JenW @ Nov 10 2005, 03:01 AM)
George - if he's not pooping then he's badly constipated. Depending on how much you feed in a sitting, small amounts several times a day is good. A goldies digestive tract is like a tube that goes from their mouth to their behind and when overfeeding, what comes in the entrance will usually push out what's already in the tract... and the best way to tell if your feeding habits are good is when your goldie does small 1/4 inch stubby poops - but when they don't poop, then something in the diet may be causing a blockage. When you see long poop trailing, it means that they're not really digesting anything and it's just coming out as it goes in.
So in moderation, and with careful monitoring - several feedings is ok.... but you need to address why they're not going to the loo. What is their diet made up of? Is there too much protein?
Just as an aside - when feeding several times a day, keep your eye on your waterquality as it can play havoc with your parameters
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So in moderation, and with careful monitoring - several feedings is ok.... but you need to address why they're not going to the loo. What is their diet made up of? Is there too much protein?
Just as an aside - when feeding several times a day, keep your eye on your waterquality as it can play havoc with your parameters
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Lol - yes, there'd be something wrong with us if we watched our fish 24/7
The esiest way to show constipation is by a pic Constipation - you can see the distended abdomen where food is gathering so this is a pretty good indication
The esiest way to show constipation is by a pic Constipation - you can see the distended abdomen where food is gathering so this is a pretty good indication
QUOTE(JenW @ Nov 10 2005, 02:41 PM)
Lol - yes, there'd be something wrong with us if we watched our fish 24/7
The esiest way to show constipation is by a pic Constipation - you can see the distended abdomen where food is gathering so this is a pretty good indication
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The esiest way to show constipation is by a pic Constipation - you can see the distended abdomen where food is gathering so this is a pretty good indication
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Hmm... Sort of looks like my fish. However, he's a ranchu, and most ranchus have big stomachs.
Ranchu does have a big stomach, but u can kinda see if it's really bulging. If I feed mine too much, the belly right behind the "chin" is swollen
I finally saw the little guy poop.
. He's definitely growing the fastest. He may double his weight within the first two weeks! This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.