OK, I just did some ballpark estimates.

My 1/2 oz bottle of Chlor out looks to be about the same volume as my 1.5" fish (head to anus). Assuming the density of the fish is approximately that of water, I would estimate that my fish weighs approximately 15 g. Assuming that a fish needs 1% of its bodyweight in food per day, this comes out to 0.15 g.

Looking down at a bag of Hikari Lionhead food (3.5 oz size, 100g), I see about 200 pellets. Assuming the bag is about 30 pellets deep, I estimate that there are about 6000 pellets per bag. Therefore, 1 g of food is approximately 60 pellets. 0.15 g of food ~ 9 pellets.

I have four 1.5" fish, so at their current size, the bag of Hikari food would last almost six months.

So, how do my estimates compare to your real-world experience? 9 pellets a day is actually more than I expected.

Those are some very interesting calculations. There are some other factors involved. For one, young fish tend to need more food, more frequently. Kinda like us humans. If you're fish are frantic at feedings and gobble it all up within a minute, then you might consider feeding more. On the other hand... by the time most Goldfish reach us, all they've know is survival and competition. They come from huge farms where it's eat or be eaten. Stores often under-feed a bit as well. They need to be taught how much food is good for them. So, in my opinion, it's not so cut and dry. Figuring out how much to feed is definitely an issue. Kudos to you for doing the math!

i got lost half way through the calculation
you dont need to get into the nitty gritty details
just as much as the fish can chomp in a few minutes
2-3 times a day
i mean to you weigh out how much you eat
its not important is it
you just got to learn how much is sufficient for your fish
and thatll be fine

Well, I think a lot less of us would be overweight if we rationed our food based on percentage body weight. :-). I probably eat about 1% of my bodyweight in food per day. However, I'm warm blooded and require more energy. Maybe, fish require less... I thought 1% is a good place to start. Also, Goldfish connection mentioned something about a fish eating 1-3% of their body mass in food.

Here's an article at goldfish connection that suggests to me that feeding a fish 1% of it's body weight in food is reasonable.

http://www.goldfishconnection.com/articles...=59&parentId=11

It talks about how fish only need to eat 1% of its weight in food to get the proper amount of medication in their special food.

Goldfish can get by with very little food, but feeding them what they can eat in a few minutes 3-4 times a day (which will probably be significantly more than 1% body weight) won't hurt, and it will help with the growth of young fish. With more frequent feedings I'd be more concerned about fouling up the water than detrimental effects to the fish.

Yeah, I don't think feeding them three times as much will hurt the fish, but the biological load would be three times as great. I fed my fish only 9 pellets each today, and they still pooped. :-).

Has anyone's fish grown huge with just a moderate feeding every one or two days?

if you want your fish to grow quickly
dont use flake food
feed them mosquito larvae
and watch them grow

Another huge thing that needs to be taken into consideration is the temperature of the water that they ae in ther higher it is ther higher their food needs are. Also the activity level of the fish. A really active fantail will need to be fed more than a bubble eye of comparable size that sits on the bottom most of the day.


Imo this really is not something that needs to be figured out since great fish health can be fed by a estimate alone. Myself i feed very irregulary, anywhere from 0-5 times a day, anywhere from what they eat in 30 seconds to in 5-6 minutes (less time for concentrated food like pellets, more for veggies, and fruit). I feel this a much more natural and healthy way to feed my goldfish, since this is more how they would get fed outside in a more "natural enviroment" (yes i know its not really natural, but feral goldfish that i have seen are larger and healthier than any others i have seen). yet i also feed about the same amount per month every month, so they are not starving, or getting overweight.

Thats just my thoughts on the matter...