Feeding Saltwater Fish and Invertebrates

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Feeding Saltwater Fish & Invertebrates

Feeding Saltwater Fish & Invertebrates is one of the trickiest jobs in already demanding Marine Aquarium keeping. Consuming nutrients actively is vital for the well being of your aquatic pets. By being systematic and organized in your approach, you can always keep, feeding Saltwater Fish & invertebrates, a simple process. Basically, you have to see that the feeding Saltwater Fish & Invertebrates in captivity is as close to their natural habitat as possible. Let’s explore some basic steps crucial for feeding Saltwater Fish & Invertebrates.

The Feeding Categories. This helps determine the category of feeder your aquatic pets fall into so that you may resort to the right type of food and methodologies for feeding saltwater fish & invertebrates.

Based on the type of food consumed.

Carnivores. They consume other organisms, living or dead. In the terms of Marine Aquarium, Carnivores basically eat small Marine Fish, Crustaceans, and other Invertebrates. Some common Carnivores are, Cardinals, Dottybacks, Eels, Frogs/Anglers, Grammas, Groupers, Hamlets, Hawks, Lions/Scorpions, Pipefishes, Porcupines, Puffers, Seabasses, Sharks, Snappers, Soldierfishes, Squirrels, and Triggers.

Herbivores. They feed upon marine plants, including Algae. Tangs, Surgeons, some Blenny, Sea Urchins, Hermit Crabs, True Crabs, and Starfishes are some common Herbivores.

Omnivores. They consume all types of foods, Animals, Plants, Detritus, and Algae. Damsels, Clownfish, Cow/Boxfish, Anthias, Blennies, Gobies, Dottybacks, Filefish, Goatfish, Seahorse, Spade/Batfish, Sweetlips, Wrasses/Hogfishes, and Moorish Idols are the common Omnivores.

Based on the type of feeding mechanism.

Predators. They are Carnivores and hunt their food to eat it.

Scavengers. They consume hunted left over by Predators and Detritus. Most of the aquatic pets are Scavengers, including some Herbivores.

Filter Feeders. They are sessile animals that use ciliary movement to steer small food particles to their oral activity. Sea Cucumbers, Starfishes, Marine Worms, and Sea Anemones are some examples of Filter Feeders.

Suspension Feeders. They are also sessile animals whose food consists of small particles suspended in water. Corals, Tube Worms, Sponges, and Tunicates are some examples of Suspension Feeders.

Sand Sifters. They search through sand at the bottom of the aquarium to find Crustaceans, Copepods, and Amphipods. Mandarinfish / Dragonets, Blenny, and Goby are some Sand Sifters.

Feeding Saltwater Fish & Invertebrates - Aquarium Foods. Aquarium foods, especially Pellets, Flakes, Sticks, Wafers, and Granules, are usually consumed by Filter Feeders, and Suspension Feeders. Use sinking foods for Sand Sifters and bottom dwellers. Some fish, especially predators, may resist eating fish food initially, while some may just not resort to it. In this case, you may introduce some live feeding stock in the aquarium on a regular basis so that your predator pets, including some Sand Sifters, do not starve. You may also use Frozen and not boiled foods, such as, Lettuce leaves, Broccoli, and Carrots, preferably dipped in some Vitamin supplement. Thaw these frozen bits to soften them well. Place green, leafy food under rocks and caves to give a feel of natural habitat.

Water Movement. It is very important that you keep moderate to strong water current in your aquarium for feeding saltwater fish & invertebrates, especially so if you are keeping Suspension and Filter Feeders.

Feeding Tools.

Feeding Tongs. You may use Feeding Tools, especially Tongs, for feeding saltwater fish & invertebrates that are Sessile and stinging such as, Eels, Lionfish, and Groupers. Initially, your aquatic pets may withdraw themselves after seeing a Tong. They will however be fine as they get habitual of it.

Automatic Feeders. They automatically dispense food in the aquarium at the timed interval. You can keep many days’ quota of food in these feeders for automatic churn out. Automatic Feeders are especially helpful in feeding Saltwater Fish & Invertebrates, if you are going for vacations or are too busy to personally attend to your marine aquarium.