How many times do I feed my fish ?

[alexmtl]

For the beginning aquarist, it is tough to know how much to feed your fish. For many reasons, and well-meaning and conscientious intentions, most tend to over feed. How do we know how much to feed and how often ?

Canada Aquaria members post their thoughts on a timeless question : How do I know if the fish are getting enough food ?

[Starfish]

I feed my fish once a day, usually skipping one day a week. I picked Saturday for the fasting day, as that is the day I may be out or away anyway. Like most members on the forum, I try to vary the fish's diet alternating between granules, frozen shrimp, frozen daphnia, tubifex worms, dried homemade stuff from Pamelajo, zucchini and cucumber. In summer, I search standing water outside for mosquito larvae. The fish love that.

I prefer granules over flakes if I have bottom feeders. In the 10g where there are mostly top feeders and no bottom feeders, I use flakes.

[GaryE]

We have a hobby without rules. Nature is all about adaptation, and fish come from nature. I usually feed once per day for adult fish, and 2 or 3 times daily for juvenile fish growing up. I have one fast day per week for adults.
Leaner is better for fish, and I find they live longer and look better on six feedings a week.
You always have to take the time to read on your fish though. My mollies pick at food all day long, and they love not very nutritious algae and dead plants. I feed them higher fibre vegetable based foods, and go easy on the protein (for adults). I might feed them twice daily some days, with a green food.
I keep my swordtail species in tanks with a lot of water movement - they love a good current. They are always hungry and can lose weight quickly, so they get the odd second feeding as well.
If you double feed a glowlight tetra or a black neon, you'll have an ill and obese fish in no time. They are slow metabolism fish. You really have to consider the natural life of the fish. The rule for one fish may not apply to another.

Always remember that what goes in must come out. The more you feed, the more important regular water changes become...

[the clean guy]

I use a auto feeder set for once a day