Fish Fasting

Just curious, does everyone fast their fish one day a week?

I read that in my Aquariums for Dummies book, and have been doing it. But I always feel kinda guilty about it especially when I see them looking at me during chow time.

We don't fast our fish. Most days they are fed twice, but somedays they only get fed once, but no fasting. Shouldn't be hard on them though, most fish can go days without being fed. Oliver Lucanus talked at the show about how most fishkeepers overfeed their fish. I'm not opposed to fasting, I just usually can't even remember what I had for breakfast, let alone remembering which day is fasting day.

I fast two days a week -- Saturday and Sunday except for young fish and those I want to produce young fish.

Mine get fed when I feel like it. 4 to 5 days a week. I let them clean up the tank well. Mind you all my tanks have plants in them and are stocked at a very low level. If I were getting them into breeding condition, or growing fry it would be different.

95% of fish keepers over feed their fish. Fasting them once a week won't hurt anything. Same thing with vacations, unless you have fry too feed, don't worry about them for a week or two. Having a non-fish person feed them (by which I mean overfeed them) will just pollute their water.

JollyT wrote:

95% of fish keepers over feed their fish.

Yep, but they are likely just following the directions on the fish food container.

I fast adults but I'm also unable to remember what day it is so basically they get fed 5-6 days a week, randomly. However, I never make them go 2 days in a row, the stares and guilt don't allow it.

Sometimes I concentrate on feeding one kind of fish over the others in community tanks. For instance one night I might only put bottom feeder food in, knowing darn well that the top feeders will go down there and pick at it anyway. The next night I might feed the upper dwellers very well, knowing that some of it will get down to the bottom dwellers anyway.

I think that is one method that helps me avoid overfeeding in community tanks.

OUt of forgetfullnes In fast my fish once or twice a week. When I go out of town I also do this. For instance this weekend I am going out of town. The fish won't eat for those four days. I will feed them bloodworms before I go and when I get back. I have some young fry and am up in arms on what to do for them. They should be ok but I hate chancing it. Since it will be right about the same time as they are beginning to be ready for food I will most likely put in some java moss. I've had fry do fine with that for a couple days.

I don't usually fast my fish. They get fed once a day and only what they can eat in a few minutes which is surprisingly quite a bit! The fry tanks however get fed 3 times a day.

When I get my fish I will fast them once or twice a week. There is a friend of mine that only feeds his fish ONCE a week! I think this is TOO little, but I am no fish expert.

Somebody_Special wrote:

When I get my fish I will fast them once or twice a week. There is a friend of mine that only feeds his fish ONCE a week! I think this is TOO little, but I am no fish expert.

wow that is kinda little...makes em grow real slow too...
once in awhile i will let my fish go without food for a day or two but no more than that...

It gets easier as my Alzheimer progresses, Willie

Somebody_Special wrote:

When I get my fish I will fast them once or twice a week. There is a friend of mine that only feeds his fish ONCE a week! I think this is TOO little, but I am no fish expert.

They might live longer that way. In general, caloric restriction increases lifespan .

Those who dive in lakes or snorkel in rivers and stay there for hours to observe fish in their natural habitat always say tank fish get more food in five min than a wild fish will obtain all day.

Someone else asked how to keep tank fish entertained. Wild fish do not need entertainment. They spend all day every day trying to procure enough food to stay alive.

Are tank raised fish larger than wild fish - yes.
Do tank raised fish live longer than wild fish - yes it fish keeper knows how.
The reason why is tank raised fish are fed much better than wild fish.

No fasting, but when I'm on vacation, sometimes they go without food for 2 to 4 days and they're fine (malawi cichlids). I guess it all depends on what kinds of fish you keep. Malawi cichlids should be able to go about 7 days without any issues. Heck, some females go without food for 20 days when they are holding fry.

I fast the adult Bettas once or twice a week, and when I am out of town for dog shows most of the adult fish fast, sometimes for as much as a week. Just left them for five days, had Ron feed only the babies, and everyone looked great except the tank with Ich which lost some of its residents.

Sue