Are you feeding your fish too much?
In short, if there is left over food in your pond after about 5-10 minutes of putting it in there, then yes, you’re overfeeding. However, as you’re asking this question we assume you’d like to know a little more about feeding, so here’s everything you need to know, starting with a statement you really need to remember:
More fish die from over feeding than underfeeding
And here’s why:
- Decaying food creates ammonia in your pond (as does fish waste) which upsets the balance of your pond and harms your fish.
- Fish don’t need to feed every day. Unlike humans some fish can sustain themselves for a couple of days without eating or will scavenge for food in the pond. Now this is not to say you shouldn’t feed them, but to be aware that less is more.
“But how do I know how much to feed my fish?”
Here are a few tips:
- All fish are different so don’t treat them all the same.
- The rule of thumb is to feed your fish the amount they will eat in 5-10 minutes
- You can start by estimating a small amount of food, leaving it in the pond for 5-10 minutes and then removing any leftovers.
- If a lot is left cut down the portion next time
- If none is left try adding a bit more next time to find a balance
- We suggest feeding your fish 2 to 3 times a day
- The most important tip for fish feeding is to remove anything left uneaten. This will cut down on the harmful chemicals caused by rotting food waste and make your fish much healthier and happier.