How to Feed Fish Alfalfa Pellets

Alfalfa pellets are a nutritional, tasty way to keep your fish well-fed. However, they can cause some serious side effects if you give them to your fish improperly prepared. If you do not want to find your fish with a bad case of the "floaters" (when fish have trouble swimming upright and much below the surface of the water), then make sure that you have fed them properly if you decide to feed them alfalfa pellets. The main fish that have problem with pellet foods are goldfish. This preparation for feeding may not be necessary if you have other types of fish, but you should check with a professional if you are unsure.

Things You'll Need

  • Alfalfa pellets
  • Plastic storage container
  • Aquarium water
  • Fish food liquid pre-soak supplement
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure out your alfalfa pellets. You will need to use the number of fish in the aquarium and the size of the fish to determine how many pellets you will need for any one feeding. Since every pellet varies by manufacturer, check the instructions to determine how many pellets you need. You can place them in the plastic storage container.

    • 2

      Add a half cup of aquarium water to the plastic container. Do not use tap water, since this can poison your fish.

    • 3

      Add a pre-soak supplement. This supplement will add any additional nutrients that your fish may not be getting from the alfalfa. You will need to work with a fish professional to determine the right type of pre-soak for your specific aquarium inhabitants.

    • 4

      Soak the pellets for about five minutes. This should give them plenty of time to get mushy.

    • 5

      Squeeze the air out of the pellets. Likely, they will have sunk to the bottom or be floating near the bottom. Use your fingers -- make sure that your hands are clean -- to squeeze the air out of the alfalfa pellets.

    • 6

      Feed the pellets to your fish. Drop the pellets into the aquarium or fish bowl. They will sink fairly quickly. The lack of air will prevent your fish from swallowing too much air and ending up with air bladder disease.