What Fish Food Makes Fish Grow Bigger?

Fish are amazing creatures. Some species actually never stop growing until they perish. In the wild, fish forage for food to survive, which can limit growth due to availability and predation by other larger animals. In a captive environment however, this is normally a non-issue as predation is low and food is in a steady supply. The type of food the fish eats does have a direct correlation to size, however, and knowing what type of food to feed is of the utmost importance.

  1. Types

    • The types of fish food that are available today are almost as plentiful as the fish they are made for. Flake, pellet and frozen being the most commonly available with some fish requiring live food solely. The main thing to consider when feeding for size is protein content. The higher the protein content, the larger the fish will grow. This is due to the fact that protein feeds muscle, and fish are primarily muscle.

    Flake Food

    • Flake food is the most commonly used type of food, as it has the longest shelf life due to its moisture content. This food is also the cheapest type that you can buy with the lowest protein content. It is ideal if you are either on a budget or do not want the fish to grow at a rapid rate.

    Pellet

    • Pellet food is a close second in terms of use compared to flake. It is designed to sink rather than float, making it ideal for mid-water swimmers. Pellet-type food is also higher in protein than flake, making it a more nutritious form of sustenance.

    Frozen Food

    • Frozen food normally consists of brine shrimp or some other type of small crustacean or chopped fish, although occasionally frozen food will contain some type of algae. This is easily the best food to feed most carnivorous fish as it has the highest concentration of protein of food that is readily available.

    Live Food

    • Live food contains the highest amount of protein as it is pure and unprocessed. This is the perfect food for South American and African cichlids or any other salt or freshwater carnivorous fish.