How to Feed Goldfish Tropical Fish Food

Goldfish have somewhat different feeding requirements from many other commonly available species of fish. Goldfish are coldwater fish, and though they are omnivores, would generally spend most of their days grazing on algae and plant matter in a wild or pond setting. Because of this, feeding a tropical fish flake or pelleted diet will require some adjustments to make it suitable to keep your goldfish healthy long-term.

Instructions

    • 1

      Soak the tropical fish food for 30 to 40 seconds (for flakes) up to five minutes (for pellets) in a small dish of aquarium water, until the food no longer floats. This will prevent your goldfish from swallowing mouthfuls of air as it eats, which can upset its digestion.

    • 2

      Feed at least twice per day in small amounts. This will help prevent overeating and bloating at each meal. Offer your fish as much food as it will eat in a minute or two at each feeding, and adjust the amount of food slightly depending on how often you feed. Goldfish can be prone to overeating, so monitor your fish's size and intake carefully.

    • 3

      Supplement the tropical fish food with spirulina (algae) flakes or pellets, and occasional live or frozen fresh foods, such as daphnia and brine shrimp. Variety in your fish's diet will help to ensure that it gets the full spectrum of nutrition needed, and will help balance some of the inadequacies of a tropical food-only diet. You can also offer fresh blanched spinach or cooked shelled peas from time to time.

    • 4

      Watch your goldfish carefully for signs of bloating or intestinal blockage. Goldfish can be constipated easily, especially on a tropical fish food diet alone. If your goldfish seems to be having trouble expelling, skip feeding for a day. If the fish still seems bloated, offer a little spirulina or brine shrimp, which can act as natural laxatives for your goldfish.

    • 5

      Throw away tropical fish food that has been opened for a prolonged period of time. Tropical fish food can go stale and loose nutritional potency after several months, so purchasing smaller containers of food may be a good way to get the most nutritional value out of the food.