Choosing Fish Foods.....By Shirlie Sharpe, About.com

Choosing the right food for your fish is a key factor in maintaining the health and long life of your pet. Although there is no single food that is good for every fish, if you follow these four basic steps you won't go wrong.

Dietary Type
Fish owners often do not consider, or even know, the type of diet a fish is born to eat. A cow has the teeth and digestive system for grazing on grasses, while a lion has the teeth and digestive system for consuming meat. Likewise, different fish are built to eat different types of foods. Do some research on your fish and determine what dietary type your fish is (omnivore, herbivore, or carnivore). Certain species of fish have very specific dietary needs, as do newly hatched fry.

Where and When
Become familiar with where and when your fish prefer to eat. Although many fish eat from the top of the water, some graze on the bottom. Likewise, even though most fish eat during daylight hours, some eat only at night. For the bottom feeders, be sure to choose some sinking foods. The nocturnal feeders should be fed after the lights are turned off.

Variety is Spice of Life
Regardless of what type of food your fish eats, it's important to vary the diet to insure balanced nutrition. A combination of dry as well frozen and fresh/live foods will ensure a well balanced diet.

Keep it Fresh
Fish foods often don't carry an expiration date, but they have a relatively short shelf life. Flake foods lose much of their nutritional value in as little as a month, so purchase only what you can use in a few weeks. Vitamin and nutritional deficiency is a big contributor in making fish susceptible to disease.

If you need help choosing which brands of food are best for you, I've written extensive list of my personal top picks. You'll find them just to the right under the Top Picks heading. Good luck, and happy dining for your fish.

Nutrition 101 for fishes....

ike you, fish need vitamins to lead long, healthy lives. Unfortunately many canned fish foods do not show the vitamin content of foods. Live foods are an even bigger unknown, as flies and worms are not inclined to prominently display nutritional information about themselves. Even if the nutritional values are shown on the food container label, do you know what your fish needs?

Fat
Fish diets should be low in fat. Even meat eating fish (carnivores) require no more than 8 percent in their diet. Plant eaters (herbivores) need no more than 3%. Excessive fat may damage the liver, and can result in disease and early death. Fish have difficulties digesting hard fats, such as those in beef. Saturated fats are particularly harmful, and should be avoided. Polyunsaturated fats such as those in brine shrimp are most digestible, and is useful when conditioning fish for breeding.

Fiber
Although small quantities of fiber aid digestion, they should not be too high. Carnivores are not able to digest fiber well at all, and should not have more than 4 percent in their diets. To remain healthy, herbivores should have between 5 and 10 percent fiber in their diet.

Protein
Protein requirements vary based on the type of fish. However protein is a key element required for good health and growth in all types of fish. Herbivores need 15 to 30 percent protein in their diet, while carnivores need at least 45 percent protein. For vigorous health growth, young fish require 50% or in their diets.

Carbohydrates
Fish do not need a large amount of carbohydrates in their diet. In fact too much can deter proper growth. However considerable debate rages over the amount of carbohydrate fish can tolerate without suffering negative side effects. Perhaps the greatest danger in higher percentages of carbs is the resulting reduction in other essential nutrients. This is particularly true in young fish, which need high levels of protein. Adult fish can tolerate as much as 40 percent carbohydrate in their diet, without ill effects. Most of the carbohydrate in fish food is in the form of starches used to bind the food and prevent it from rapidly disintegrating in the water.

Minerals
Minerals are important for healthy bones, teeth, and even scales. The key minerals fish need are calcium and phosphorus. They also need smaller amounts of iron, iodine, magnesium, sodium, potassium, copper, and zinc. Calcium is found in hard water, and phosphorus is found in live plants. If soft water and artificial plants are used, it is important to supplement the diet with foods containing minerals. Bone or meat meal is a good source of both calcium and phosphorus. Minerals have a long shelf life, and can be found in adequate quantities in good flake foods.

Vitamins
Unlike minerals, vitamins are not stable in prepared foods. Flake foods have adequate vitamin content initially, but it deteriorates rather quickly. Storage in the freezer will prolong the vitamin content, however it is best to buy only what you will use within one or two months. Key vitamins needed for good health are A, D3, E, K, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, C, H, M, and inositol.

Many fish keepers are not aware of the critical role vitamins play in fish health. Lack of Vitamin A can cause back deformities and stunted growth in young fish. Anytime a fish is under stress the need for Vitamin A is increased. Vitamin and E and A are key factors in maintaining fish in top breeding condition. Vitamin K is critical for proper blood clotting.

Vitamins B1, B2, and B6 are important for normal growth. Good digestion requires an adequate amount of Vitamin B3 and C. Vitamin C is also needed for healthy bones and teeth. Both Vitamin B5 and M are key factors in metabolism. Lack of Vitamin H reduces the formation of blood cells and can cause anemia.

Purchasing foods in small quantities, and varying the diet will help assure that your fish have all the nutrients they need for good health and a long life.

How to Select an Aquarium

Here's How:

1. Decide where you are going to place your aquarium. Remember filled tanks are heavy!
2. Measure the area you selected and write it down for reference.
3. Use your measurements and the tank sizes link under Related Features to find the correct size of tank.
4. When selecting a shape, choose short longer shapes over tall thinner shapes. More surface area at the top of the water is better for the fish.
5. Decide if you want glass or acrylic. I recommend glass for beginners.
6. Choose an aquarium over 10 gallons. Mistakes aren't as lethal in a tank with more water.
7. Call several stores and compare the prices for the same brand of aquarium
8. Now go purchase your aquarium and get started on your new hobby.

Tips:

1. A filled 20 gallon tank weighs 225 lbs. Use the tank sizes chart below to be sure your stand can support the aquarium you select.
2. For additional info on selecting tanks read the Getting Started feature listed below.