Fish food | Everything you need to know about fish food and types of fish food
Fish food is an essential component to keep your pond fish proper care because it provides the nutrients they need to grow and stay healthy. There are different types of fish food available, including flakes, pellets, frozen food and live food, each of which is suitable for different types of fish.
All about fish food
- What food for fish?
- How much fish food should you give to a fish?
- Buy Koi food? What is the best food for Koi?
- Buy koi carp? These feeding requirements are what you need to consider.
- Can you feed bread to Koi?
What food for fish?
Fish need proper nutrition, where it is crucial that the fish food contains a rich source of proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. It is therefore important to always pay attention to these nutritional values when choosing fish food, as low levels of these nutrients may indicate low quality fish food.
How much fish food should you feed a fish?
It is important to feed the right amount of food to fish, as too little food can lead to malnutrition and too much food can lead to obesity and contamination of pond water which can cause the water values confused. In general, it is recommended that regardless of the type of pond, give fish small portions of food two to three times a day that they can eat within two to three minutes, depending on the size of the fish and the type of food. It is better to give several small feedings per day rather than one large feeding, as this aids the fish's digestion. It is also important to reduce the amount of feed if there are other sources of nutrition in the pond, such as algae or leftovers from other foods.
Pond plants as food and shelter for pond fish
Pond fish not only eat fish food but they also eat some types of aquatic plants or the creatures that are found among these aquatic plants such as small crustaceans or crabs. Also, aquatic plants give off oxygen to the water which is essential for a good life for pond fish. - Simon
Pond fish friendly aquatic plants
Buy Koi food? What is the best food for Koi?
The best food for a Koi depends on several factors, including the size and age of the fish, the season, water temperature and water quality. In general, Koi carp fish need a balanced diet consisting of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals. The feed should be specially designed for Koi and should not contain cheap filler such as corn or wheat. Koi food can also be supplemented with fresh foods, such as vegetables and fruits. It is important not to overfeed the Koi and ensure that all the food is eaten within five minutes to avoid overfeeding and contaminating the water.
What aquatic plants are eaten by pond fish?
Fish food is not the only source of nutrition for fish, aquatic plants in fact, are also essential food sources for many pond fish. When the fish are not interested in the pond plants the pond fish may well be interested in the insects and crustaceans that hide among the pond plants. Waterweed is a good example of an aquatic plant that is liked by pond fish, this is due to the soft structure of the plant, also waterweed is very good for the intestines of the fish, the plant prevents blockages. Also hornwort and verbena are also a popular choice among fish, for the same reasons as waterweed, the structure of the water plants appeals to fish. So make sure your pond is decorated correctly and your pond fish will feel like a fish in the water.
Fish-friendly plant packages for any pond
Buy koi carp? These feeding requirements you need to consider
Koi carp are a popular species of fish in fisheries and are often kept in koi ponds and aquariums. To maintain healthy and colorful koi, it is important to feed them the right food. Koi food should be balanced and contain all the nutrients that koi need to stay healthy and grow. Koi food comes in different forms, such as pellets (which are small chunks or pellets), sticks, and flakes. In addition to commercial koi food, koi can also be fed fresh food. It is important to wash fresh food before giving it to koi to avoid contaminating the water in the pond by adding pond bacteria and other organisms.
Can you feed bread to Koi?
Although koi are omnivores by nature and will sometimes eat bread if it gets into the water, it is not recommended to use bread as a regular food for koi. Bread is low in nutrients and fiber, but high in starch, sugar and salt, making it not healthy for koi. Moreover, undigested bread in the water can lead to contamination and negatively affect water quality and koi health. It is better to feed koi with specially developed koi food that contains all the nutrients they need to stay healthy and grow.
Frequently asked questions about fish food
Fishmeal and fish oil are important ingredients in feed for farmed fish. Fish meal is produced from other fish, often from the wild, and is necessary for the growth of farmed fish. Fish oil is also commonly used in fish feed because it contains important nutrients needed for fish health.
Three groups of wild fish can be distinguished based on their diet. The first group are the insectivores, which mainly live on insects such as water fleas, mosquito larvae, small fish, tadpoles, larvae of water beetles, dragonflies and damselflies. The second group are the predatory fish, which feed on small fish, but the pike and pikeperch also eat larger fish.

Simon van der Velde
Pond specialist and aquatic plant grower since 1986
Simon's vision is to let nature do its work in your pond. No need to buy all kinds of measuring equipment and water improvers. If the fish are swimming nicely and the plants are growing well, then the water in the pond is of good quality. With a good planting plan and the right approach, you can save a lot of money and maintenance, and ensure a clear, biologically balanced pond that becomes more beautiful every year.