So you finally decided to add some angelfish to your fish tank. These gorgeous fish are certainly going to make your aquarium that much more fun to look at.
You’ll have a lot of fun observing your new fish. It’s going to be important to do your best to take care of these fish to the best of your ability if you want them to live in your tank for a long time, though.
Generally, angelfish are hardy, and it won’t be tough to care for them. You still need to give them what they need so that they will thrive in your tank, but you’ll be able to get used to caring for them without it being much of an issue.
You might be wondering how much you’re supposed to feed these fish. Is it possible for angelfish to overeat?
Keep reading to learn a bit about angelfish and whether or not they will overeat. It should make it easier for you to feed your angelfish properly as a beginner.
Angelfish Will Overeat
Angelfish will indeed overeat if you make mistakes and feed them too often. Many angelfish enthusiasts have noted that these fish will pretty much always act as if they’re hungry.
They’ll excitedly try to eat any food that you put in the tank for them. The fact that they act like they want to eat doesn’t mean that they need food, though.
When feeding angelfish, it’s recommended to do so on a schedule. You’ll get the best results by feeding angelfish multiple times per day.
Young angelfish might need to be fed as often as three times per day. Adult angelfish should be fine being fed twice per day.
Ideally, you’ll want to stick to a schedule and feed the fish at the same time each day. This keeps things going smoothly and ensures that you’re always giving the angelfish what they need.
You don’t want to give angelfish more food than they need when feeding them. To keep everything in check, it’s best to give the fish no more food than they will be able to finish in two or three minutes.
It isn’t necessary to meticulously measure the food out. You’ll eventually get a feel for how much food you’re supposed to give the angelfish each time you feed them.
If there happens to be any leftover food, then you need to take the time to scoop it out. Leaving organic debris in the tank will not be good for the water parameters.
It can throw everything off, and it’ll contribute to bacteria issues. Take a scoop and remove any uneaten fish flakes.
When you’re feeding the fish the right amount of food, it’ll be unlikely that you’ll have any leftover food in the tank. Even so, it’s good to look in the tank just to be on the safe side.
What Should Angelfish Eat?
Knowing what to feed angelfish will be another important thing. You want to feed angelfish food that is going to give them the nutrition that they need.
There are special angelfish flakes that you can purchase from pet stores. This is the typical type of food that you will be giving the angelfish most days.
You can also buy shrimp pellets that the angelfish will like. In the wild, angelfish often feed on shrimp, and they’ll enjoy having the pellets.
Some enthusiasts say that mixing up the diet of the angelfish in your tank will be beneficial. You might want to give them the fish flakes some days and then switch to the shrimp pellets for other days.
It’s also fine to sometimes give the angelfish frozen shrimp and special types of live worms. You don’t have to do this if you think that it will be too much of a hassle, though.
What Happens When Angelfish Overeat?
When an angelfish overeats, it’s going to be problematic for the fish. It can wind up causing it to have significant digestive issues.
It wouldn’t be unusual for an angelfish that overeats to experience constipation. Constipation has been known to cause a condition known as swim bladder disease.
Swim bladder disease makes it so that a fish can’t control its buoyancy any longer. It happens when the fish has a swollen belly, and it’ll only get better when the fish relieves its constipation issues.
You might need to feed a fish specific things to treat the constipation if it comes to that. It’s really best just to avoid overfeeding the fish so that you don’t have to deal with such problems.
It should also be known that overeating will cause a fish to produce more waste than usual. Excessive fish poop in the tank can cause problems with the water.
The ammonia levels in the tank might wind up rising to dangerous heights. If things get too bad, it’ll make it impossible for the fish in the tank to get enough oxygen.
It’s unlikely that the fish poop issue would get so bad if you’re taking care of the tank properly. However, those who don’t change the water out regularly might experience problems.
Final Thoughts
It’s going to be very important to do your best to take care of your angelfish properly. You want your new pet fish to live a happy and healthy life in your tank.
This means that feeding the fish regularly is an important part of the process. You don’t want to starve your fish, but you also don’t want to feed them too much.
Be careful not to feed the angelfish more than you need to. Only give them as much food as they will be able to finish in two or three minutes.
Adult angelfish should be fed twice daily. If you’re doing everything on a schedule each day, then it should be easier to get the best results.
Those who make mistakes might see the health of the angelfish decline. You can potentially turn things around, but it’s not going to be something that you want the angelfish to experience.
Simply do your best so that you don’t overfeed the angelfish. You’ll have healthier fish, and you’ll be able to keep enjoying all of the fish in your tank for a long time to come.
Jeff has always enjoyed having pets, but as a child, he was drawn to his family’s fish tank. Being able to maintain a small ecosystem and observe the behaviors and interactions in the underwater world peaked his interest early on and has kept him hooked until this day. On Avid Aquarist, Jeff shares everything he’s learned about helping aquatic life survive and thrive in a home aquarium.