The intestinal lining of all fish is very sensitive and does not tolerate cold food very well. To serve frozen food properly, we suggest you thaw it first before feeding it to your fish. The following is our procedure for feeding frozen food here at Fintastic.• Decide how much food you’re going to use and place it in a plastic dish and leave it out to thaw for 30 minutes or so. Never leave it out any longer or it will spoil. Thawed food can be left in the refrigerator for a maximum of two days; any food left out longer than that should be thrown away.
• To supercharge your food with extra nutrition, dose your frozen food with a liquid multivitamin such as Sera Fishtamin or Kent Marine Zoe. Pour the liquid vitamin over the food and let it soak in as the food thaws. By doing this the food will soak up the vitamin like a sponge. In addition to getting all the food they need, the fish will be getting all the vitamins and minerals of a balanced diet.
• When completely thawed the food should have a soft, spongy feel. You can now feed your fish with it by squeezing it between your fingers just under the water’s surface. Let it drop away in pieces as the fish come up to eat it. For your own safety when feeding predatory fish such as eels, lionfish, triggerfish and groupers, and to eliminate fights over food, use feeding tongs to directly feed each fish.
• Never use hot water to thaw frozen food! This cooks the food and removes all the vitamins and minerals your fish so desperately need. It also breaks down the food into a nasty soup that your fish won’t eat and only serves to pollute your tank.
In conclusion, we recommend alternating between the various formulas of frozen food to ensure your fish a healthy balanced diet. A varied diet is the key to keeping your fish healthy and happy. After all, you want your fish not just to merely survive, but to thrive! Consult a Fintastic aquarium installation and maintenance specialist for more recommendations.