The fishkeeping hobby has grown quite a bit since I started. It has heavily expanded into the world of nano fish. Now, many species of nano fish are quite accessible compared to 20 years ago. Finding fish such as Chili Rasbora or Celestial Pearl Danio has become fairly easy. Foods that cater to small fish are out there, but not every food is made equal. This article will delve into 7 different foods I believe are the best options for small fish. This list is in no particular order, and I suggest providing a variety of foods to your fish to give them a well-rounded diet.
1. Fluval Bug Bites
Fluval Bug Bites are first on our list of foods that are very popular to feed nano fish. Insects are a nutrient-rich food source for fish and many fish feed on bug larvae in the wild. This naturally makes food that’s predominantly made from Black Soldier Fly Larvae an excellent choice to feed small fish. You can purchase Fluval Bug Bites (affiliate link) on Amazon, or pick some up next time you’re at your local fish store.
2. Flake Food
Any type of flake food is a great option to feed nano fish. This is mainly because flake food is easily crushed into incredibly small pieces. I have had critters as small as Guppy fry that were barely visible take flake food without a problem. One of my personal favorite choices for flake food is the Omega One Super Color Flakes (affiliate link), but there are many different options available out there.
3. Pellet Food
There are many different kinds of pellet food available for all types of fish. There are foods for the largest Oscars to tiny Rasboras. I personally prefer feeding pellet food over flake food when the opportunity arises, mainly because I feel like pellets are “neater” when dropped into an aquarium. I usually have both on hand, but I usually grab my jar of pellet food more often. Omega One Mini Pellets (affiliate link) that should also be a fantastic option for small fish. It’s good to try a variety of pellet foods and see which ones work best for you.
Another brand of pellet food you may want to try is the NorthFin Nano Bits (affiliate link) pellet food. These pellets are small, averaging a size of .5mm. These pellets contain Black Soldier Fly Larvae meal, which is a similar ingredient to Fluval’s Bug Bites which we discussed earlier.
4. Live Baby Brine Shrimp
If you’re trying to dip your toes into feeding your fish live foods, there is probably no better way to start than with Live Baby Brine Shrimp. A Baby Brine Shrimp Hatchery Dish and Brine Shrimp Eggs (affiliate link) is all you really need to get started. The eggs should hatch in roughly 24 hours and your fish are ready to feast on this occasional treat. Small fish will benefit from this type of feeding, and newly hatched fry will also greatly enjoy being fed Live Baby Brine Shrimp.
5. Freeze Dried/Frozen Daphnia
Daphnia also known as water fleas are a great food to give your nano fish. They’re small and should fit into the mouth of most small fish. Choosing frozen or freeze-dried Daphnia is up to your personal preference. If you’re looking for freeze-dried options, Aquatic Provisions Freeze Dried Daphnia (affiliate link) are high in protein and are the only ingredient in a small package. Otherwise, Hikari Frozen Daphnia cubes are a fantastic choice.
6. Tubiflex Worms
Similar to Daphnia, Tubiflex Worms can be purchased in both freeze-dried and frozen varieties. Small tropical fish will love to feast on Tubiflex Worms. Some aquarists will take the Hikari Freeze-dried Tubiflex Worms (affiliate link) and stick them to the aquarium’s glass. The fish will either pick at the cube stuck to the glass or wait for the worms to break off before eating. Watching your fish pick at the worms stuck to the glass makes feeding even more exciting than it already is.
7. Frozen Brine Shrimp & Mysis Shrimp
These foods may be a little large for the smallest nano fish, but I would at least try giving this as an option to your fish. Frozen Brine Shrimp and Mysis Shrimp are a very common food given to fish of all sizes. You may see your nano fish swimming around with a large piece of shrimp sticking out of its mouth. Live Baby Brine Shrimp, Daphnia, or Tubiflex Worms may be the better option.
Final Notes
There are plenty of options to work with to make sure your fish are fed and happy. This list provides live, frozen, freeze-dried, and processed options to get your fish feasting. The important part of feeding fish is providing a well-rounded diet. Like other animals, fish require various nutrients from different sources to give them what they need to thrive. If you have food that you feed your nano fish, don’t hesitate to share.
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