Goldfish Feeding – What Live Food to Feed your Godfish

May 23, 2009 by  
Filed under Goldfish Feeding

Goldfish are omnivores, meaning they can eat both plant and animal food particles. In order for the goldfish to grow healthy, it is best to feed them both with processed and live foods.

What are live foods? Live foods contain nutritional elements and also have the natural laxatives which are essential to the goldfish. Some fish owners prefer feeding their fish with manufactured or processed foods because live foods may carry harmful organisms that can be harmful to the goldfish. Many of these live foods are available as frozen or dried items in pet or fish stores. They are excellent dietary supplement for conditioning the goldfish. Since, live foods may be harmful to your goldfish, it is recommended to just buy those which are frozen or dried rather than raising or catching them to feed your fish. The cultivation of live food should be left to the expert, as it can carry diseases which can harm your goldfish.

Brine shrimp is good for goldfish because when it hatches, it is not dangerous because even though it carries a disease, it can not survive in fresh water. Brine shrimps should be eaten fast or they will die and contaminate rapidly the water.

Daphnia are one of the several small aquatic crustaceans and live in freshwater environment. They can live in aquarium but can carry diseases which can be harmful to the goldfish, so a cultured daphnia is recommended.

There are a lot of worms which can be used as food for the goldfish. It includes tubifex worms, blood worms, earthworms, meal worms, etc. But, tubifex carries diseases, so blood worms are usually suggested because they are less likely to carry diseases. Earthworms are used only if they are cultured and if they will be given to bigger goldfish. White worms and micro worms are typically given to smaller or young fishes.

Almost all fish love to eat live fish. You can feed your goldfish with baby guppies and swordtails. They are very nutritious and readily available from your local fish shops.

Here’s a list of live foods which your goldfish can eat:

  • Daphnia
  • Brine Shrimp
  • Infusoria
  • Mosquito Larvae
  • Tubifex Worms
  • White Worms
  • Blood Worms
  • Wax worms
  • Blood worms
  • Microworms
  • Meal Worms
  • Organic earthworms
  • Krill
  • Small fishes