Food plays an essential role in your fish’s adequate growth and development. Your fish refusing to eat their food is a matter of concern as lack of food can lead to several health issues in your fish. So, why is my fish not eating their food? Let us find out.
Poor water conditions are the leading cause of why your fish refuse to eat their food. Factors like overfeeding and stress also play a significant role in your fish refusing food. We advise keeping your tank clean and providing high-grade food to your fish to make them eat.
The article below discusses why your fish refuse to eat their food. In addition, we will also discuss the actions you should take in such a situation.
Contents
- 1 What should be your fish’s usual diet?
- 2 What are the reasons behind your fish not eating their food?
- 3 Actions you should take if your fish is not eating.
- 4 How long can your fish survive without food?
- 5 Can your fish pass away without eating?
- 6 How to know that you have overfed your fish?
- 7 Conclusion:
What should be your fish’s usual diet?
It depends upon the type of fish you have in your aquarium. Fishes can be classified into three types.
- Herbivore Fish
- Carnivore Fish
- Omnivore Fish
Herbivore Fish
Herbivore fish prefer plant-based food for their adequate growth and development.
Here are some food options for your herbivore fish
- Veggie pellets
- Blanched Cucumber
- Boiled peas
- Blanched Zucchini
Carnivore fish
Carnivore species prefer a meat-based diet for their adequate development and longer lifespan.
Here are some food options for your carnivore fish
- Bloodworms
- Tubifex Worms
- Mosquito Larvae
Omnivore Fish
Omnivore species prefer both meat and plant-based diet for their adequate development and longer lifespan.
Here are some ideal food options for your omnivore fish
| Fish food | Serving Amount | No.of times |
|---|---|---|
| Veggie Pellets | One small pinch | One time a day |
| Bloodworms | One small pinch | 1-2 times a day |
| Tubifex Worms | One small pinch | One time a day |
| Blanched Cucumber | One small slice | 2-3 times a day |
| Mosquito Larvae | 12-15 pieces | 2-3 times a week |
| Boiled peas | Half a pea | Three times a week |
Also read: What Do Goldfish Eat?
What are the reasons behind your fish not eating their food?
Below are the reasons behind your fish not eating their food
Poor water quality
Poor water quality in your fish tank is the leading cause behind your fish not eating their food.
Contaminated water in the aquarium can lead to various health issues like loss of appetite and constipation, eventually making them refuse to eat their food.
In addition, poor water quality in the tank can also lead to a spike in the tank’s ammonia and nitrite, making your fish suffer from severe health issues like ammonia poisoning.
Stress in your fish
Stress can also lead to several health issues, like loss of appetite in your fish, eventually making them refuse to eat their food.
Here are some leading causes of stress in your fish
- Unfavorable water condition
- Aggressive tankmates
- Inadequate water parameters
- Overcrowded tank
The above are some reasons behind stress in your fish.
Overfeeding your fish
Overfeeding can lead to health issues like constipation, eventually making your fish refuse its food.
In addition, overfeeding can also lead to many other health issues weakening your fish’s immune system and making them prone to several diseases and parasites.
Infections in your fish
Infections are also the reason behind your fish refusing to eat their meal.
Your fish can get prone to several infections, such as worms, viruses, and many others, through the plantation in your fish tank.
So, it will be advisable to ensure that your plants do not hold any viruses before placing them in your fish tank.
Other health issues
Other health issues like costia, blockage, and tumors can make your fish refuse their food.
In such a case, it will be advisable to seek your vet immediately for the well-being of your fish.
Actions you should take if your fish is not eating.
Below are the necessary actions you should take if your fish is not eating
Perform a water change
You should perform a water change in your fish tank if you discover your fish refusing to eat their food.
Contaminated water in the aquarium can lead to several health issues like loss of appetite in your fish, eventually making them refuse to eat their food.
So, performing a 50% water change in your fish tank will be advisable to improve the tank’s water quality and make your fish eat their food.
However, if your fish does not start eating after a water change, there must be any other reason for them to refuse their food.
Avoid overfeeding
You should avoid overfeeding your fish as it can lead to several health issues like constipation, eventually making them refuse their food.
So, you should always provide the amount your fish can consume in under two minutes to avoid overfeeding and underfeeding.
Place the food near your fish.
Placing your fish in a big tank can make them refuse to eat their food.
So, in such a case, it would be advisable to place the food near them so they can easily access the food.
How long can your fish survive without food?
In general, your fish can survive for 5-6 days without eating, but we do not advise you to keep them hungry for a long time.
Not providing enough food to your fish can weaken their immune system and make them prone to several diseases and parasites, eventually making them pass away.
Therefore, you should provide highly nutritious food in a moderate quantity to your fish to ensure their adequate development and a longer lifespan.
Can your fish pass away without eating?
Your fish can pass away if you do not provide them with food for an extended period.
Likewise, other species, even fish, require highly nutritious food for adequate development and a longer lifespan.
So, you should provide highly nutritious food to your fish for their adequate development and longer lifespan.
How to know that you have overfed your fish?
Below are some ways to find out whether you have overfed your fish
Food is laying on the tank’s surface.
If you discover the food hovering at the tank’s water surface, it indicates that you have overfed your fish.
Overfeeding can cause several health issues, like constipation in your fish, eventually making them prone to several diseases and parasites.
You should provide the amount your fish can consume in under two minutes to avoid overfeeding and underfeeding.
Your fish is struggling to breathe.
If your fish struggles to breathe, you have overfed them.
Your fish floating at the tank’s surface and gasping for air indicates they are struggling to breathe.
Overfeeding can lead to much waste in the tank, further dropping the tank’s oxygen level and making your fish gasp at the tank’s water surface.
Therefore, in such a case, we advise you to perform a water change immediately, as lower oxygen levels can lead to major health issues in your fish.
Your fish is not responding to the food.
If your fish is not responding to the food, it indicates that you have overfed them.
You should always provide the food in a moderate quantity as excessive feeding can contaminate the tank’s water quality leading to several health issues in your fish.
Your fish is staying at one spot.
Your fish staying at one spot indicates that you have overfed them. They will face difficulties in swimming if you have overfed them, as they can face issues maintaining their buoyancy.
In such a situation, we advise you to avoid overfeeding them again, as it can lead to several health issues in your fish.
Cloudy water in your fish tank
If you discover cloudy water in your fish tank, it indicates that you have overfed your fish.
Cloudy water in your fish tank is due to the leftovers.
In such a situation, we recommend you to perform a water change immediately for the well-being of your fish.
Conclusion:
- Poor water quality, stress, and overfeeding are reasons your fish refuses to eat their food.
- Poor water quality in the aquarium can also lead to a spike in the tank’s ammonia and nitrite, making your fish suffer from significant health issues like ammonia poisoning.
- You should perform a water change, avoid overfeeding and place the food near your fish if they refuse to eat.
- Your fish can survive for 5-6 days without eating, but we do not advise you to keep them hungry for a long time as not providing enough food to your fish can weaken their immune system and make them prone to several diseases and parasites.
- Your fish can pass away if you do not provide them with food for an extended period.
Reference: NCBI