Part of the fun of the aquarium hobby is that Tropical fish come in many different shapes, sizes and attitudes. Included in these differences should be feeding requirements. In freshwater, there are carnivorous (meat eating) mid-water tetras, or bottom feeding catfish, top feeding hatchetfish and Killifish which are different in size and temperament from top feeding cichlids and arowanas. Feeding omnivorous (meat and plant eating) barbs is different from feeding herbivorous (plant eating) mbuna and plecos. In saltwater aquariums, there is a big difference between feeding carnivorous clownfish, butterflyfish and pipefish or feeding herbivorous Tangs. Lionfish have a different type of feeding pattern than a dwarf or large Angelfish species. It is amazing that there are still hobbyists out there that try the one-type diet for multiple species in an aquarium, let alone the fact that there are many trying out over several tanks or even a fishroom. Some will say this has always worked for me but then wonder why their fish loss is higher than their friends or why they cant seem to breed their favorite fish. Others think of it as an added expense. Yes, it will cost you a little more up front, but if you are feeding the same amounts of food per day, no matter the type of food, the cost per day doesnt really go up (providing the foods are similarly priced). In the wild, most fish are very specific with what they eat! Fortunately, many flake or pelleted foods will do okay for the long-term care of freshwater fish. It isnt thriving, though.
