Over feeding of fish

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If we are only thinking of the ability of the fish to thrive and not any other aspect of the scenario (nutrients, organics, bacteria, etc) is it ever possible to overfeed a fish an otherwise appropriate food?

 

[Tamberav]

I voted yes because of fatty liver disease.

You probably can't overfeed a pod but probably can with pellets.

Type of fish probably matters too...

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I voted yes because of fatty liver disease.

You probably can't overfeed a pod but probably can with pellets.

Type of fish probably matters too...

I did not know that fish could get that.

 

[AydenLincoln]

Yes you definitely can! Goldfish definitely can and do overeat if overfed.

 

[edsbeaker]

Interesting question. Does a fish stop eating when it’s full or is it capable of eating until it bursts? Does a fish have a nervous system that tells it “you are full, stop eating”?

I will say that I did put in too much food one day, and a few of the fish kept eating longer than others, but eventually all lost interest.

Curious what other thoughts will be here.

 

[UncommonSense]

Interesting question. Does a fish stop eating when it’s full or is it capable of eating until it bursts? Does a fish have a nervous system that tells it “you are full, stop eating”?

I will say that I did put in too much food one day, and a few of the fish kept eating longer than others, but eventually all lost interest.

Curious what other thoughts will be here.

Now, this is freshwater I’m talking about…

As a kid, I had a dozen or so minnows in my tank; then had the “bright” idea to add a ~4-5in “Green Terror” cichlid one evening…

The next morning, every single fish in the tank was dead, including the cichlid; which had the tails of three separate guppies poking out of its overextended mouth…

I presume it suffocated during it’s feeding frenzy after overfilling it’s mouth…

— A hard learning lesson I haven’t forgotten to this day!

Edit: in hindsight; it’s no wonder the LFS which sold me that cichlid went out of business eventually!

 

[JonoH]

Mine definately slow down on nori when they get full...they are all very fat though, and will keep grazing slowly rather than tearing at it non stop!

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

If we are only thinking of the ability of the fish to thrive and not any other aspect of the scenario (nutrients, organics, bacteria, etc) is it ever possible to overfeed a fish an otherwise appropriate food?

I put maybe as I don’t know. I’m a heavy feeder. My display is fed 9 times a day (5x frozen and 4x flake) my frag tank that is connected to the same sump as my display is fed about 6 times, half and half. I say maybe as my No3 was 33 via ICP in February and is 10 today and my PO4 is down similarly. While it has been coming down, I have been increasing feedings (light intensity and duration increased as well).

Fish aren’t complaining and since they are all utilitarian, due to hippa laws, I do not have access to their medical files.

 

[reefpanda]

Long time ago I fed a juvenile emperor angel 8-9 times a day. Died within a week

 

[skey44]

I have a double chin hippo tang and purple that I have never been able to fully satiate. They’re not even very big, but absolute pigs and fat. Sometimes I worry something bad might happen bc they are overweight.

You can see none of my fish are thin and all begging for their next meal!

 

[Ziggy17]

I said yes. Once they stop hitting it hard, meaning eating anything in the water, to a point where they look like they are choosing the “best bite” to eat, I think we are increasing unwanted side effects (water related) more than we are feeding the fish.

 

[skey44]

I said yes. Once they stop hitting it hard, meaning eating anything in the water, to a point where they look like they are choosing the “best bite” to eat, I think we are increasing unwanted side effects more than we are feeding the fish.

What are the side effects for the fish? Genuinely curious. I know obesity is a problem in humans. What fish diseases come from being overweight? Is fatty liver disease in marine fish a real thing?

 

[Ziggy17]

What are the side effects for the fish? Genuinely curious. I know obesity is a problem in humans. What fish diseases come from being overweight? Is fatty liver disease in marine fish a real thing?

Side effects being high nutrients in the water, creating unwanted issues.

 

[BZOFIQ]

Long time ago I fed a juvenile emperor angel 8-9 times a day. Died within a week

At least he had a good week before death.

 

[BZOFIQ]

Side effects being high nutrients in the water, creating unwanted issues.

Question was specifically about fish and not any other effects on surrounding environment.

 

[56longroof]

I've always heard they can develop health issues from over eating. No experience with it though. I feed 4-5 times a day and fish seem really happy. A little thick but happy.

 

[BZOFIQ]

I have 3 tortuga/chalk bass in my tank that are wider then taller at the moment. They've been with me for about a year and a half. Absolute pigs and I feed heavily.

My sailfin tang is thicker then my thumb.

 

[BZOFIQ]

My tank gets autofed by the plank 6 times a day, there is also a 1-2 manual feeding per day. No issues.

 

[Savage Henry]

Maybe look to fish farms for advice about this topic. They would be the ones who would optimally feed to achieve best growth. Though, we must remember their goal is to raise fish to a certain size and not longevity.

 

[twentyleagues]

Yes Fatty liver disease is a reality in fish. My fresh water fish get fed 3 times a week pretty generous proportions. Reef tank gets fed 2 times a day small amount. None of my fish are over or under weight all look healthy. I feed the reef more because of high flow and the fish expend more energy to do daily fish stuff. During times of breeding or with fry they get fed more often of course.