Over feeding of fish

[skey44]

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.

I’ve had some chalk bass in the past that would eat until the tail of a shrimp was hanging out of their mouth bc it literally wouldn’t fit in their stomach!

 

[reely989]

I don’t know how much is too much, I just know that heavy feeding has kept aggression much lower when adding new fish for me.

 

[BZOFIQ]

I've snorkeled in many places this side of the globe and let me tell you... most fish out there are SOLID! MOST hobbyists, and I don't say it lightly, don't feed their fish enough or often enough. FISH in the ocean (except for opportunistic predators) feed all day long. Have some fun, go snorkel and see for yourself.

 

[BZOFIQ]

I’ve had some chalk bass in the past that would eat until the tail of a shrimp was hanging out of their mouth bc it literally wouldn’t fit in their stomach!

They are absolute monsters! :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes:

I bought them tiny and my friend had a medium sized one too. Mine have gained 90% of their mass in past year, my friend's fish is about the same in size as year ago - go figure. If you're not feeding your fish because you're worried about water quality then you're mistreating your fish.

Up your filtration and feed your pets!

 

[static416]

I'd say it's not a problem with almost all fish. But some have a problem.

I had a lawnmower blenny that got fatter and fatter and eventually died. Maybe it was old age? But it was so fat it couldn't perch on things properly anymore and still ate like crazy. Took a year or so.

And my banana eel is getting a bit chubby. I keep it fed to avoid it going after tank-mates, but it's gradually chubbing up into a more banana-shape than I'd prefer.

And have heard things about hippo tangs getting fat, mine is on the way.

 

[twentyleagues]

They are absolute monsters! :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes:

I bought them tiny and my friend had a medium sized one too. Mine have gained 90% of their mass in past year, my friend's fish is about the same in size as year ago - go figure. If you're not feeding your fish because you're worried about water quality then you're mistreating your fish.

Up your filtration and feed your pets!

I agree if you have fish and are starving them to hit a parameter number you are doing it wrong and its borderline if not actual animal abuse.

 

[skey44]

I feed what feels like a ton just to keep my nutrients at goal (my nitrate bottom out if I don’t feed heavy). I also like to feed my fish and see them thrive, even to the point of being a little thicc. I have a strong skimmer and refugium. I want high input/high export/high uptake.

 

[FishTruck]

After seeing how fat the fish in Hawaii are... I am going to say no. So long as the food is healthy.

 

[Ziggy17]

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

and yet the question was still answered……..

 

[Jonreefer]

my plank feeds 4 times a day and I feed frozen twice a day. I dont go nuts I have the plank run for only 20sec per feed. It gives plenty of food and not a ton but enough for everyone to get a bite every few hours. I only feed the frozen because my Bengai will only eat meaty foods. I havnt seen any issues and none are super fat they are all nice and full looking no huge bellies of over feeding.

 

[nickng]

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.

Well I would hesitate a guess. Yes some fishes will stop eating.. My harlequin tusk will let pieces of food float by after he’s taken a couple of mouthfuls of clam

 

[nickng]

Deleted double post

 

[vlangel]

I said maybe but I like to see my fish a bit round. My auto feeder feeds pellets and flake 2Xs a day and I feed frozen at another meal. They seem to enjoy eating and so do I so how could I deny them the pleasure?

 

[Hairyteeth]

I like to feed them, ask my chubby hippo

 

[Debramb]

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!

Do I look fat?

 

[Dr_Orpheus]

Anything can be overfed if it wants to keep eating! And I've seen way too many fish biting off more than they could chew, literally, and dying as a result. Also the fatty liver disease someone else mentioned is a real thing too! That's my two cents.

 

[Malcontent]

 

[BeanAnimal]

I would think that like any animal, overfeeding can and would lead to obesity and other health related issues. It may be lore, but I was always told that a goldfish would eat until it became impacted.

 

[BeanAnimal]

 

[fandaga]

Apparently it’s possible and has been studied in zebrafish at least with negative effects in biological and physiological behavior similar to human obesity.

https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/16/19/3398
https://www.frontiersin.org/journal...iology/articles/10.3389/fcell.2018.00091/full