*Nutrition & Health* 
When I ingest too many carbs and fats, I go up one size in britches, my doctor calls me overweight, my blood pressure goes up, I have to undergo tests for diabetes, cholesterol, liver and kidney damage and I need to start reading labels on all of my food. I try to take it in stride since women in my family live until they are practically decaying. I’m on the
fast track so that I can die in my early 80s.
I think it is safe to assume that our fish will not live to see 90, but with the proper care, it is quite possible for them to live more than a couple of years. Like with us, it is also useful to know what is in the food we feed our fish. Fish need a well balanced meal of vitamins, proteins and carbohydrates. And, as with us, it might be a good idea to know what is in the food that we feed. A plump fish is not necessarily a sign of health.
Proteins, Carbohydrates and Fats
These elements provide energy to fish. Protein is more desirable than the other two sources, but it also harder to come by. Those hobbyists using flake or pellet foods may want to read the label carefully before purchasing. The term “meal” is not necessarily bad, but quite often is referring to parts not high in necessary nutrients, like claws, heads, et cetera. Because protein is more costly, most commercial brand fish food has higher amounts of carbohydrates and lipids. Fish cannot easily utilize carbohydrates since it is more difficult for them to digest. Lipids, or fats, are more easily absorbed. Excessive fat intake has an adverse effect on the liver. I am including an article from Wet Web Media on basic nutrition here, and in
Suggested Reading. Although scientists and hobbyists seem to disagree on what food is best, the article teaches how to read between the lines on dry food labels, discusses the disadvantages of all foods and will probably have many of you looking at your food choices more closely.
BasicFdArtTepoot Vitamins
Vitamins are extremely important. Its inclusion into the diet helps with nutrient absorption, which is necessary for growth and overall health. In nature, fish get vitamins readily from the environment, something hobbyists cannot easily duplicate at home. Instead, we may add a vitamin supplement such as Selcon or Kents Zoe. In
Suggested Readings, I have included an article by Charles Delbeek which explains the roles each vitamin plays in the well being of our fish.
Fish Nutrition Garlic: Not Just a Preventative Against Vampirism
Garlic is one of the most popular food additives in the hobby. Unfortunately, the jury is still out on the health benefits of garlic in fish. Some believe that garlic acts as a repellent, much like it does above the water. Some hobbyists believe that it encourages picky fish to eat. Others think that it may cleanse the fish of internal parasites. And then there are others who assert that garlic may stop pathogens and bacteria from attacking tissue and making a fish further susceptible to illness.
The Natural Diet and the Fish for All Seasons
To ensure a well balanced diet, we should try to mimic what our fish eat in the wild. Often we cannot, and so we are forced to supplement food. Marine based foods should be used before we hit the produce section of our local grocery stores for lettuce and broccoli.
Please keep in mind, some fish only eat one food and will starve rather than adapt to another food source. Heed all suggestions to wait until tank maturation occurs. If a fish relies on pods as its main staple, do not acquire this fish unless you can provide its diet on demand. Some fish only eat polyps. Anything too difficult to feed may be better left in the wild, not in our livingrooms.
The aquarist is solely responsible for researching all livestock prior to purchasing. Some fish need more than one daily feeding and cannot skip a day. If your system cannot support a fish with these demands, leave it at the fish store.
Rule of Thumb:
The pinched abdomen look is only acceptable for supermodels. Understanding Metabolism
Fish need energy to swim, to breed and even to feed. As with humans, the younger the fish, the higher the metabolism. An open water swimming fish may exert more energy than a fish that spends most of its time hiding close to the substrate. I encourage quality feeding and, in some cases, the quantity of feedings.
Water parameters affect metabolism. If, for some reason, you have to raise the temperature in your tank, consider feeding less. Higher temperatures equal lower available oxygen. Metabolism depends on oxygen. It takes energy to make energy.
Emaciation as a Sign of Underlying Illness
Most of the time, a fish wasting away is because we have failed to provide it with the necessities. However, fish can appear emaciated from fish tuberculosis or internal parasites. Unfortunately, these are normally difficult to confirm without a microscope and a good eye. Fish TB is not as common as other fish diseases. For parasites, some parasites do not kill their hosts, but it is advisable to quarantine all new fish before releasing them into your main tank. Any fish that appears ill should be removed from the main tank whenever possible to reduce the chance of infection.