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Introduction:

Since humans first began keeping fish in captivity, we have struggled to provide them with optimum aquarium conditions. Meeting the nutritional needs of all species of fishes kept in captivity, considering that they may be herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores has been one of the biggest challenges over the past century of keeping fish.

Fish are an extremely diverse group, and meeting each species' nutritional requirements can be very challenging. Hobbyists worldwide have been informed by many so-called experts that no single food can meet all nutritional requirements of ornamental fish, with a varied diet being promoted as the best way to ensure that all of your fish's nutritional needs are being met. The reality is that by substituting one nutritionally deficient product for another nutritionally deficient product, you will not be solving any dietary issues in your fish. It is better to stay with one product that contains all of the variety needed to fulfill all of your fish's nutritional needs.

The last 25 years have seen some major changes in the dog food industry, with numerous brands of super premium dry kibble now being used by millions of dog owners and breeders worldwide. Some of these dry foods are marketed as holistic diets, with certain brands even featuring grain free formulas, containing tonic herbs and botanicals. The higher quality formulas will not only offer complete and balanced nutrition, but most dog owners will feed the same brand exclusively for the entire life of their pet. Dogs today are far healthier, and live far longer than in previous decades, and much of this can be directly attributed to a vastly improved diet.

Yet if you asked the average dog owner, that feeds one brand of dry food to their dogs, exactly what they feed their fish, most will hold up several containers of tropical fish food, and more than likely will also have some frozen treats tucked away in the freezer.

As Mr. Spock from Star Trek would say, "This is highly illogical."

Commercial Fish Foods:

Scientific advances throughout the 20th century have allowed keeping fish captive in aquariums easier and more convenient than ever, yet certain segments of the ornamental fish food industry seem to have come to a standstill 30+ years ago, as though there was no room left for improvement. There currently are estimated to be approximately 60 million aquarium hobbyists worldwide, but the subject of fish nutrition seems to be one of the most misunderstood subjects, with all the trimmings of myths and fallacies that have been regurgitated over and over until some of them have almost become regarded as fact. The nutrition supplied to one's fish is the most important aspect of keeping many species alive in captivity, yet it is also the least discussed. This has always struck me as being very unusual.

Aquarists will spend countless thousands of dollars on their aquariums, stands, filters, heaters, fish, etc., yet when it comes to determining what the most optimum diet for their fish is, they seem to either follow the lead of their fellow hobbyists (usually feeding a varied diet), or they choose their food by the images shown on a label. Of course a food with a photo of a Paracanthurus hepatus (Regal Blue Tang) on the label must be designed specifically for that species, correct? Perhaps, but perhaps not.