No food or combination of foods proportionally contains all the micro and macronutrients a fish would obtain in the wild--however, we can get so close that even they don’t know the difference! Whereas, with most other Expert Advice Help sections the requirements are very similar for freshwater, marine and cichlid ecosystems, with feeding regimes they all split. Most freshwater and cichlid organisms can be completely and successfully maintained with dry foods. These foods come in a variety of forms--flakes, granules, pellets and freeze dried, to name a few of the more popular types. A good quality dry food for most of these organisms can readily be found. However, increasingly more frozen foods are being introduced for freshwater and cichlid organisms. There are frozen foods for cichlids, goldfish, discus, and other specialized feeders. We look for this trend to increase. Frozen foods can be enriched by soaking them in a liquid vitamin/mineral/fatty acid mixture while they thaw. A great example of such a liquid combination is Kent’s Zoe and Zoecon products. It is difficult to enrich most dried foods with such liquid additions because they become a mushy paste. Fish health, color and longevity benefit greatly from Zoe & Zoecon additions. For this reason, we prefer frozen foods for all fish where their dietary requirements can be met. Frozen foods are always better for marine organisms than any dried food when enriched with Marine Zoe & Zoecon. Today frozen brine shrimp, krill, mysis shrimp, plankton, algae, squid, mussels, clams, silversides, bloodworms, etc, can be found to feed your marine beauties--we actually feed a combination of them all--soaked in Zoe & Zoecon.

Their is a Freshwater Zoe formula and a Marine Zoe formula. Choose whichever is appropriate to your ecosystem. Both are primarily vitamin/mineral supplements--the equivalent of a good multivitamin each day. Zoecon is the same for all fish. Its primary purpose is supplying your fish with much needed fatty acids, including the omegas (HUFA) you read so much about in various publications. They strengthen immune systems, boosting overall health. In the wild, our aquatic friends receive a good dose of these fatty acids constantly from their food sources. However, most prepared foods are devoid of their nutritional value. We have used and recommended such a supplement for years.

Most frozen foods come in cube form. This is the easiest form to use. However, if you are feeding a lot of fish, flat packs may be more economical. Remember to keep open flat packs in cellophane wrap to prevent freezer burn--many fish won’t touch freezer burned foods (would you!) How much do I feed my fish you ask? Here is a guideline we recommend and thousands of customers have followed with great success: If your fish eat all the food you give them within one minute, you’re not feeding enough--if there’s food left after 3 minutes, you’re feeding too much. We call it the 1 to 3 Minute Rule. Don’t starve or overfeed your fish. Starvation weakens immune systems and decreases vitality. Fish can quickly succumb to disease or parasites under these conditions and die. Overfeeding pollutes their water and contributes to excessive algae growth. Also, try to feed them at least twice per day at near the same time--say in the morning before work and in the evening when you get home. Consistency is the key here, just as in performing water changes. Consistency is actually the key in most aquatic success stories.

Preparing food for feeding when using the frozen food, Zoe and Zoecon combination requires just a slight bit more effort than dried foods. First, obtain a small non-metal container that holds 1-3 ounces (a jigger is perfect here). Then place the number of cubes in the container that your fish will eat in one day (use the 1 to 3 Minute Rule discussed above to determine this). Then add 2-3 drops each of Zoe & Zoecon per cube, set the jigger in the refrigerator and let it thaw over night. The next morning pour half the thawed food mixture into a brine net (must be a brine net--NOT a regular fish net) and rinse it quickly under running water till it just runs clear (10 to 15 seconds depending on the amount of food). This quick rinse method ensures that your fish get as much of the Zoe/Zoecon that can be absorbed by the food during thawing while the excess is rinsed away. If the excess were placed in your tank it would be a nutrient for unwanted algae growth--and no one wants that!! At this point, feed the rinsed food to your fish. Repeat the feeding with the other half in the evening. Now you can prepare the next day’s feedings. Voila--its that simple! Once you have established this routine--its easy to remember and even easier to do. Try to alternate foods between at least four frozen types. This is easy to do nowadays because most foods are available in multi-packs or variety packs.