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Stop Feeding Your Fish Every Day. The Truth About Fasting in Community Aquariums

Art's Fish Room

20,671 views

Should you ever skip feeding your fish? Absolutely - here's why:

In this episode of The Aquarist's Edge, we share how occasional fasting can dramatically improve your fish's health, water clarity, and overall tank stability. You'll learn the science behind fasting, which fish benefit most, and how to avoid common mistakes.

📌 Topics Covered:
✔️ The natural fasting rhythms of wild fish
✔️ How fasting resets digestion and prevents bloating
✔️ The impact of fasting on ammonia, nitrates, and algae
✔️ Which species benefit most - and which shouldn't fast
✔️ Common myths and warning signs to watch for
✔️ Listener tips and practical fasting schedules

🔍 Keywords: fasting fish, fish health, fish digestion, overfeeding fish, aquarium ammonia, nitrates, swim bladder, water quality

💬 Have you tried fasting in your tank? Share your experience in the comments below!

👍 Like, Comment & Subscribe and help spread the podcast to a broader audience.

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20 Comments

@artsfishroom Creator 1 year ago Pinned

This video has certainly generated conversation! Just for clarity: When I talk about fasting, I don’t mean that fish choose to fast in the wild. What I’m referring to is when we as fishkeepers deliberately skip a day of feeding.

In aquariums, fish usually get food far more consistently than they would in nature. Skipping a feeding day once in a while can help prevent overfeeding, support digestion, and mimic the natural gaps fish often experience between meals in the wild.

It’s not about forcing fish to starve - it’s simply a practical husbandry tool that many aquarists find beneficial.

Thanks for all the discussion on this — love seeing different perspectives! 🐟

@louiewgroenewald 9 months ago

This should be shared more. A few years ago we had power problems in our country, causing my Filters not to work for 6-8 hours a day, for about 2 years.

To keep the water quality decent, I decided to feed my fish once a day evey second day. Less fish start dying and they all were very active and healthy.

Now that our power is normal again, I just kept feeding my fish once a day evey second day. I have no problems.

I have 4 tanks, with different species of fish. My overall fish health went up.

Maybe for others it works to feed once or twice a day. Also I do not feed for my fish to eat for 2min. As packaging or others recommend.

My fish eat in seconds.

@marksteele2008 1 year ago

As a professional fish ecologist, who has studied feeding ecology, I have to say that some of the information presented here isn't really accurate. In nature, most fish (aside from large predatory fish, which we normally don't keep in a community tank) feed constantly, every day of the year. There may be benefits to fasting your aquarium fish, especially if you are overfeeding them, and it is true that most adult aquarium fish will not suffer from a day or two of fasting, but it isn't really what happens in nature on a regular basis.

@TKaquatics 1 year ago

A good rule of thumb I’ve learned is a hungry fish is a healthy fish. Excellent video and I hope more hobbyists see this and helps

@grassnake7122 6 months ago

I feed my fish every other day, and it works, no water problems.
Great video 👍

@berenicehickey9755 9 months ago (edited)

Hi from Singapore!I have to travel twice a year for at least two to three weeks. I asked my husband to feed the fish twice a week with a pre measured amount while I'm away. When I return the fish are always vibrant and active. I've been keeping and breeding fish for thirty years. Subbed.

@HeheHihi-t8v 1 year ago

Thanks, after listen to this podcast I begin fasting fish and they are not sick anymore, they are active, lively and ready for food

@johnjwedrall4290 1 year ago

I found your channel today and subscribed to it today, so far it's nice and informative 👍

@AquaZao 1 year ago

I didn't realize just how little people knew about fish keeping, until I got into the hobby... It's pretty jarring. I got so much heat for bringing this up, that fasting your fish for a day or so here and there is actually good and beneficial. I was called cruel and neglectful... But wouldn't neglect have no explanation behind the actions? I explained that I do pretty generous feedings when I do feed. That I give the fish a chance to finish the food I fed, that it's good for them to actually go hungry before I feed them again.

Yet, I'm the cruel one for not overfeeding my fish?

@ronaldboyle4012 7 months ago

I have cut back after 4 months of 2x day and a stubborn ammonia spike with six fish dying....Im taking all the advice here....it makes sense and this will be my move going forward. THANK You

@Orca2015 11 months ago

Thanks, I've been wondering about this for a while, just the clarity needed, thanks again. I'll try the Fast Friday tip 👍

@richardsmith6688 1 year ago

Very nice podcast. Very informative. I have a nano aquarium on my office desk and don't work weekends so the fish don't get fed, but generally they still fine on a Monday, also I want to point out I have gone 4 days without feeding them ( I have guppies) and they were fine, in fact I came back to work to find about 8 fry swimming around in the tank. I must point out I have a lot of plants in the tank with a soil capped with sand substrate. I had been concerned about the not feeding so this podcast was a relieve to me that I wasn't neglecting the fish. :)

@Tommy-n1q6l 7 months ago

I introduced two baby oscars into an established community and feed them pellets and occasional insects. I've left for a week at a time and there was no (noticeable) attrition on their tank mates. Your results may vary.

@croustibat682 11 months ago

Bit late to the party, but when i dont feed my fishes, they eat the plants.I'd rather feed them ;p

@DieterHuckstedt-j6v 1 month ago

For example my otto catfish eats alge pellets but when i see brown diatoms I don’t feed but also when i see fresh growth of green spot alge i don’t feed its only when i feed if i see the alge doesn’t get more or less after like a week or two then i feed in the middle of the next week witch i a Wednesday because i so water changes on a Saturday then they don’t have to sit in dirty water all week

@B_Mack08 1 year ago

I've been feeding every other day for years. Haven't had any issues and also little to no algae.

@AnthonyThompson-q1q 7 months ago

I only feed my fish 3 times a week

@devilineden727 10 months ago (edited)

I have a Jewel Lido 120 tank with a Oase Thermo 250 external filter. I have a C02 Art system as well. My fish - Cardinal Tetras, Ember Tetras, Rosy Tetras (Megalamphodus rosaceus), Sterbai Corydoras, Panda Corydoras, Julii Corydoras, Pigmy Corydoras and Otocinclus. Once a month I cover up my aquarium, switch the lights and CO2 systems off for two days. No feeding, no light. You will not believe the plant growth after those two days, and yes, I do believe that fasting massively benefits the fish and the overall health of the aquarium.

@manabecky6011 11 months ago

I feed every other day

@memetpajaziti3434 12 days ago

I fed my fish everyday and they kept dying, after switching it to every other day I haven't a death in 5 years! Fish are always active and vibrant, it's tempting to not feed them every day but you have to for the sake of fish health and your heartache 😄