First of all it is very difficult to find really what fish like to eat.
In most cases the algae and detritus part is given as too low as it
is more difficult to detect.
Adrian wrote that many bows would eat ants. There are lots of
them as Norbert found out when he wanted to cross a small creek
on a fallen tree. Well, this was older and Norbert stuck in the tree.
But not only in the tree but also in millions of ants and other insects.
Well, that must have been a picture, Norbert stucking in the tree and
becoming more and more angry as his company couldn't stop to laugh..
I remember only one study were the diet of rainbowfish has been examined
throughout the whole year. It has been published a few years ago and deals
with the Alligator Rivers. I can't remember the name or the author as it's
still in my of my moving packets. Maybe anybody knows? It is a tremendously
interesting report.
Back to diet in aquariums. I live in a countryside where we have no cladocera
or other aquatic natural food. Additionally I can't use blood worms as I'm
allergic against the hemoglobines in it. So I have to use flake food and tried
to learn a little bit more about modern flake food.
The result is: it is possible to keep and breed fish on the base of a good flake
food. You also should add green food like duckweed and I add regularly brine
shrimp naupliae as also the largest bows take it if they are used to it.
But what makes a good flake food? Well, there is no general recipe. For
younger fish the fat contents should be higher than for older. The flake food
has to be fresh and from a good producer (aquarian, tetra, etc.) as only they
have their own laboratories to explotate the best mix.
You can also use trout food for commercial breeders - but most of all for young.
It is designed for predatory fish and contains a lot of proteines and fat. Older
fish may prefer commercial carp food. Commercial food has a list of
ingredients - at least it should have if it is a good one.
Never take flake food which is older than six months, and a can opened
should be used within 3-4 weeks. It is a mistake to believe that flake food
is just designed for the lazy people. The great companies invest a lot of
money in the experiments to get a better food.
More details only on request - I know this appeal for flake food won't
please everybody.
Harro