What are the feeding habit characteristics of ornamental fish?

    There are many species of ornamental fish, and their feeding habits are also relatively complex. According to their degree of preference for food, they can be divided into herbivorous, carnivorous and omnivorous. Within each major category of ornamental fish, different species also differ in their feeding habits. For example, koi are omnivorous fish and can utilize both animal-based baits such as earthworms, silkworm pupae and shrimp, and plant-based baits such as wheat bran, soybean cake, cornmeal, green vegetables and fruit. The vast majority of tropical fish are carnivorous and like to eat animal-based baits; some tropical fish are omnivorous and consume both animal-based and plant-based baits; only a very small number of tropical fish eat only live bait or feed mainly on plant-based bait. Regardless of feeding habit, tropical fish at the fry and larval stage must have microscopic live bait available for them to feed on in order to develop and grow normally and smoothly.

    Natural animal-based baits are mainly zooplankton and benthic organisms, and insect larvae, and are distributed in freshwater bodies throughout China. Small fish and shrimp, snail meat, terrestrial insects, yellow mealworms, and pieces of poultry and livestock meat can all be used as bait for ornamental fish. Animal-based fresh live bait is rich in nutrients, high in protein content, and comprehensive in fat, vitamins and trace elements. It can promote the growth and development of ornamental fish, sexual gland maturation, enhance reproductive capacity, and maintain bright and beautiful body color. Plant-based baits include phytoplankton living in water; those commonly consumed by ornamental fish are mainly green algae, diatoms, golden algae, yellow-green algae, etc., as well as tender leaves of aquatic plants. Ornamental fish also consume aquatic plant debris, blanched vegetable leaves and artificial compound feed.