What Does an Angelfish Eat: Top Food Recommendations

Angelfish is one of the most popular fish globally, and well! They are beautiful, vibrant, and easy to keep. An angelfish eats a variety of aquatic creatures such as small fish, crustaceans, and other insects. In addition, it feeds on algae, plankton, and other microscopic organisms. 

List of Foods That Angelfish Eat

Vegetables

Angelfish as pets love vegetables, so put some in their diet. As your angelfish grow, you can add more variety to their diet and include some fresh fruits or vegetables. A few examples of nutritious vegetable choices for angelfish include courgettes, tomato slices, pea sprouts, green beans, and broccoli florets.

Pellets & Flakes

You can give many types of pellets and flakes to angelfish as food. Some examples include Hikari Pellets, Crave pellet food, freeze-dried bloodworms, frozen brine shrimp, and daphnia pellets. Experiment with different brands to find the best fit for your fish’s diet.

Freeze-Dried Foods

Freeze-dried foods are an excellent option for an angelfish diet as they offer a high concentration of nutrition. Some freeze-dried food suitable for angelfish includes shrimps, brine shrimp, and freeze-dried daphnia. In addition, freeze-dried worms can make an excellent diet for angelfish.

Frozen Foods

Many people prefer to feed their angelfish frozen seafood. This can be a great way to add variety and nutrients to the fish’s diet. Some examples of good frozen seafood for an angelfish include freeze-dried shrimps, freeze-dried brine shrimp, and freeze-dried daphnia. Additionally, shrimp and squid can be frozen and turned into a tasty snack for your angelfish.

Live Foods

Another excellent option for an angelfish’s diet is to give them live food. This can include different types of worms, larvae, and fry. Live foods provide the fish with many nutrients and stimulation as they eat them. In addition, angelfish will often ingest excess food that you are feeding them, which helps with fish digestion. When angelfish feed on live food, they give up extra waste products and efficiently eat several times their body weight in a single day.

Brine Shrimps

Brine shrimp are a great source of protein and nutrients for the angelfish. They offer high-quality, sustainable protein as well as vitamins and minerals. Another benefit of brine shrimp is that it is low in fat and calories. This makes them an ideal food to provide energy for your fish while also providing essential nutrients. Brine Shrimp should make up around 60% – 85% of an angelfish’s diet, depending on the size and activity of the fish.

How to Feed Angelfish?

Feed your angelfish live or freeze-dried food on day one, and then feed them a good quality freshwater fish diet as they grow. If you do this, it will be easier to maintain suitable conditions and keep the angelfish happy with the offered food options. Try not to overfeed them because they thrive on small amounts of food – probably one-fifth of their body weight daily is enough for an adult-sized fish.

How Much Do Angelfish Eat?

They need to eat 3 to 4 times each day. In addition, they consume a lot of flakes, so we recommend feeding your fry whenever you provide them in the same tank. If you do this, sprinkle food over the surface for all to eat more readily. Feeding should be about every 1/5th day while awake (preferably similar times each night) and once at daytime if possible. Alternatively, they can also be fed once during daylight hours but not daily or 3– to 4 times a week.

Top Recommended Food Choices for Angelfish

There are many good food choices available on the market for angelfish. Some of our favorites include:

Northfin Food Cichlid Formula 1mm Pellet

This food is high quality and includes all the essential nutrients your fry will need to thrive. It also contains premium ingredients such as freeze-dried blood worms, mosquito larvae, brine shrimp, and spirulina. This makes it an excellent choice for an active fish who needs energy and essential nutrients.

Omega One Freeze-Dried Brine Shrimp

Brine shrimp is an essential part of any angelfish diet, and this food offers a good quality selection of frozen brine shrimp. It also includes freeze-dried mosquito larvae, blood worms, and other premium ingredients to ensure your fry gets the nutrients they need to grow.

How Long Can Angelfish Live Without Food?

Angelfish can usually survive for up to 3 days without food but will become weaker and may eventually die. So, feed your angelfish, especially if it looks a little pale.

In addition, the nutritional content of the food you feed your fish is essential and supports good health.

Angelfish: Other Significant Care Guide

Natural Habitat

Angelfish inhabit warm seas and live in coral reefs, along coastlines, or near the surface. They are ambush predators that use their long barbs on their heads to capture prey such as small fish and shrimp.

Water Requirements

Angelfish require a lot of water to survive, so make sure they have plenty to drink and are always kept well-watered. In addition, make sure you ensure there are no obstructions or corners that can lead to fish escape.

Aquarium Recommendations

Angelfish can live in various habitats, from planted tanks to complete open coral reef setups. Though they do well in pretty large tanks (20 gallons or larger), they also enjoy the company of other fish and coral, so it’s essential to choose a proper setup based on your specific requirements and the personality of your angelfish. When housing angelfish, make sure there is plenty of hiding places for them, such as caves and crevices.

Temperament and Behavior

Angelfish are typically peaceful, but they can be territorial when their home is threatened. They also enjoy swimming around together in small groups and should be kept with other similarly sized fish.