Nothing adds more color to a freshwater aquarium like Glofish. Their distinct ability to brightly glow makes it fun to invest in this kind of fish. The breed is easy to keep as it flourishes in warm environments and does not require much-specialized care. The common question asked is what do the Glofish feed on. Due to their diverse colors, many people think they eat different foods than the average fish.
Glofish, like other fish breeds such as zebrafish, feed on any commercial fish food fit for any aquarium fish. They can eat frozen, live, or fish flakes. Glofish should be provided with small amounts of food twice daily, and frozen food should be thawed before feeding. Glofish can eat a whole meal in less than five minutes. Give the fish time to finish all the food you have provided before adding more, as leftovers can pollute the fish tank.
Do Glofish Need Special Food?
New fish keepers are regularly misled by poorly trained or inexperienced aquarists and pet store staff on the type of food to feed a Glofish. The bright color of a Glofish is due to an inherited fluorescent protein genetic factor passed from one generation to the other. The Glofish were reared to maintain and control the pollution levels in all waterways in third world regions.
They have since caught the attention of many fish lovers who want to keep them in their homes. To date, there are more than 180 fluorescent fish species worldwide. Glofish helps make sense of cellular diseases and development, and gene therapy, and cancer. They are used as a cure to specific health conditions and to develop new drugs.
Similar to tropical fish, Glofish feed on flake fish food. The Glofish will receive a quantity of food depending on the number of mixed fish species in the aquarium. If the fish tank has fast-moving and top swimmers such as Tiger Barbs, you should make sure that the Glofish receives a fair share of the flakes. Flake food should be a staple diet for the Glofish for several reasons, including;
- The customized amino acids help the Glofish to glow brightly.
- The flakes are optimized for both the tropical fish and Glofish.
- The flakes have a proprietary formula.
How often should the Glofish be fed?
Glofish should be treated equally to the other fish breeds in the aquarium as they need the same kinds of food as others. The usual feeding manual for Glofish include:
- Flake foods– feed enough to eat within 90 seconds, three times a day.
- Fish pellets– one to two pellets per Glofish, three times a week.
- Live bloodworms– ¼ teaspoon of bloodworms per Glofish, twice a week.
- Dried frozen bloodworm– a small pinch twice a week.
- Algae tablets/wafers– one tablet or wafer per ten Glofish, twice a week.
- Live brine shrimp– one to two brine shrimp per Glofish, once a week.
- Other vegetables and supplement foods– enough to eat in 90 seconds, twice a week.
How to take care of a Glofish
Glofish results from a scientific process that involved inserting fluorescent protein genes into a zebrafish or danio fish. The Glofish were initially bred to help in detecting pollution. The Glofish has a long slender body type and an upward mouth. They are often orange, green, yellow, or bright red. Glofish do not require special care, making them very easy to have.
Habitat
Glofish thrive in warm tropical environments. The water temperature should range between 72- and 80-degrees Fahrenheit. Hardy goldfish, on the other hand, can survive in temperatures low as 62 degrees. It is best to avoid having drastic changes in temperatures as it can stress the fish and lead to illness. Enough lighting in the tank also helps to reduce stress.
Glofish are commonly referred to as schooling fish and like to live in groups of about four to eight fish in one tank. Check the tank water weekly to ensure that the water Ph stays between 6.8 to 7. Make frequent visits to the Glofish store to get an aquarium test kit.
Maintenance
Partial change of the aquarium water should be done at least every month. Changing the water helps in removing waste from the tank and ensuring a safe environment for the Glofish. A tank filter is usually used to remove dangerous debris from the tank. Additionally, place a water heater and a thermometer in the fish tank to ensure constant water temperature regulation. Often inspect the Glofish to see how they are faring. A healthy Glofish has a good appetite, clear eyes, and bright coloring.
Can Glofish live with Goldfish?
As tempting as it is, keeping Glofish and Goldfish together is not the right decision. Both breeds have varying environmental conditions and require varying aquariums. Some of the reasons not to have them in the same tank include;
Temperature Difference
Glofish are grouped as tropical fish, while Goldfish are cold-water fish and therefore thrive in colder water than Glofish. Goldfish are lively and healthy in temperatures of about 65 to 72 degrees with no salt. As much as they can live in higher or lower temperatures, they are prone to die early.
The fish tank size difference
Goldfish require more giant tanks that Glofish would need. Goldfish require a 20-gallon tank because they grow to around four to eight inches, with others going up to 12 inches. They can also frow to weigh one to two pounds. Though they start as small fish, Goldfish grow very quickly. Glofish, on the other hand, are schooling fish and survive well in groups of five or more fish. This means that if you want to get ten Glofish species, you need to have a 30-gallon tank.
Difference in Diet
In the wild, Goldfish are foragers and can reach the bottom of the environment looking for food. They can be easily overfed since they continuously eat even to death. Goldfish are omnivores and can eat both meat and plants like Glofish. However, when the Glofish grow more significant, they start to look like tasty treats for the Goldfish and can be eaten. For this reason, they cannot be kept in the same aquarium.
The Bottom Line
Glofish are incredible fluorescent fish that come in various sizes, colors, and shapes. They can eat anything that other fish breeds eat. It would be best not to lean on one type of flake to give the Glofish the requisite vitamins and nutrients they need to grow. Be sure to feed them a mixture of fresh foods that provide enough minerals to keep them healthy.