Saltwater fish like all other animals require dietary requirements, the basic saltwater fish nutrients include protein, lipids, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.
Generally our understanding of fish nitrition is limited at best and the exact requirements of each species are not known or poorly understood.
Research has provided basic guidelines for feeding our saltwater fish.
It is important to maintain the normal growth in our fishes, and when the saltwater fish diet is low in protein, growth rates, tissue repair, and disease resistance are affected. Younger fish require more proteins in their diet than older fish.
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Lipids, commonly known as fats or fish oils are critical portion of the saltwater fishes diet, they are used an energy source and are required for various components.
They are broken down into units of glucose, which is major source of energy. They can also be converted to lipids for energy storage much like ourselfs.
While carbohydrates are an important part of the fish’s diet, not all can utilize its efficiency. Fresh water fish are efficient users and saltwater fish are not.
So, carbohydrates should not be a large part of your saltwater fish’s diet. Large amount of carbohydrates in the diet can cause liver degeneration and diet-related diseases.
Fiber is the indigestible portion of a food,most fiber in a fish diets is derived from plant material and majority of commercial dry food include plant materials.
There is no guideline established for the amounts of fiber in a saltwater fish’s diet. But, it is believed that high amount will impair the proper digestion of other nutrients in a diet which results to less nutrients intake.
Vitamins are required in the diets of ALL fish, not only saltwater, they provide the necessary ingredients for proper metabolism and skeletal stability.
As with other nutrients, the need for vitamins vary with the species of saltwater fish, size and age, water temperature amount of stress in the environment, diet, and other related factors.
Signs of saltwater fish that has less vitamin intake are weight loss, loss of pigmentation, slow growth, blindness, and increased chances to diseases and infections.
Like vitamins, minerals also provide the necessary ingredients for proper metabolism and skeletal stability, fish have the ability to absorb some minerals directly form their environment.
Since saltwater fish swallow small amounts of water in the aquarium, they are ingesting minerals beyond their minimum requirements.
Iodine deficiency is the most common mineral deficiency in the saltwater fish diets. Calcium and phosphorous are required for normal growth. Lack of these can cause they spine to curve and deformed skulls in fish.
Text and Photo Source: Saltwater Aquarium Online Guide
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