Angelfish are gorgeous exotic creatures that are fascinating to watch and loved by adults and children alike.
Because they’re so loved, everyone wants nothing more than to see them grow and thrive.
Whether you’re breeding them or simply looking to help your beloved pets grow, you’ll be relieved to hear that helping your angelfish grow by feeding them a proper diet is easy.
You can do it right at home.
Enough talk. Let’s get into what your angelfish are going to need in their diet.
Top 5 Best Food for Angelfish Growth
1. Bloodworms
Bloodworms are one of the best things you can feed your angelfish.
They absolutely love them.
Bloodworms, which are the larvae of non-biting midge flies, are a vivid red color, and chock-full of iron and protein.
Nearly every carnivorous and omnivorous fish can eat bloodworms, whether they’re freeze-dried or live.
Both have their advantages and disadvantages, of course.
Plus, the species you’ll be feeding the worms to can have different needs.
Frozen bloodworms are a more convenient option and can last up to six months in your freezer.
Frozen worms might be a better choice if you can’t find a reliable source for disease- and infection-free live worms.
While on the subject of live vs. frozen bloodworms, we feel that we should mention the danger which could come to humans upon being bitten by one of these worms.
Yes, they bite.
While it’s nothing close to fatal, it can cause a reaction that is somewhat similar to a bee sting.
If you do plan on handling live worms, it might be best to wear gloves.
2. Mysis Shrimp
Mysis shrimp are technically not true shrimp, but they are a fine source of protein all the same.
They’re pretty similar to brine shrimp, with the biggest difference being that brine shrimp are classified as shrimp, while Mysis shrimp are not.
Mysis shrimp are great food sources, full of nutrients, and they can easily be raised right at home!
That can really come in handy, seeing as these are a bit harder to come by than your run-of-the-mill brine shrimp.
You might have a little more luck feeding your angelfish frozen Mysis shrimp at first, simply because of the availability.
3. Brine Shrimp
This next pick is a classic that you’ve probably already been feeding your fish for quite some time: brine shrimp.
Brine shrimp are tiny crustaceans which can be fed to your angelfish either live or freeze dried.
They’re rich in protein, and newly hatched brine shrimp are a great food source for angelfish fry.
Baby brine shrimp are actually small enough for angelfish fry to feed on.
They’re only between 0.08 and 0.12 millimeters big!
The actual nutritional value of both adult and baby brine shrimp depends on a few different factors including age, the quality of the eggs the shrimp were hatched from, and the source itself.
While it’s not a good idea to feed an angelfish a strict diet consisting only of brine shrimp, they can make a great addition.
4. Quality Flakes
Another great thing to feed your angelfish is a good, quality flake.
This might seem like a no-brainer, but did you know that there are fish flakes out there specifically formulated to help angelfish grow?
Flakes out there will typically be full of various vitamins and minerals, but we feel it’s always best to double-check what’s actually in the flakes you plan on feeding your fish so you can make sure they’re getting everything they need.
4. Vegetables
Finally, you can feed your angelfish the occasional veggie.
They won’t always go crazy for vegetables, but it’s always a good idea to offer them to maintain a balanced diet.
You can feed them small portions of peas, blanched or boiled zucchini, cucumbers, and shredded lettuce.
There’s no guarantee they will eat them, but if you happen to spot your angelfish or their fry nibbling on the plants in their tank, it’s a good idea to introduce some greens into their diet.
Before you give your angelfish veggies, make sure you clean them off before blanching them.
Peas should always be shelled as well. You can even cut them up into smaller pieces to make them easier for your fish to eat.
5. Live vs Freeze-Dried
There’s always a question in the air when deciding on whether you should feed your fish live or frozen food: What’s the difference?
Frozen food is less likely to carry parasites and lasts longer than live food.
Plus, depending on what you’re looking for, frozen food can be much easier to get ahold of.
If you choose to feed them frozen food, make sure to follow the instructions on the package in regard to thawing.
On the other hand, live food can be more nutritious than its frozen competitors, but it has a larger chance of being diseased or infected.
Plus, you’ll have to worry about the safe handling of live specimens.
Neither option comes without its disadvantages.
It really depends on your aquarium setup, what type of fish you’re feeding, and where you’re getting your fish’s food.
Important Factors in Angelfish Diets
In order to help your angelfish grow, they should be fed a protein-rich diet, whether the source is live or freeze-dried.
Thankfully, they’re not picky eaters, and will eat up just about anything you give them.
However, that doesn’t mean they should be fed just anything.
If you’re looking to help them grow and stay healthy, it’s best to feed them a diet tailored to them.
While you can technically feed them the same food as you would a goldfish, you really shouldn’t.
This is because angelfish require more protein than goldfish.
The key to their growth will be a balanced diet, so it might be best to incorporate a little of everything on this list in your angelfish’s diet.
There’s no single food that will guarantee growth.
They need a ton of vitamins, proteins, and minerals to ensure their health and growth, just like us humans.
Angelfish are omnivores and should be fed on a daily basis, but we must stress that, just like any other fish, angelfish should not be overfed.
You should feed them everything they can eat within a span of three minutes, maximum, and nothing more.
Feeding them more won’t result in a faster growth rate.
Be patient.
Growing takes time.
How to Choose the Best Food
How do you know what’s missing from your angelfish’s diet?
The best thing to do is provide a full, balanced diet, and keep our tips in mind when looking for the best food for your angelfish.
It’s always a good idea to read labels and make sure the food is formulated specifically for angelfish and that it contains the nutrients they require.
When buying live food, always make sure you’re getting it from a reliable source.
Make sure the food is properly cultured, and always double-check where the live food came from.
Stick to brands and names you know and trust, and always make sure the food you plan on feeding your angelfish isn’t expired and the packaging hasn’t been tampered with.
How Fast Do Angelfish Grow?
Angelfish grow at a somewhat slow pace.
As we’ve said, patience is key.
Angelfish grow up to six inches in length at most, and will probably stop growing when they’re about 1.5 years old.
Your average angelfish should grow about a third of an inch a month in captivity.
In the wild, they can reach about 10 inches.
We wouldn’t expect a pet angelfish to grow up to that size, though. It’s extremely rare for them to grow to be that size in a home aquarium.
Growth Rate of Different Kinds of Angelfish
You might be wondering if different angelfish grow at different speeds.
The truth is that every angelfish will grow at its own pace.
Freshwater angelfish will only reach six inches, while others might grow to be slightly larger, but there is no concrete way to predict their growth rate.
It depends on their environment and very heavily on what they’re fed, how often they eat, and how much they’re eating.
Going Beyond Their Diet
Since there are so many factors relating to how fast your angelfish grow, it’s always best to make sure you know of everything you can do to help your angelfish along.
There are other ways to help your angelfish grow, and we’ve got all the tips you’ll need.
Their overall stress level can have an effect on how fast they grow, so it’s best to minimize it by giving them the proper environment.
This means adding plants and décor they can swim around and explore to keep them happy.
This is especially recommended for angelfish fry.
Having plants to hide in makes them feel safe and alleviates stress.
You should also make sure the water’s temperature is just right and the pH is balanced.
It might be a good idea to keep an eye on your water quality, too, and replace roughly half the tank’s water if you notice it getting cloudy and murky.
Making sure your fish have the right water conditions will help keep them healthy and happy!
Keeping their tank clean can also help with their growth.
This means cleaning it on a regular basis and making sure any sick fish are quarantined in a separate tank.
You’ll know when your aquarium needs a good scrubbing when you begin to notice excessive algae buildup, murky water, or that your filter isn’t working as it should.
Filters should be cleaned out regularly to keep the tank at its best.
Speaking of tanks: angelfish need enough room to grow.
A smaller tank is said to stunt growth, so you’ll want to be sure to invest in a nicely sized aquarium for your fish. We recommend 55 gallons or more.
Remember, even if you don’t notice a change in their size right away, that doesn’t mean that a larger tank isn’t a good investment.
Hungry for More?
While you might have a long road ahead of you, helping your angelfish to grow will feel like it took no effort at all.
The right diet can do wonders for just about every fish.
Try not to worry too much if you don’t notice immediate results.
Just remember that, no matter how fast your angelfish grow, you’re doing your best to take care of them, and that’s all that matters at the end of the day.
Remember, your fish are doing their best, just like you, and they are sure to grow into their tank real soon.
What food do your angelfish prefer?
Have you noticed any significant growth in them?
Do you have any tips or advice for anyone else trying to help their angelfish grow?
Let us know in the comments below.
We’re looking forward to hearing from you.
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