There are many types of fish food to choose from, such as pellets and flakes. Some are also ideal for breeds like guppies, koi, and mollies. To help you narrow down your choices, we have prepared a list of the ten best fish food you can buy online and a buying guide, fact-checked by veterinarian Exequiel F. Brobio, DVM, to help you learn about some essential considerations when purchasing them.
Quick List - Top Fish Food
Exequiel F. Brobio, DVM, is an experienced Veterinarian with deep, practical experience in animal health and medicine. He provides customer technical support for animal health products and services, including pet and other animal healthcare-related products for veterinarians.
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
For more information, read through our buying guide below.
The most common fish feeds available online come as either pellets or flakes. You can determine the suitable form of fish feed by considering which part of the aquarium your pet typically feeds in and what size of food they can chew on.
Pellets are tough feeds made of various ingredients that can come as either floating or sinking. They are ideal for bigger fish breeds like koi fish and tilapia. Floating pellets are great if you want to be able to observe your fish as they would have to come up to the surface to eat.
Floating feeds also make the nutrients much easier to absorb and do not disintegrate as fast. On the other hand, sinking fish pellets are great for bottom-feeder fish but can quickly rot and pollute the water, which can potentially cause your pets to get sick.
As a general guideline, pellets should be between 25% and 50% of the fish's mouth width in size.
Flakes are great for surface and mid-level feeders. They dissolve fast and are ideal for smaller and younger fish, like bettas and some cichlids. However, these feeds tend to lose their nutrients quickly and are not ideal if you have bottom-feeder fish in your tank. They also accumulate in the water, so your aquarium might need more regular cleaning.
High-quality fish flakes can be highly beneficial for fish. They are also nutrient-rich, helping promote healthy development, energy, coloration, a strong immune system, and more. If you have a lot of fish that need to be fed and are confident that they will consume the flakes, fish flakes are ideal.
Granules are grains of feeds with larger bits than powder but are smaller and softer than pellets. They dissolve much faster than pellets and are great for fish of different sizes that may have trouble chewing. They also come in different sizes depending on how well your fish can eat.
The size of the granules may also vary based on the size and kind of fish that you are feeding.
While wafers are nutritious and would make an excellent diet for any type of fish, they were developed for bottom-feeders who reap the most benefits from them. They are also great for fish with downward-facing mouths and those that gulp their food. Wafers made of algae are ideal for algae-eating fish, too, like mollies.
Bottom-feeding fishes have easier access to food and more easily meet their feed requirements. This is also compatible with both small and larger-sized tank aquariums to prevent congestion and have a balanced feeding.
When choosing what type of fish food to buy, make sure to do the necessary research on the breed of your fish to determine whether they can eat off of generic fish food or need a species-specific fish food.
Getting generic fish food is ideal and can save you money if you have more than one kind of fish in your aquarium. Fish flakes are a great type of generic fish food since they first float on the surface and sink to the bottom later, making it great if you have species of fish that prefer eating in different parts of your aquarium.
As long as your fish has great acceptance for generic fish food, and provides sufficient nutrition for the fish, you may consider this type. This type would be the best option for breeders who are looking for cost-effective fish food.
Other fish breeds are more sensitive and require more specific ingredients to thrive. Koi fish are a great example; they are high-maintenance breed omnivores requiring a balanced diet and are often fed wheat germ pellets. On the other hand, Bettas are picky eaters and need a diet that is rich in protein since they are carnivores.
Familiarize with the specific food types for each fish and feed them based on the necessary feed requirements and their activities and type.
Like humans, fish need building blocks such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats or lipids to support their daily body processes. The addition of some vitamins and minerals can also help with their growth and development.
Spirulina is a popular ‘superfood’ now taken as a dietary supplement, but did you know it is also good for your pet fish? It is a type of algae, just like seaweed, that grows in freshwater environments. This microalga is added to fish food for its high protein content.
It also contains vitamins and essential fatty acids. Research has even established that spirulina can impart a positive growth performance, improve immune activity, and increase the quality of fish eggs.
Spirulina contains more high-quality protein (58%) than other frequently utilized plant sources. Consequently, it can be utilized as a substitute protein source in fish feed. Spirulina is typically used in fish feed as a nutritional supplement and to replace fish meals.
Astaxanthin is a type of red carotenoid sourced from shrimp waste widely consumed by fish. It is known for its excellent antibacterial and antioxidant properties. It is said to have the ability to remove free radicals that can cause diseases in fish.
It is also used as a vitamin A precursor among some fish species, improving fertilization and survival rates. Feeds enhanced with astaxanthin can help improve the fish's color and overall health. They contribute to the fish's growth performance and stress tolerance, too.
The skin color of goldfish can be improved with astaxanthin-enriched fish feed in as little as ten days, which is a substantially shorter feeding period than with conventional feeding techniques.
Fish do not eat much, and overfeeding them could be fatal. Hence, it is ideal only to buy fish food that can be consumed within the next few months since most water-soluble vitamins will only remain viable within this period. It will also help to get fish food in air-tight containers like bottles or resealable bags to maintain their quality.
The suggested shelf life for fish food is six months. These feeds have been fortified with vitamins, minerals, and pigments, which, when stored properly, will last for six months at acceptable levels.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Nutrilogic Marine Fish Food for Saltwater Fish | ![]() | Premium Sinking Pellets for Saltwater Fish | |
2 | Watchupong Granules Grow Out | ![]() | High-Protein Fish Feeds for Maximum Growth | |
3 | Sera Pond Flakes | ![]() | Easily Digestible Flakes for Various Pond Fish | |
4 | Super Nova Floating Pellets | ![]() | Packed With Nutrients for All Kinds of Aquarium Fish | |
5 | Optimum Betta Micro Pellet | ![]() | A Complete and Balanced Meal for Betta Fish | |
6 | Koi King Growth Koi Feed | ![]() | Help Your Koi Fish Grow in Size | |
7 | Hikari Fancy Guppy | ![]() | Micro-Coated to Preserve Nutrients Even in the Water | |
8 | Infinity Redbits with Astaxanthin | ![]() | Generic Granule Feeds for Better Coloration | |
9 | Maxflo Guppy Fish Food | ![]() | Nutrient-Rich Fish Meal Feeds for Guppies | |
10 | Hikari Algae Wafers | ![]() | Algae Fish Food for a Plant-Based Diet |
This Marine Fish Food for Saltwater Fish provides the optimal nutrition in the form of sinking pellets for your beloved clownfish, angels, tangs, wrasses, damsels, and triggerfish. Its balanced formulation makes it ideal for feeding all year round since it's optimized with premium-grade protein and digestible carbohydrates.
Nutrilogic has always been a good choice for fish food, especially since they fortify their feed with vitamins and minerals that enhance your fish's color, accelerate their growth, and boost their immune systems. Get ready to see a healthy aquarium full of thriving saltwater fish when you add this product to their diet.
Protein is an essential component of fish food that helps them achieve their full potential as quickly as possible—and Watchupong Growout Granules are rich in that, making them ideal for guppies, mollies, and other ornamental fish.
This ready-mix feed contains complete nutrients, so you can feed them directly and as often as you want. The granules are also specially formulated to have a soft texture once placed in the water but stable enough not to completely dissolve quickly when given in the right amount.
Aside from that, this formula ensures that the aquarium water does not cloud nor develop a foul odor like other fish food. If you're looking to enhance the colors of your fish and give them a high-protein formulated feed, these Growout Granules may be what you're looking for.
Sera Pond Flakes are ideal for goldfish and bitterlings, but they can also be given to juvenile fish. These flakes dissolve in the water quickly, so they are easily digestible by smaller fish that have difficulty eating.
Each can has 1000 grams worth of food, which is excellent for owners of ponds of various sizes. Since they are eaten entirely, they also do not pollute your pond or aquarium like other fish food and are suitable for feeding throughout the year.
These feeds are made with an outstanding balance of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals, giving your fish a complete and healthy meal every time. They also support your fish's activity and increase their resistance to different diseases.
Super Nova floating pellets are perfect for all kinds of aquarium fish, including goldfish, fancy carp, koi, cichlids, and guppies. These are packed with protein, fat, and fiber to provide your pets with a well-balanced meal. To support their optimum growth and development, just make sure to sprinkle enough of this food twice a day.
Maintaining your aquarium's cleanliness won't also be a problem with these pellets since they don't cloud up the water. Hence, if you're looking for high-quality feeds that will help your fish grow and stay healthy without disrupting your aquarium's conditions, look no further than these pellets!
Betta fish, also known as Siamese fighting fish, live in freshwater and are native to Southeast Asian waters. Thanks to their colorful scales and tails that cover most of their end, they are easily identifiable - this also makes them a favorite among fish owners!
If you're raising a Betta fish, you might want to invest in a special nutritional formulation that promotes growth and has the correct nutrients level like this one by Optimum so as not to underfeed them. This fish feed is made with spirulina, which is high in protein.
It can also do so much for your beloved pets, including enhancing their colors to make them more vibrant. On top of that, it is enriched with vitamin C and E, which reduce your fish's stress and increase their immunity to make sure they're healthy!
Koi fish are popular pets to keep in outdoor ponds. They can grow to about 12 to 15 inches in length when domesticated. Japanese Kois can even reach lengths from 22 to 26 inches, while jumbo breeds can grow up to 34 to 36 inches long.
Whatever koi you may have, Koi King Growth Feeds can provide the right balance of nutrition to support their growth. These are enhanced with spirulina for better coloration. The pellets are also the floating type, so you can observe their beautiful patterns when they come to the surface to feed.
This high-grade quality fish food provides a steady source of minerals, protein, and carbohydrates in order to meet the essential diet required to raise your beautiful koi fish. You'll also love that it comes with a very affordable price tag!
If you're a proud parent of guppies, you'll love these feeds by Hikari. These pellets are designed to get soft quickly but can retain their shape, making them easy to consume. They are also highly palatable, so your guppies will surely devour them in no time.
What sets this fish food apart is its micro-coated pellets that ensure your guppies get all the nutrients from this food. It also contains krill, a great source of astaxanthin to improve their color and immunity. Moreover, it contains seaweed that is high in Iodine to support your guppies' reproductive capacity, too.
This special feed is fit for cichlids and any tropical fish. Cichlids are a big family of fish, including oscars, cichlasoma, and angelfish often kept in aquariums. If you have several types of fish in the same tank, it would also be ideal to get this brand of fish food.
Its formulation is mixed with a red color enhancer to make the fish's color stand out better. Every serving of this feed also has a perfect balance of vitamins and minerals that your pets need to develop strong immunity against potential diseases. Plus, it comes in a granule form, making it great for surface and mid-level feeders.
This fish food makes use of fish and squid meal as the main ingredient. This is a popular component of most feeds because of the large amounts of energy in every granule. They are also very easy to digest and are an excellent source of proteins, lipids, vitamins, and minerals.
This brand of fish feed is very affordable and contains just the right amount in every pack to avoid spoilage. Offering value for money and proving to be ideal for ornamental fish, you will definitely observe a healthy growth in your pet fish after giving them MaxFlo fish meals.
Many fish breeds like goldfish and oscars can thrive on a plant-based diet like this one. Made with a perfect balance of premium-select ingredients, these wafers are ideal for your algae-eating fish to provide them with a scientific diet to promote proper growth. You will definitely see a change in your herbivorous and omnivorous fish after feeding them these algae wafers.
Thanks to their rapid-sinking form, these algae wafers from Hikari are ideal for bottom-feeder fish. They also come in tough disc shapes which won't dissolve quickly, so you don't need to worry about having cloudy tank water.
They also contain pure-cultured spirulina and chlorella to help your fish gain weight and improve your pet's color and health. However, you must keep in mind that for hard pellets like these, it is essential only to give a moderate amount of food that your fish can finish in two hours to ensure they are not over-fed.
Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by Exequiel Brobio, DVM.
We know you only want the best for your pet fish. Below are some of our recommended products to spoil your aquarium buddies!
Author: Roxanne Beatriz Angeles
Re-Editor: Andi Sanchez
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
No. 1: Nutrilogic |Marine Fish Food for Saltwater Fish
No. 2: Watchupong|Granules Grow Out
No. 3: Sera|Pond Flakes
No. 4: Super Nova|Floating Pellets
No. 5: Optimum|Betta Micro Pellet
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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