Fasting Fish

[SeaWitch]

Some people fast their fish once a week, others more.  Some do not fast at all.  Do you fast?  If so, what is your routine for fasting?  If not, what is your reason for not fasting?

[SeaWitch]

I fast my fish once a week, on Saturday.  On Sunday, I feed only peas.  My bettas also get fasted on this day.  My reason for doing this is to:
One- Prevent constipation
Two- I have a fish with SBD and I find that he HAS to be fasted at least once a week for his floatiness.  As he is in the tank with another fish, it is just easier not to feed either of them on his fast day. 

I want all my fish to be healthy and I believe that fasting helps them to clean their bodies out and I also think fasting can actually help prevent SBD in some cases, unless it is genetic.  I admit, on Saturdays, I have to stay away from my tanks, as my fishie's begging faces are almost more than I can bear!

[claire_uk]

I usually fast on a Saturday, the same as Nickie, and then peas or lettuce on a Sunday. But at the moment, I am feeding 7 days a week as I feel that Bluey needs good food everyday to build her immunity back up after being on Metromeds again. I will probably feed peas/lettuce during the week though.

Mine do have plants and algae to munch on throughout the day, so the probably dont completey fast!! But they just dont get processed food.

[SeaWitch]

Good point, Claire!   The only time you should not fast is when you are feeding medicated food, or, if your fish is recovering from an illness and needs good food to build their immunity back up. :gpost:

[small_ranchu]

I fast them once a week usually on the day of water-change.

[BruceP]

Our fish think they are being fasted (cruely starved) any time our hand isnt over them dropping food into the tank... ROFL 

No, we don't fast.... unless the above counts ....... or we are getting ready to go to a show, Then they get fasted for 5 days.

[Lolafish]

As a rule, once per week.  On occasion, more often, such as if I need the BB's to multiply and the extra food is overloading the filter, or if a new fish has come in, they are fasted for 24 hrs....Fasting has medicinal purpose and I feel it is necessary to help keep Goldie's digestive tracts cleaned out.  If only people had such simple digestive tracts. 

[Auratus]

For me once a week too.
I am forced to fast because i go home in weekends and my fish are at the dorms. But they don't seem to mind (apart from jumping out of the tank of joy when i return on sunday's 
I also see it's nessesary because everytime i don't fast they get really slow the rest of the week and do a bit of floating and bottom sitting (just minor but noticable)

And then on sunday its peas time!!!

[Heffie]

I do once a week to help keep them for getting constipated.

[Heidi]

I fast my fish once a week. I give them peas on Tuesday. I start feeding them again on Thursday so that gives them a chance to clean out their system.

[Louiedee83]

I used to fast my fish on a Saturday and feed peas on a Sunday but if I do that now, they seem to help themselves to food anyway. They eat young platies that don't move quick enough and will even eat plants that goldies don't usually eat. My java fern has been stripped bare and my swords have chunks taken out.

I now only feed them once in the morning on Saturday and Sunday instead of twice. Not quite the same, but if it saves my plants, then that's the only option so far.

[Phantomhive]

Ah.  Didn't know I was supposed to be doing that... I will now ^_^.

[SeaWitch]

It is very good for their digestive systems!

[bubblez]

i feed my fish only once in the morning, they have plants to much on for the rest of the day, they still kinda babies, dont think they need to eat to much

[April]

I didn't know that this is a common practice Nickie. I have noticed that Jilly gets a little floaty from time to time and is usually back to normal by morning. I only feed once in the afternoon and sometimes by night she is nosing around for a snack at the surface taking in some air at the same time. Fasted her only one time since having her and I felt horrible as she begged desperately for food when I came near her tank. Yesterday she had gas and tiny bubbles were popping out of her little button butt. I have to admit I giggled a bit over that  but it is a sign she took in too much air so I will be cautious.

[Abbiesaurus]

I fast my fish from time to time, but am going to start doing it on a weekly basis.
I decided to make Sunday no food day (which is now probably going to be their least favourite day of the week ). By 11 o' clock they were munching on algae and plants haha so even though I am not feeding them they are still having their own feast!

April: Do you feed and floating food such as flakes? I found that made my fish floaty from time to time, so I have decided to only feed them sinking pellets from now on.

[April]

I feed her sinking pellets Omega One small size, as well as Hikari bloodworms that I hold under the water so she doesn't suck air in when inhaling them. As for flakes, same goes by holding under the surface so they get wet and slowly sink. The tubifex cubes I just break a small piece off and roll it in between my fingers in the water until it is soggy and she rips at it - so cute!!! my hungry little lioness  It's funny when she takes a piece bigger than what will fit in her little mouth and runs with it like she wants to kill it. Looks like she's smoking a cigar

[Hanna]

LOL, need a pic of that one.
I should get back into fasting on a regular basis too, sure they will wet my back and face on their fasting day, roflmao. Peas are fed on a weekly basis and then different steamed veggies, depending what's for dinner on our plates.