How to Hand Feed a Fish

Some fish will allow you to hand feed them while others may act wary. However, you can teach almost any fish accept hand feeding. This feeding method will let you monitor exactly how much your pet eats. Be patient. Training a fish to hand feed can take a long time.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Start hand feeding your fish as soon as you get them. Younger fish are easier to train.

2. Pick an area to hand feed the fish. Fish are creatures of habit and will soon realize that when you appear in that specific area, they are going to get food.

3. Buy frozen food or commercially made food to hand feed to your fish. It is hard to control a live fish in water.

4. Use feeding tongs to feed your fish. This is especially important if you have aggressive or poisonous fish. The feeding tongs will protect your fingers and hand.

5. Hold the food where the fish can readily see it. Fish will come to food faster if they can see it and smell it.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have sensitive fish, use feeding tongs to hand feed them.
• Wash your hands and rinse them thoroughly before putting your hands in the fish tank.
• If you have small community fish, you can usually feed them with your fingers once they are familiar with your presence near the tank.
• Never put your hand in the tank with a poisonous, aggressive or predatory fish during feeding time.