Fish food is plant or animal material intended for consumption by pet fish kept in aquariums or ponds. Fish foods normally contain macro nutrients, trace elements and vitamins necessary to keep captive fish in good health. Approximately 80% of fishkeeping hobbyists feed their fish exclusively prepared foods that most commonly are produced in flake, pellet or tablet form. Pelleted forms, some of which sink rapidly, are often used for larger fish or bottom feeding species such as loaches or catfish. Some fish foods also contain additives, such as beta carotene or sex hormones, to artificially enhance the color of ornamental fish.

Folic acid must now be baked into bread in Australia, to prevent spina bifida and other birth defects. Government research projects are creating genetically modified foods to alleviate other illnesses. The use of antibiotics in fish food in Tasmania is at alarming levels. How do we understand these issues, scientifically and ethically?

Here are a few of the saltwater fish that I'm keeping in the 110.   The yellow tang has been with me for about 3 years now and has made it through two bouts of ich with no medication.  I've given it pristine water conditions, feed it marine algae using veggie clips and also give all my fish a variety of marine fish foods. I have two mar[...]