Everybody loves their fish. Wonderful to watch and easy to look after, saltwater fish bring so much happiness into hobbyists’ lives. Because they make us so happy, we want to make them so happy! So, a great way to do this is to provide them with the best and tastiest food around.

Giving your fish a great variety of food means that they will stay healthy. In providing them live food along with any dry food they might like, you are providing them a natural diet. This allows your little ecosystem to thrive! So, let’s look at the best live feeds for fish and the benefits of them. 

Copepods 

Copepods are a staple part of the diet of so much marine life. They are a small type of crustacean, only about 1- 2 mm in size! But, as we know, the smaller living creatures are just as important as the bigger ones. Copepods are found in most marine ecosystems and feed so many fish and invertebrates. A major part of the marine food chain, bringing them into your saltwater aquarium is very important! 

Putting these in your tank means bringing a natural environment to your fish, allowing them to really thrive. It isn’t just fish that like them, corals feed off them too! Many LPS corals love to snack on copepods to keep them healthy and strong. 

There are many different types of copepods but the ones that we sell are benthic. These live on the ocean floor and eat debris, bacteria, and algae. So they don’t just feed your beloved fish and inverts, but also keep your tank clean!

You can buy copepods mixed with amphipods from us in a variety of sizes, from 250 for  $19.99 to 1000 for $39.99. Oh, and that leads us on to the next best live feed; amphipods!

Amphipods

Amphipods are another tiny crustacean that many fish and invertebrates love to feed on. These are slightly bigger than copepods and look like tiny little shrimp! They are also a really important part of marine life, and you can find them just about everywhere. 

Amphipods are a significant part of the aquatic system and therefore one of the core live feeds that you should have in your saltwater aquarium. So many fish and inverts feed on these crustaceans. 

They are also a great addition to your clean up crew! Amphipods feed on algae and debris that might be floating around in your tank. 

Phytoplankton

Phytoplanktons are microscopic organisms that exist in many saltwater and freshwater environments. In nature, they are at the bottom of the food chain and therefore everything starts with them! They get their energy from the sun, using photosynthesis to turn light into energy. 

A lot of coral and invertebrates rely on phytoplankton as a food source. A lot of soft coral probably get the majority of their substance from phytoplankton. In adding phytoplankton to your saltwater aquarium you are replicating the natural system that is found in marine life. You are therefore creating a solid and working ecosystem, right in your own home!

When adding phytoplankton to your tank, you can either do a general dose of it or directly dose those who enjoy the stuff the most. A direct dose can save money as it means that you are not using a whole load of phytoplankton.

If you want to give direct doses of phytoplankton to a specific coral, use a pipette to extract some of the phytoplankton from the bottle, and then point the top of it directly at the coral you are wishing to give the dose to. Gently release the phytoplankton. 

However, you might just prefer to give your aquarium a general dose of phytoplankton. We sell bottles of it for as little as $9.99.

Brine Shrimp 

This tiny crustacean has been around for a long time. In fact, according to Wikipedia, they have been around since the Triassic period (250 million years ago). This means that they have been roaming Earth’s seas 1250 times longer than the modern-day human. They are ancient compared to us and have remained unchanged for 250 million years, making them one of nature’s more efficient evolutionary designs.

These shrimp can grow up to 8mm, so a little bigger than the other crustaceans on the list! However, brine shrimps are a favorite snack for many saltwater fish, and adding them to your tank will go down a treat! 

These crustaceans are hardy and sometimes will float around your tank for a while before being discovered and eaten. The majority of fish eat brine shrimp, even the bigger ones that might not be interested in copepods and amphipods. They are also great for picky eaters as nobody can resist them! 

Brine Shrimp are a great source of protein for your fish, and is a great way to keep the inhabitants of your aquarium healthy. They also engage your fish’s natural hunting abilities.

Final Thoughts 

Live feeds are a great way to keep your fish and crustaceans happy and healthy. Using these feeds in your saltwater aquarium means keeping the environment as close to nature as possible. Boosting color, immunity, and health, live feeds are an important part of aquarium life.