The optimal food choices for guppies should balance nutritional balance and palatability. The following are scientific feeding recommendations:
I. Live Baits (High-Protein First Choice)
- Brine Shrimp Larvae
- The best first feed for fry stage, with the highest nutritional value when containing yolk sacs.
- Can still serve as a protein supplement source in the adult stage.
- Water Fleas/ Bloodworms
- Promote bright body color in adult fish, but need to be disinfected to avoid parasites.
- Tubifex Worms
- Sustained live bodies can stimulate guppies' feeding desire and assist in drug feeding.
II. Artificial Feeds (Convenient Option)
- Pellet Feeds
- Choose professional guppy feeds with protein content >40%; fry need small pellets.
- Flake Feeds
- Contain ingredients like spirulina to enhance body color performance.
III. Feeding Strategies
- Fry Stage: 3-4 times daily, mainly live baits (such as brine shrimp).
- Adult Stage: Alternate between live baits and artificial feeds, 2 times daily.
- Color Development Stage: Increase the proportion of feeds containing astaxanthin.
Precautions: Live baits need to be frozen or disinfected to avoid introducing pathogens.