Here is a scientific feeding plan for guppies, tailored to their different growth stages and nutritional needs:
I. Core Feed Choices
Live High-Protein Feeds (Recommended as Priority)
Brine shrimp: The best first food for fry, rich in astaxanthin to boost color development. It’s advisable to use artificially hatched or frozen brine shrimp.
Mosquito larvae: A natural food source for wild guppies, which can significantly enhance the vibrancy of their body color.
Artificially Synthesized Feeds (Convenient Options)
Micro-pellet feeds: Fry need powdered or floating varieties, while adults can use pellet feeds containing shrimp meal.
Functional feeds: For example, feeds with allicin to strengthen immunity, or spirulina flakes to supplement vitamins.
II. Stage-Specific Feeding Strategies
Fry Stage (0–1 month)
Feed 3–5 times a day, with each portion just enough to slightly round their bellies. Prioritize brine shrimp larvae, and use egg yolk water only as an emergency supplement.
Avoid feeding bloodworms to prevent digestive issues.
Juvenile Stage (1–4 months)
Feed 3 times a day: start with pellet feed, then supplement with brine shrimp. Control portions to avoid obesity.
Adult Stage (4 months and older)
Feed 2 times a day: offer formulated feed during the day and live bait (such as bloodworms) in the evening to maintain body shape and coloration.
III. Precautions
Removing leftover food: Any uneaten food within 5 minutes should be promptly siphoned out to prevent water quality deterioration.
Nutritional balance: Regularly add homemade feeds with shrimp meal or fish meal, or choose mixed feeds containing spirulina.
Breeding period adjustments: Female fish need extra brine shrimp to improve egg quality.
IV. Risk Avoidance
Treating live bait: Bloodworms must be thoroughly cleaned; frozen bloodworms should be thawed before feeding.
Avoid overfeeding: Egg yolk water should be given no more than twice a day, with only a few drops each time.