About feeding a angelfish
Freshwater angelfish are cichlids with a carnivorous lean and a tall body shape that makes them slow, deliberate feeders — they can be outcompeted by fast tankmates.
How much should a angelfish eat?
Aquatic feeding is measured as a share of body weight per day, adjusted to the two-minute rule. The chart below uses about 1.2% of body weight daily.
| Body weight | Food per day (~1.2% of body weight) |
|---|---|
| 5 g | 0.06 g/day |
| 12 g | 0.15 g/day |
| 20 g | 0.24 g/day |
| 28 g | 0.33 g/day |
| 35 g | 0.42 g/day |
| 42 g | 0.51 g/day |
| 50 g | 0.60 g/day |
What to feed
Angelfish need quality flakes or pellets plus frozen or live protein foods like bloodworms and brine shrimp.
How often to feed
Feed once or twice a day; make sure the slower angelfish actually get their share.
Frequently asked questions
What do angelfish eat?
Quality flakes or pellets plus protein foods such as frozen bloodworms and brine shrimp. As slow feeders, they may need targeted feeding so faster tankmates don't take everything.
How much should I feed my fish?
Only what they finish in about two minutes, once or twice a day — usually a pinch. As a rule of thumb, most community fish eat around 1-1.5% of body weight daily; large slow fish like goldfish need less.
How often should I feed aquarium fish?
Once or twice a day for most species, with one fasting day per week. Fry and very active small fish need more frequent small feedings.