We are responsible for maintaining a healthy aquarium for the fish in it. It is crucial to maintain stability and consistency while caring for aquariums. Both freshwater and saltwater fish need a balanced diet to produce attractive colors, grow, and stay healthy. The majority of aquarists feed their fish primarily with high-quality prepared diets like flakes, crumbles, and pellets.
Before beginning your search for a fish feeder to buy, you probably had no idea how widespread they were in the world.
There are many various types of automated fish feeders available, and each one has unique advantages and disadvantages. Any fish owner can benefit greatly from an automatic fish feeder. It must be dependable, reasonably priced, and simple to set up.
There are several solutions available on the market for fish feeders. I will be talking about the finest automatic fish feeders in this article, along with what to look for. I have compiled a list of the finest 7 automatic fish feeders on the market right now and will give a review of each. So, even if you’re a novice or seasoned fishkeeper, this article is for you! Let us start by discussing the criteria I use to choose these items.
What Is An Automatic Fish Feeder?
An automatic fish feeder is a piece of technology that, as its name indicates, feeds your fish while you are away. Fish feeders may be as basic as a container with fish food inside it and a controlled timer.
It only takes a few minutes to prepare the dried fish food container and set the timer to feed your fish at the desired intervals. In essence, that is all there is to it. The automatic fish feeder will now keep your fish’s bellies filled while you are free to go.
Whether you have a freshwater, marine, or reef tank is irrelevant. On each of them, one automatic fish feeder will function. A fish feeder may carry up to six weeks’ worth of food, depending on the kind and kind of fish food used.
Automatic aquatic food feeders only work with dry food. There was no automated feeder for frozen meals available at the time this article was written. Consider moving to a freeze-dried meal, which is compatible with an automatic fish feeder, if your fish often consume frozen food.
Are Automatic Fish Feeders Necessary?
No, to put it simply. I am not here to convince you that feeding your fish using an automatic fish feeder is the best option. Because it isn’t, with all sincerity.
I am not sure whether you will find satisfaction in an automatic fish feeder if you can feed your fish by hand and it does not interfere with your routine. But there is no disputing that this tiny gadget can be helpful in some circumstances. Your aquatic companions require nourishment. It is true. Additionally, fish in aquariums are unable to provide for themselves. They depend upon you. Your fish companions will not eat, though, if you forget or are absent.
When you are not around, an automated fish feeder will take care of your fish. Additionally, it could be more dependable than asking friends and relatives to feed your fish. I always overfeed my fish when I do this. Therefore, even if a fish feeder is not a need for an aquarium, it may still be quite helpful.
What Kinds Of Automatic Fish Feeders Are There?
There are two types of automatic fish feeders.
Let us examine the two most popular varieties of fish feeders in more detail, together with their advantages and disadvantages.
Rotating Barrel Fish Feeders
Simply fill its barrel with your fish’s preferred treat, then set a feeding schedule. When it is time to feed, the barrel turns and dispenses some fish food in your aquarium.
The opening on the barrel controls the quantity of food that is dispensed. Fortunately, you have total authority over that. You get to choose whether your fish gets various extended meals or a major dish by changing the opening.
A revolving barrel fish feeder has the highest food capacity inside the fish tanks, which is its key selling point. This should be your first option if you wish to take a lengthy vacation. Some kinds can store enough fish food for up to six weeks. Ideal for that lengthy holiday.
Because there is only one container to store the food, this automatic feeding machine is less suited for communal tanks. One kind of fish meal per rotating barrel fish feeder works best; you can not just mix settling pellets and fish flakes in the barrel expecting them to be distributed equally when feeding time comes around.
Large-sized dried meals are not appropriate for use with this style of automatic fish feeder. Sticks, large chips, and algal wafers can all become caught in the aperture.
Pros
- Frequently accessible
- Large capacity
- several mounting options
Cons
- Wafers and other bigger dried foods are ineligible
- Incompatible with mixed feedings
- fewer accurate passages
- Community tanks could require numerous feeders.
Portion Control Fish Feeders
The benefit of this is that each fish meal may be precisely measured. You can feed every fish in your tank, from top to bottom, by mixing several fish foods together, however, it might take longer.
Even different foods, such as flakes in one tray and pellets in another, can be placed in each tray. After that, schedule their release timings throughout the day. Even better, you can skip feeding trays every other day. It stores less food than the barrel type, which is a drawback of being able to precisely manage how much your fish are fed.
I was unable to find an automated fish food feeder with any more than 14 chambers while researching them for this evaluation. Only two weeks’ worth of feeding, at one feeding time each day. However, if you eat twice or thrice a day, it lasts much shorter.
Additionally, this automatic feeding device is not appropriate for small feeds like betta pellets because of the way the tray mechanism operates.
Pros
- can deliver a mixed meal
- precise amounts are distributed
- Large dried items, such as wafers, can be accommodated
Cons
- Measure out your meal servings.
- contains less food
- occupies more room
- Incompatible with betta pellets
- more challenging to clean
The 7 Best Automatic Fish Feeders
Here are some of your choices and a brief description of each:
Eheim Everyday Fish Feeder
A product called the EHEIM everyday fish feeder is made to be used every day. You may adjust the number of feedings per day and the quantity of fish food for each feeding with this fish feeder. This item is made by Eheim, is quite dependable, and is covered by a 2-year warranty. The keys have a warning mechanism that alerts you when the batteries need to be changed, and they are water-resistant.
You can put the fish feeder on aquariums with or without rims, thanks to the brackets that come with it. To keep fish fresh, the feeding chamber is aerated. The gadget costs a great deal and is quite simple to program. Due to its affordability and dependability, I have seen this used instead of fish food feeders controlled by controllers. Just make sure to keep it away from air stones and power filters to prevent the fish food inside from becoming wet and rotting.
You may customize the serving size using the slider. Additionally, there is a manual discharge mechanism so you can serve your fish at other times besides the ones you have set. Additionally, even when the feed slot is pointed downward, the drum is not intended to stop.
Pros
- Great and easy-to-find brand name
- Simple to use
- affordable price
Cons
- Not all rimmed aquariums will fit.
- able to throw a lot of food
NICREW Automatic Fish Feeder
The NICREW automatic fish feeder is worth considering if you are seeking a convenient and cost-effective fish feeder. Your fish can be fed up to five times a day using this powerful little apparatus. It has a ventilation system and a built-in fan to maintain your food dry.
If you are not careful, this fish feeder may spill a lot of food. The movable sliders allow you to change the portion sizes. However, based on what I have observed with this product, I would use it only for flake food. Even with the slider, it still discharges a lot of fish food when using pellet food.
The fish feeder’s adjustable clamp can be mounted on both rimmed and rimless aquariums. If you have a tight budget, this is a wonderful purchase.
Pros
- Great Value
- Simple to use
- models for charging batteries and lithium are available.
Cons
- poor directions
- Simple to overeat
Innovative Marine Frozen Food Feeder
The inability of automatic feeders to deliver frozen food is one of their main drawbacks. It is sad since the best food you can feed your fish as a hobby is frozen food. Innovative Marine’s Gourmet Defroster offers a fantastic solution to this issue.
Your frozen food is kept in a dispenser on this defroster, where it defrosts and then mechanically distributes into your fish tank for consumption. When it concerns automatically feeding frozen food, this is pretty much the best you can do. Simply put the food inside the fish food dispensers, then go about your business.
This is excellent for individuals who are busy yet want to offer the best foods available, even though it is only suitable for one feeding.
Pros
- Works for frozen food!
- Simple to use
- mounted magnets
Cons
- Contains just one feeding
- Pricey
Neptune Apex AFS
The Neptune Apex AFS is what advanced fishkeepers with tank controllers have been searching for. Working with a machine that has a controller capability has a significant impact on how you feed. Before your AFS dispenses food, you can plan a number of pre-feeding chores using the controller, including:
- Switching off the protein skimmer
- Shut off the return pumps.
- Restart everything after ten minutes.
The AFS’s stay-dry mechanism is another feature. For each feeding, the AFS fishmeal dispenser stretches and retracts. Gaskets are used to seal the food drum and prevent moisture from getting inside the container. The device does not require batteries to function because it is connected to the controller system.
The AFS set the standard for advanced feeders as it was the first fish feeder in the world with controller capability. Although it has a high asking price, its features are unmatched in the market.
Pros
- functions as aquarium controls
- can feed several times each day.
Cons
- Pricey and difficult to program
OASE Fishguard
The OASE Fishguard is comparable to a subpar AFS. In addition to having a sealer that keeps fish healthy in an air-locked seal, its feeding dispenser incorporates an extension and retraction mechanism similar to the AFS.
Fish food dispensers that are sealed are uncommon in feeders. The AFS was the only option I could discover that I felt confident endorsing. It prevents meals from becoming soggy. The device is built in Italy and has a 3-year warranty, which is the finest in the business.
If it were not for the Eheim’s higher price, I would have ranked this fish feeder first instead of it. It costs almost twice as much as the Eheim unit. This cost is unreasonable for the vast majority of enthusiasts. However, I believe this is a justified purchase in a high-end setup with coveted fish like Discus Fish or reef tanks.
Pros
- Made in Italy
- Simple to use
- up to four times per day.
Cons
- Expensive
Lifegard Aquatics Intellifeed
A fantastic chargeable fish-feeding device that performs admirably as a regular fish feeder is the Intellifeed. The head can spin 360 degrees, which makes it different from the other feeders here on this list. The fish feeder has a rechargeable battery with an included USB cord. A battery power reader is built into the device and is situated on the bottom right of the display to alert you when the device needs to be charged.
One of the biggest clamps on this list is the one that is included with the unit. You will not have any trouble putting this on tanks with or without rims. The fish feeder is securely attached to the tank because of its size. The double-sided tape provided in the box can also be used to remove the clamp and mount it to a surface.
Mechanism
This fish-feeding machine has an on/off button so that you can turn it on and off without removing the battery or having your programming reset. Even though it appears to be a small function, it actually makes the device highly useful both when you require it and when you don’t.
Your fish can be fed by the device up to four times each day. Although the price for the features it offers is high, this is among the more prevalent units in the area. This and the Eheim are the two items on this list that are the easiest to locate in nearby retailers.
Pros
- located nearby
- Simple to use
Cons
- Expensive
Omega One 7-Day Feeder Block
The break feeder blocks, ah. These are among the most practical short-term fixes that you may get at your neighborhood pet store. They are inexpensive and simple to use, although they can be a bit messy.
Not all fishes will recognize it and consume it. There is a considerable probability that this product will cause ammonia surges if your fish refuse to eat it. I would advise using the product the first time when you are home because overfeeding an aquarium can have disastrous effects on your fish. You can then check if your fish eats it and how much food is still in the tank. Keep a close eye on the ammonia levels and tank activities.
Pros
- cheap
- Resolve to forget
- Easily accessible
Cons
- Unhealthy food can make the water cloudy.
How To Buy An Automatic Fish Feeder
Here are a few points that will aid in your decision-making.
Purpose
Undoubtedly, automatic fish feeders are very handy. But consider your way of life and what offers a fish feeder is a more appealing purchase for you. Want to stop depending on a relative or neighbor to visit and feed your fish since you constantly travel? Are you prone to forgetfulness and unable to adhere to a feeding time scheduled? The best choice for the programming and capacity needs of the fish feeder you choose can be made by understanding why you require an automatic fish feeder.
Food Category
Any form of food can be stored in mechanical fish feeders. Some, however, are only set up to handle particular kinds of fish food. Even if you are gone, your fish can have a varied diet thanks to the fish feeder experts recognized as the finest for travel. Make sure the fish feeder you choose is compatible with the kind of food you intend to offer your fish after giving it some thought.
Capacity
Capacity is not really a problem if all you need is a fish feeder for daily use that will eliminate any guesswork and memory requirements. You will undoubtedly require a more durable automatic fish feeder if, such as one of our testers who adores the best fish feeder for vacation, you intend to go abroad for weeks at a time. You might need to buy over two or three fish feeders if your tank is much bigger than average.
Function
You can choose the precise time of day you want to feed your fish using certain fish feeder capabilities. Some people only allow one feeding each day, while others may allow up to eight. Choose a fish feeder with the characteristics necessary for optimal programmability after taking your fish’s needs into account. Make sure the feeding bucket is big enough to handle all the food your fish will consume.
Putting Food Into An Automatic Fish Feeder
One common topic my readers ask me is what kinds of food you may put in a fish feeder. Generally speaking, most feeders can handle flake or frozen meals. Although freeze-dried food can be used, it frequently comes in too large or complete pieces to be utilized effectively inside the fish feeder. You can read my guides on the flake and pellet diet for in-depth reviews of the various products. I will list them below:
Foods Flakes
Because it is convenient and simple to feed, flake food works well in fish feeders. Contemplate putting Cobalt Aquatics Tropical Flakes in a freshwater aquarium. This flake food includes a composition that improves color and incorporates probiotics. Flake food can be difficult to keep dry in lower-quality fish feeders since the moisture of the tank will make it moist and spoiled.
Pellet Foods
Fish feeders work excellently with pellet food. They often have more nutrition than flake foods. I would suggest Fluval Bug Bites for freshwater fish. I would suggest Chroma Boost from Reef Nutrition for marine fish. With pellet diets, accidentally overfeeding your tank should be your biggest concern.
FAQ
How Effective Are Automatic Fish Feeders?
They certainly could be! However, not every model is made with the same level of attention. Depending on your demands, each model offers certain advantages and some disadvantages. Nevertheless, for conscientious fish keepers who want to maintain their fish’s health on a regular feeding schedule, these devices are the ideal complement.
How Are Your Fish Fed When You Are On Vacation?
An automatic fish feeder, in addition to the more traditional approach of depending on a neighbor or a mate, can provide you peace of mind when you are away from home.
Installing your automatic feeding device beforehand will allow you to test it and choose the proper settings. After that, you may leave it alone! You may relax while on vacation, knowing that your fish will be provided their preferred foods according to the timetable you specify.
Can Flakes Be Added To An Automatic Fish Feeder?
You may! However, it is based on the model. Others can contain a range of fish food, like flakes, while some fish feeders can only handle specific types of foods, such as pellets. To prevent them from becoming stale and blocked, look for versions that have some sort of ventilation mechanism.
Can Fish Be Automatically Fed?
Yes, and you may discover a system that is ideal for your needs thanks to the variety and adaptability of these systems, feeding your fish automatically whenever you need extra assistance. That might be daily or whenever you travel!
Conclusion
Your life will be made easier by an automatic fish feeder. Unfortunately, buying one might make things much more difficult! Hopefully, our recommendations and guide were able to point you in the direction of the ideal fish-feeding option.
No matter the automatic feeding device you use, some fine-tuning will be necessary to achieve the feeding quantity just right. Automatic feeders in the drum style are particularly sensitive to the varying sizes and types of fish food. The “hatch door” that regulates the entrance of the feeding drum must be adjusted properly.
Aquariums with automatic feeders make it simple to go away for several days or weeks. Every aquarist needs an automatic fish feeder, if only for the assurance that their fish will be fed wherever they are.
