There are all sorts of great tropical fish out there who need a carnivorous diet like Arowanas, Peacock Bass, Cichlids, Goliath Tiger Fish and Piranhas. They can be exciting to keep, but meeting their nutritional needs can be more complicated than it first seems, and there are some specific health problems they can develop as a result of their diet. It's important to understand these issues in order to keep them healthy and happy.
Live Food for Carnivorous Fish
Many aquarists purchase carnivorous fish because they expect them to be exciting, but in fact they are often largely sedentary. What they need to get them moving is the opportunity to hunt and chase. This means that live food serves a dual purpose, encouraging them to exercise as well as meeting their nutritional needs.
General live food products such as kelp and daphnia are suitable for small, shoaling carnivores who get plenty of exercise anyway by chasing each other around, but for larger, more solitary carnivores they make life too easy. In more intelligent species of carnivorous fish this can lead to boredom, stress, and consequent health problems.
In this situation, the best thing to do is to provide your fish with other, smaller fish to eat. Some species also enjoy snacking on invertebrates, but you'll have to do your research to make sure that what you feed them is suitable. In either case, it's very important to choose healthy specimens, as carnivores can contract illnesses from their food. Find a good, reliable supplier and stick with them.
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