11 Primary Food Groups of Marine Fishes Table & Major Fish Families List
What Saltwater Fish Eat in Nature
<< What Saltwater Fish Eat in Nature|
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| 1 = Algae & Seagrasses |
Microalgaes and macroalgaes, and true flowering marine plants that are not algaes at all but seagrasses such as turtle, eel and a few others. Fishes in this food group are true herbivores. They can be fed standard aquarium fares, but if adequate algae or supplemental vegetable matter is not provided in their diets, nutritional problems such as a sunken stomach, loss of color, and inactivity eventually result. |
| 2 = Algaes | Macroalgaes that omnivorous fishes incidentally ingest in moderate amounts while intentionally eating small crabs, shrimp, and other crustaceans and mollusks. |
| 3 = Algae & Detritus |
Solid wastes from fish and invertebrates, coral slime, and other accumulated organic matter constitutes detritus. In turn small algaes and invertebrates are associated with it, and these combined elements make up a food source for many types of small fish, which are species that do favorably in old, well established systems. |
| 4 = Sponges | A high percentage of omnivorous adult Angelfishes feed on these simplest of many celled animals (metazoans) as a major element of their diet, where herbivores incidentally ingest small amounts while grazing on algae. |
| 5 = Plankton Pickers |
Tiny substrate and bottom dwelling copepods, amphipods, shrimp, mysids, and many types of fish and invertebrate larvae that float or drift in the water column before settling that makes up zooplankton are the typical items in this food group. However, these foods may only make-up a part of a fish's diet, and therefore some supplemental algaes or leafy greens should be provided. |
| 6 = Generalized Bottom Feeders |
Although fish in this group are opportunistic feeders that in nature eat small fishes, crustaceans, worms, or almost anything and everything that is available or abundant at any given time, some may have a general preference for a particular type or group of organisms. |
| 7 = Fish Feeders | Fish that eat other fishes by means of patiently waiting for unsuspecting prey to come too close, or that lure their prey in, such as with Anglers. They are best kept alone or with other larger predatory fishes, and should be provided a live feeder fish diet. |
| 8 = Coral Feeders | Fishes that primarily eat the soft polyps inside the hard skeletons of stony corals. |
| 9 = Crustacean Feeders |
Tiny crabs and/or shrimp are the primary food of these fishes, but occasionally they may eat a worm or clam or two. |
| 10 = Generalized Invertebrate Feeders |
A wide variety of tiny invertebrates are contained in this food group, the most common types being motile crabs, shrimp, snails, worms, sea urchins, starfishes, etc., and sessile types such as clams, tube worms, soft and stony coral polyps. |
| 11 = Parasite Pickers |
Although not a primary part of their diet, it is not uncommon to observe these fish in aquariums picking or cleaning parasites off of other fishes. |
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What Foods They Eat in Nature Cross matched to the coded food groups above, bolded numbers reflect a fish family's primary food preference. |
References
• "The Marine Aquarium Handbook: Beginner to Breeder" by Martin A. Moe, Jr.
• "Marine Fishes: 500 Essential-To-Know Aquarium Species" by Scott W. Michael
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• About Aggressive Food Competition Behavior of Fish
• How To Tips For Feeding Marine Fishes and Other Livestock
• What Is Nori, and How Is It Used to Feed Fish & Other Algae Eaters?
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