The fancy fins of domestic fish strains get more elaborate all the time.  Bettas, Guppies (and other fancy Livebearers like Hifin & Sailfin Swordtails, Hifin Platies and Sailfin Mollies), fancy Goldfish, Hifin Corydoras, Long-fin Cichlids, Long-fin Plecos, and more fancy fin fish strains can all benefit from extra nutrition focused on fin development and support. Some nutrients, like Carotenoides, also support fin regeneration and healing. There are natural fish food ingredients (or foods that can be fed individually) that offer nutrients to support strong, healthy, and large fins.

While the dietary balance will vary for individual species in your fish tank, some nutrients are known to support finnage growth and strength, including:

• Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5 and B6 – Seaweed offers all of these B Vitamins.
• Vitamin C – Seaweed/Spirulina, Krill, Chickweed, Red Bell Peppers, Kale, Broccoli.
• Vitamin D3 – Salmon, Cod, Herring, Trout, fish liver, eggs.
• Carotenoides – Krill, Seaweed/Spirulina, Red Algae, Salmon & Roe, Shrimp, Decapsulated Brine Shrimp Eggs, dark leafy greens, Paprika, Marigold, Cyclop-Eeze.
• Phosphorus – Seaweed/Spirulina, Krill, Bok Choy, Earthworms.
• Calcium – Seaweed/Spirulina, Krill, Calcium Montmorillonite Clay, Shrimp, Crab, Lobster, Thyme, Dandelion Leaves.
• Trace Minerals – Seaweed/Spirulina, Calcium Montmorillonite Clay, Raw Sea Salt.

These nutrients and the foods that contain them offer a myriad of other benefits for fish, be they fancy domestic strains or a wild-type species. As you can see from the above list, some foods offer virtually everything your fish will need for strong, large fins, which makes things easier. You can mix all ingredients into your own specialty homemade fish food to make it more convenient (check out our gelatin fish food recipe).  Seaweed comes in flakes or powder, making it easy to feed both alone or in fish food recipes.  Powder forms of seaweed and Krill make fantastic fry food as well.

It’s important to note, however, that heat-processed fish foods containing these ingredients (like flakes and pellets) aren’t going to offer the same level of benefits as fresh or low-heat foods do. The vitamins in heat-processed fish food are synthetic and added after processing because the heat zaps all natural vitamins. We feed low-heat dehydrated fish food, along with a variety of fresh, freeze-dried and frozen foods.

What are your favorite fancy fish strains? Please share in the comments below.

✔ You may also be interested in reading:
Live Fish Food Cultures for the Home Aquarium
Top 15 Natural Foods and Herbs for Breeding Fish
The Natural Diet of Omni-Insectivorous Aquarium Fish
Top 15 Natural Fry (Baby) Fish Foods for Optimum Growth

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