An Automatic Feeding Device 



for Aquaria 



CHARLES M. BREDER, Jr 



United States Bureau of Fisheries 



! 



l 

 I 



It is quite evident to most aquarists 

 that the feeding of prepared foods once, 

 or possibly twice, daily is not the best 

 method attainable for promoting growth 

 and general vigor in fishes. Live food in 

 quantities, no doubt, is the most nearly 

 ideal, but it is denied to all except those 

 having considerable time to devote to 

 their hobby. 



It is often asserted that in a state of 

 nature fishes in general tend to gorge 

 themselves with whatever food is avail- 

 able and rest while the process of diges- 

 tion is operative, repeating fhe cycle con- 

 tinually, thus dividing their daily food 

 into fairly well defined "meals." This, 



no doubt, is true but under the artificial 

 conditions imposed by the close confine- 

 ment of home aquaria, the writer has 

 found a quite continuous feeding or nib- 

 bling to take place throughout long per- 

 iods of observation. If, for example, 

 large quantities of Daphnia be intro- 

 duced, the feeding will take on a sudden 

 activity (usually with a visible distention 

 of the abdomen), and will then proceed 

 as formerly with the constant and inces- 

 sent pickings as the digestion of the 

 previously ingulfed matter proceeds. It 

 would seem to follow that a gradual 

 feeding would be more beneficial than 

 the methods usually employed. Work- 



