Other than having a beautiful array of bright and colorful fish in your aquarium, a lot of beginner aquarists may think that fish are some of the easiest pets to keep. However, the seasoned fishkeepers will tell you that it’s not as simple as it seems.
Sure, you don’t need to take your pet fish out for a walk or play with it, but the maintenance and organization of their habitat and the care and attention it takes to populate the tank with the right species of fish can be quite tricky. One other thing is feeding your pet fish.
Some inexperienced individuals may tend to overfeed their fish and not clean out the tanks enough, which could result in poor water conditions. Some people may also lead such busy lifestyles, they may not always be able to keep to a feeding schedule.
This is when an automatic fish feeder comes into play. This nifty little device will take care of all your feeding needs for you. Let’s take a quick scan of the best automatic fish feeders on the market.
View The Best Automatic Fish Feeders Below
1. Eheim Automatic Feeding Unit
Whether or not you are at home, the Eheim automatic fish feeder will make sure your beloved fish will be fed the right amount of food however many times a day. Feeding time can be programmed per day. Just input the right settings for auto fish feeder and sit back and let it do its job.
It’s very easy to use and comes with an easy user’s manual if you can’t figure it out. It can hold 100ml of fish food and will dispense the food in the right portion sizes. The freshness of fish pellets so close to a humid environment could be at risk, so the built-in fan and ventilation system on this automatic feeder to keep the fish food dry.
Pros
+ Automatic fish feeder
+ Feeds the right amount of food
+ Set feeding time per day
+ Built-in ventilation system
Why We Like It – We like the built-in fan and ventilation system that keeps the food in the auto fish feeder fresh for feeding time. 2. Fish Mate F14 Aquarium Fish Feeder
This automatic fish feeder gives you a clear view of the amount of food for your fish. You can have full control over how much food is going into each compartment to not overfeed your aquarium fish. There is enough room in the auto fish feeder to feed your fish for 14 meals.
The timer is easy to set for the feeder to feed your fish from 1-4 times per day. The quartz-powered timer will make sure your little marine creatures get fed at the same time per day. With just one AA battery, you can expect it to power the automatic fish feeder for a year! When the battery is starting to run low, the indicator on the fish feeder will notify you.
Pros
+Clear view of the food
+Easy to use
+Lower battery indicator
+Quartz timer
Why We Like It – No matter how many times your fish need to eat in a day, the automatic fish feeder has the capability to get the portion size right and dispense food effectively.
3. Zacro Automatic Fish Feeder
You never have to worry about running out of juice with this Zacro automatic fish feeder. The device can be recharged with the USB cable but can also operate on AA batteries. The device is more economical for your wallet and better for the environment.
The lithium battery itself can be recharged up to 800 times! It’s a large capacity feeder capable of holding 200ml of fish food and can dispense the right portion sizes of granules, pellets, flakes and powders. You can set the feeding times per day and how much food to dispense and is the perfect device for all species.
Pros
+Rechargeable lithium battery
+Large capacity
+Suitable for different fish food
+Can feed up to 4 times a day
Why We Like It – A rechargeable battery option keeps the money in your wallet and a smile on your face knowing you never need to be afraid of running out of battery.
4. Torlam Auto Fish Feeder
The timer of the Torlan automatic fish feeder is easy to program and be set to feed your fish every day. You can mount the fish feeder on the side of the tank or on the tank lid, whatever suits your tank design. There is also a moisture prevention design that keeps the food dry to minimize jamming and keeps the food fresh. It’s compatible with most fish foods including flakes, pellets, powders and more.
The rotatable pedestal makes it easy to add food and the large capacity of 200ml will also decrease the frequency of refills.
Pros
+ Easy to program and set
+ Can be mounted in two places
+ Keeps food fresh and dry
+ Rotating pedestal
Why We Like It – It doesn’t matter what type of tank you have, you can mount the automatic fish feeder in two different places.
5. Petacc Automatic Fish Feeder
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Program the automatic fish feeder to dispense food at any time of the day. You will be able to go about your day and daily outings without worrying your fish will go hungry. The large screen will clearly display the time and the data of the automatic fish feeder. All you need to do is refill the fish food from the top of the feeder then rotate the food compartment back again.
Automatically control how much fish food your little creatures get. It also has a moisture hopper built-in to keep the food dry and fresh. The large fish feeder has a 200ml capacity to hold enough food for a good long while. You can also decide where you want to affix your new automatic fish feeder, either on the side or top of the tank.
Pros
+ 200ml large capacity
+ Rotating pedestal
+ Easy to program
+ Built-in moisture hopper
Why We Like It – Anything that’s easy to use scores high points on our list. The intuitive operation makes it easy to keep your fish fed.
Best Automatic Fish Feeder Buying Guide
These little marine creatures used to perish often at the hands of their owners, but not from any ill-will. It was very common to return home from a fancy and luxurious vacation only to find that your aquatic companions didn’t make it. To really make sure your new best automatic fish feeder will really meet the needs of you and your fish, there are a few factors to look out for. If you follow our guide, it will ensure your fish will be fed and the auto fish feeder will last for at least a few years.
Capacity
The size or capacity of an automatic fish feeder refers to how much fish food your auto feeder can hold. A larger one is necessary for a tank full of fish and will decrease the frequency of having to refill it every other day. However, if you only have a couple of fish or baby guppies, you may not need an automatic fish feeder with too large a capacity.
To determine the size of the device needed, look at the residents of your tank. Larger fish tend to eat more, so even if you only have a few, you may be required to purchase a larger one than if you had a tank of a few smaller fish.
Battery
The battery is another top consideration when looking at the best automatic fish feeders. Most fish feeders require AA batteries to operate. If this is the case for you, then we strongly advise you to purchase one with a low battery indicator. This will notify you before your battery runs out and you won’t be left with a tank full of overturned fish.
If you don’t yet have your eyes set on a specific automatic fish feeder, then ones that have rechargeable batteries, which offer peak convenience. These devices have USB cables that can plug into any compatible device or adapter. This ensures the auto fish feeder will never stop working in your absence. If you can find ones that offer both the AA battery and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, then it provides even more versatility.
Portion Settings
You need to make sure you feed your fish the right amount of food with the automatic feeder to avoid overfeeding. The timer control will also make sure food is dispensed to your little creatures at the right time every day. Automatic fish feeders with quartz timers will offer the highest precision.
You also need to be sure the fish feeders are able to dispense the correct form of food whether it be powders, pellets, flakes and more. You don’t want to have to switch up your fish’s diet just to use the automatic fish feeder.
Frequency
The next setting is the frequency, or how many times a day your automatic feeder distributes food. Most of our top feeders can dispense food from 1-4 times a day. In general, it’s better for your aquatic companions to eat several smaller meals throughout the day than one or two big ones.
Many people may forget and skip a meal here and there, so to avoid these mishaps you can set the timer to feed your fish at a precise time.
Screen
An LCD screen is very handy for this device. While it may be a luxury many deem unnecessary, being able to view just how much food you are putting in and all the other details will be useful when setting up the device.
Ventilation
Moisture is your number 1 enemy in regards to fish food. The best automatic fish feeder will have safeguards put in place to reduce moisture buildup in the compartment. What happens when too much moisture accumulates in the automatic feeder? The dry fish food will clump up, clog the feeder and will eventually lead to malfunction.
Placement
The next part is the placement. This depends on the location of your tank and how you set it up. Some feeders can be mounted on the side of the tank or on the lid.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
How Does an Automatic Fish Feeder Work?
How exactly does a device meant to make your life easier in your absence work? Each fish feeder has an internal timer that is preset by you to dispense a certain portion of food at a certain time of the day. Its main purpose is to feed your pets whenever you aren’t home.
You can set it to dispense food however many times a day you require. If you only need the feeder to distribute food when you are at work, then maybe just 1-2 times. If you are a person that would like the fish feeder to take care of all the feeding needs of your fish, then feeders that can be set to distribute food 4 times a day are best.
How Can I Feed My Fish While on Vacation?
An automatic fish feeder is the best way to keep your fish fed while you are out of the country. If you live with roommates or members of your family, you can also feel free to ask them to help out. However, humans are fallible and the best way to ensure your fish will enjoy seamless feeding is with automatic fish feeders.
You may even find an automatic fish feeder to be an indispensable part of your life whether you are on vacation or not. We lead busy lives and sometimes taking time out of your day at specific intervals just isn’t possible. If this is the case for you, then you can benefit from one of these automatic fish feeders.
Are There Downsides to an Automatic Fish Feeder?
The one downside we can think of is the lack of interaction with your fish. You may miss out on the joys of feeding if you only rely on an automatic fish feeder. However, the use of one may be inevitable when you go on vacation.
On another note, there could be possible risks to using an automatic feeder. If you don’t pay attention to the battery, it may run out of power at a crucial time and your little pets could be at risk. Always make sure to check or purchase one that has rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.
Is All Fish Food Compatible with an Automatic Feeder?
Not all fish feeders are created equal. Some fish feeders cannot handle a certain type of food. You’re in luck, however, because most of the feeder options we presented to you can be used for all types of fish food (except for live ones). You will need to make sure your fish feeder meets your pets’ dietary needs.
Hopefully, the inhabitants of your aquarium can all survive on the same type or relatively similar type of food to make things easier.
Benefits of an Automatic Fish Feeder
Fish feeders provide more benefits than not. One benefit, and we’d argue that it’s the biggest one, is the freedom it provides. You no longer need to worry about getting home at a certain time to feed your little creatures. The worst things an aquarist can do is forget to feed his fish and fail to maintain the tank conditions.
This way, you don’t need to owe your friends and family members any favors by asking them to take care of your fish when you are out of the country. Another thing that all pets no matter the species benefit from is consistency. To consistently feed your fish at set intervals will ensure their health.
A fish feeder can take care of that for you without you needing to rush home and/or stop what you are doing.
Conclusion
There is no debate than an automatic fish feeder is one of the best additions to your tank. Not only does it benefit your fish buddies, but you as well. You also have the option to hand feed as well as enlist the help of a fish feeder if you don’t want to completely cut off all interaction with your aquatic pals.
If you aren’t sure about where to begin, you can refer to our top list as a good starting point and use our guide to help narrow down all the choices. With the right fish feeder, your life will become infinitely easier!
Did You Know?
You need to make sure to clean up all the leftovers in the tank to not contaminate the water. Fish are opportunistic creatures by nature and will eat whatever food they come across. Only allot a specific amount of food and if you start noticing your fish do not devour it all, you can lessen the amount.
Expert Tip
Not only will excess food contaminate the water and cause a rise in nitrite and ammonia levels, it can clog the filters as well.
4 thoughts on “Best Automatic Fish Feeders in 2021”
I should have one of these. I am usually busy away from home and these will really help me.
Yes, everyone should get one of this. I just got mine last week before I went for a short holiday.
My flakes in my rotating fish feeder get wet and clump bad. How do i keep my food dry so it will dispense?
Hi Daniel,
You probably placed it a little too near to the water level. Try to place it higher. =)