- The Best Automatic Fish Feeder
- 1. Zacro Automatic Fish Feeder
- 2. Eheim Automatic Feeding Unit
- 3. lychee Aquarium Fish Feeder
- 4. TOPBRY Automatic Fish Feeder
- 5. Fish Mate P7000 Pond Fish Feeder
- 6. PROCHE Automatic Fish Feeder
- 7. API Automatic Fish Feeder
- 8. uniwood Automatic Fish Feeder
- 9. Torlam Auto Fish Feeder
- 10. Fish Mate F14 Aquarium Fish Feeder
Many parents believe they perfected the art of the deal when successfully managing to persuading their children that owning fish is just as exciting as owning a dog. Until they try to book a vacation, that is. And unlike a dog who'd be delighted to road trip up to the mountains at a moment's notice, fish are much less flexible.
Thankfully, automatic fish feeders have been invented for these exact scenarios. Now when you're feeling like a holiday, all you'll have to do is set a timer for this nifty device to release fish food while your relaxing elsewhere. And we've amassed ten unique automatic fish feeders to choose from. Situated at varying price points, we're confident that the automatic feeder to suit your aquarium will be amongst our fantastic selection.
The Best Automatic Fish Feeder
1. Zacro Automatic Fish Feeder
Key Features
Large-capacity lithium battery means product can be charged and discharged up to 800 times
User can set up to four feedings a day
Able to be used between three to six months on a single charge
First on our product selection is Zacro’s automatic fish feeder, an energy saving model that is as durable as you can get. Powered by a large-capacity lithium battery, Zacro’s model can be charged and discharged up to 800 times. And considering that this auto fish feeder can hold up for three to six months on a single charge, you certainly shouldn’t have to buy a back-up feeder anytime soon.
Boasting a simplistic user interface complete with a power display, time setting, and manual feed button, this fish feeder is capable of setting up to four feedings per day. Plus, depending how many fish there are in your tank, you can rotate and feed again from one to three times each feed.
2. Eheim Automatic Feeding Unit
Key Features
Food is kept dry due to integrated fan and ventilation system
Easy set up and functional display unit guaranteed
Comes with a three-year guarantee
The fact that Ehein’s automatic feeding unit comes with a three-year guarantee tells you everything you need to know about the sturdiness of this product. From the LCD programming allowing a maximum of eight feedings per day to the adjustable slider’s role in setting precise portions, it’s hard to fault the array of features Eheim’s product boasts. And so you’re always aware of how much food remains in the feeder, product designers have ensured the drum is transparent, too.
Compatible in terrariums and aquariums alike, fresh water and marine fish will be treated to dry food thanks to both the integrated fan and ventilation system. Undoubtedly, it’s this feeder’s consistency and dependability that positions it a popular buy among aquarists.
3. lychee Aquarium Fish Feeder
Key Features
Can disperse pellets, granular, strip and flake fish feeder
Two different options for installation
Manual feeding mode option available
lychee’s fish feeder is the dry food feeder aquarists have been searching for. Recommended not only for pellets, this feeder is also compatible with granular, strip, and flake fish feeders.Besides, lychee’s fish feeder is small and compact, so looks discrete when installing into any tank.
Speaking of installation, lychee even provides two ways to attach the feeder to tank; either clipping it on the tank wall by rotating the screw or fixing the feeder on with the included double-sided sticker. All you’ve got to do beforehand is grab two AA batteries from the shop and you’ll be good to go.
4. TOPBRY Automatic Fish Feeder
Key Features
Large-capacity lithium battery allows automatic fish feeder to be used for three to six months without another charge
Digital fish feeder able to rotate 360°
Up to four exact feeding times can be set per day
Topbry’s automatic fish feeder is an item that has achieved the perfect equilibrum between low price and high quality. Boasting a large-capacity lithium battery, fish owners could theoretically leave for three months, return, and this automatic fish feeder still won’t need charged.
Installation can be achieved through two methods – either with the pedestal or pasting the automatic fish feeder on the tank and covering it with the double-sided sticker. After installation has been completed, you can work out the optimal position for dispensing thanks to the fish feeder’s ability to rotate 360-degrees – making dispensing far less complicated and more reliable.
5. Fish Mate P7000 Pond Fish Feeder
Key Features
Fish feeder boasts a thirty cup capacity
LCD digital display is accessible for users
Snap lock lid keeps pellet contained
All these compact fish feeders are grand for those who only require them to fill dainty indoor aquariums. However, what if you require a pond feeder much more durable? We present to you Fish Mate’s Pond Fish Feeder – the reliable design for large pond owners who are heading off on vacation.
Featuring an easy to use LCD digital display, Fish Mate’s model provides a user with accurate and consistent portion control up to three times per day. Moreover, manufacturers have ensured that their pond fish feeder isn’t only compatible with pellets, but food sticks too so your pond fish enjoy a little variety in meals. It’s certainly an expensive purchase but works flawlessly.
6. PROCHE Automatic Fish Feeder
Key Features
Product include two AAA batteries
Comes with twelve month warranty
Set-up instructions are clear and well-written
Proche’s automatic fish feeders provides happy customers with autonomy at every stage of the feeding process. From offering the flexibility to feed fish up to four times a day to the option of two installation methods to choose from, it’s hard not to be impressed.
Unlike many other auto feeders for fish, Proche’s design is accessible and clear, consisting of an LDC display, an adjustable feed volume knob, and an adjustable clamp to make its users’ lives easier. The company go a long way to ensure customers don’t have to lift a finger and even include the two AAA batteries required for the first three months of automatic feeding.
7. API Automatic Fish Feeder
Key Features
Product sustains fish for up to fourteen days
Releases food every few hours
Nutritional food pellets contain high levels of nutrients for fish
If you happen to enjoy the few minutes of solace experienced from watching your fish swim frantically to snack on food, API’s pyramid fish feeder will be more your style compared a to more expensive automatic timed fish feeder. Lasting for up to fourteen days, all you’ve got to do before a vacation is place the holiday pyramid fish feeder in your aquarium, which will immediately start to dissolve.
Although this temporary alternative to fish food is incompatible with fish bowls or non-filtered aquariums, API’s product will work a treat in filtered fish tanks and is designed to fill up five to ten average-sized fish. And if your tank contains a few more aquatic friends, API have three, four, and even eight packs available for your choosing.
8. uniwood Automatic Fish Feeder
Key Features
Clear interface allows users to feel in control
Opening can be adjusted with plastic cylinder
uniwood’s fish feeder works in any size of fish tank
From purchase to post-installation, uniwood’s automatic fish feeder is a hassle-free product. Within a couple of days after buying, the package will arrived quickly and well-secured in a box. Set up is simply a case of popping in the batteries and deciding on your feeding measurements!
By moving the plastic cylinder, the opening of the feeder can even be adjusted so it doesn’t overfeed your fish when you’re off on your vacation.Then there’s the option to feed your fish four times per day – a far better schedule for your fish’s digestive systems than the customary quick feed when rush out the door for work.
9. Torlam Auto Fish Feeder
Key Features
Adjustable timer facilitates up to four feeding sessions per day
Two installation methods are possible
Boasts a capacity of up to 200ml
Aquablue’s fish food dispenser stands out from the masses due to its moisture-resistant design that ensures fish food is kept dry and won’t get wet or jammed at any point. Plus, the “aquablue” fish food dispenser can dispense flakes, pellets, crumbles – you name it, and at a large capacity of 200ml, too.
Aquablue is the product to keep your fish happy, as the feeder can deliver either a single, double, or triple feeding consecutively. This innovative design feature will prevent fish from fighting over the small amount of food available, as they’ll hopefully catch on that another feed is just a moment away!
10. Fish Mate F14 Aquarium Fish Feeder
Key Features
Quartz timer is both accurate and reliable
Fish can enjoy a varied diet with fourteen different portions of food available to them
Works well in small to medium aquariums
Ideal for hoity-toity fish who need some flavor pallet variation for a much-needed change of pace, Fish Mate’s aquarium fish feeder is the reliable model to keep them happy. Boasting the capacity to serve up to fourteen individual meals, this portion control feeder can be mounted on the aquarium hood with the provided brackets to satisfy tropical and cold water fish while you whizz off on vacations.
Even if your fish don’t seem to mind about flavor variation, fish nutritionists still recommended feeding your fish several small meals a day rather than one large meal – which, thanks to this feeder, you can now make into a reality. Compatible with small and medium sized aquariums – you can even attach an airline from a small aquarium air pump to blow dry air through the feeder so food won’t go stale – we promise that your aquatic friends’ lives will assuredly improve with this feeder at work.
Best Automatic Fish Feeder Buying Guide & FAQ
Why You Need an Auto Feeder for Your Aquarium
You'll be free to vacation at a moment's notice: Buying an automatic fish feeder in advance frees you up for seizing last-minute opportunities to vacation. What's more, you'll be eternally grateful on longer days at work when, instead of rushing home to feed the fish, you can focus on your work instead.
You'll be able to control exactly how much fish food your aquatic friends receive: If you've got young children, we bet you've also experienced that feeling of horror when they chuck in enough fish food to feed a shoal at such a speed that you're unable to stop them. Esteemed water feeders contain a manual feed button that will allow children to feel the same excitement without overfeeding your fish, which can be fatal.
What to Look for When Buying an Automatic Fish Feeder
Does your automatic fish feeder have a manual feed button?: Although automatic fish feeders are incredibly handy to own on a day-to-day basis, there are more relaxed days when you want to spend time watching and interacting with your aquatic friends. That's when the manual option comes in handy: you can enjoy feeding your fish on your own terms.
A built-in memory feature is a must: Nobody has time to reprogram an automatic fish feeder whenever they swap out the batteries or recharge it. That's why purchasing a automatic fish feeder saves so much time, as your auto feeder will remember the feeding times a day you set.
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Different Types of Aquarium Fish Feeder
Rotating barrel fish feeders: As the most common kind of fish feeder, rotating barrel fish feeders are reliable and trustworthy devices. This type of aquarium auto feeder is incredibly appealing, given the amount of food you can fit in the majority of models. If you're looking to head off on vacation for an extended period of time, there are some models of rotating barrel fish feeders that are capable of holding up to six weeks of food. However, if you own a community tank – put differently, a tank that contains many different types of fish – the single compartment has its drawbacks.
Portion control fish feeders: Ideal for tanks that require all different kinds of fish food, portion control auto feeders allow you to pre-set trays of fish food so you have a direct control of the portion size. Although portion control fish feeders hold much less food than rotating barrel fish feeders, they put you in the driver's seat in terms of choice.
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How to Set Up an Auto Fish Feeder
Decide on a location for your auto fish feeder: We're sure you won't want to bung your fish feeder haphazardly in the center of your tank so it blocks off your fish; nor will you want it to interfere with any other equipment in your tank like a protein skimmer.
Mount your automatic fish feeder: The mounting process will certainly be different depending on your model of auto fish feeder. Whereas some feeders will have mounting brackets that sit outside of the tank, others have suction cups that latch on to the inside the aquarium.
Connect to a power supply: Again, this part of the set-up process entirely depends on what type of auto feeder your own. Many auto fish feeders have small batteries that need to be changed every so often. On the other hand, the fanciest auto fish feeders obtain their power through lithium batteries that are rechargeable.
Fill the feeder up: Choosing your fish's favorite food, fill your new feeder up and then play around with the settings to choose the times of day you wish to feed your fish. Portion size and frequently should only be a few of the adjustable features at this point.
Try out the manual feed button: For peace of mind, we recommend pressing the manual feed button, just so you know the disperser is working smoothly before you race off on your vacation!
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Our Top Pick
Now that you've browsed through our impressive range of automatic fish feeders, you're bound to have chosen your favorite. However, what one would we love to fit in our own fish tank? Hands down, Zacro's Automatic Fish Feeder outranks all other products, largely due to flexibility on the charging front. Boasting two types of power supply, the environmentally conscious supplier have made a fish feeder so sturdy that it can be charged and discharged up to eight-hundred times. If the number of fish in your tank suddenly changes, the number of feedings and the amount of fish food can be easily and silently adjusted with the help of the feeding adjusting cap and self-explanatory power display. Especially ideal for larger rectangular tanks, you simply cannot beat the unit made to hold a large capacity of food that won't need replaced for several years at least.
FAQ
Q: How long do automatic fish feeders last?
Bargain buys like API's automatic fish feeder are only capable of lasting for fourteen days. However, spending a substantial amount of cash on a fish feeder means this device may, in some cases, last longer than the tank itself. That's why models such as PROCHE's Automatic Fish feeder boast a twelve-month warranty: manufacturers are well aware that their device will last much longer than that.
Q: Is all fish food compatible with an automatic feeder?
Not in some instances. Several portion control fish feeders such as Fish Mate's F1 Aquarium Fish Feeder struggle to dispense flake foods, especially in humid conditions. Generally though, the top-of-the-range automatic feeders can dispense all types of food.
Q: Is there a limit to the amount of fish that a feeder feeds?
The automatic fish feeders in this buying guide range dramatically regarding the number of fish they're able to feed. For example, API's Vacation Pyramid Fish Feeder is able to feed up an impressive fifteen to twenty average size fish for fourteen days, whereas sturdier fish feeding units have the capacity to feed this number of fish for months at a time. It just depends on how much you're willing and able to spend.
Q: Is there a recommended feeding schedule?
Fish nutritionists recommend feeding your fish three to four times per day, as this number is beneficial for their digestive tracts and overall health. It is therefore important to stick to a schedule to avoid overfeeding – fish should only be eating for around two minutes. If you are in doubt as to whether your aquatic friends have been fed already or not, underfeed rather than overfeed them. Although the myth that fish may explode from eating too much is certainly untrue, other health concerns such as the possibility that overfed fish may develop hepatic lipidosis – a fatty liver disease – are all too real. Besides, the uneaten food swirling around a fish tank produces harmful by-products nitrite and ammonia that are extremely toxic in saltwater environments.
If the pet fish are primarily your children's pets, setting up a feeding schedule is a wonderful way to keep them engaged with their aquatic friends as well as getting them used to having responsibility. Evidently, this schedule will vary depending on what type of fish you own.
Herbivorous fish: Fish such as damselfish who obtain nutrients from macro algae growth forage throughout the day.
Omnivorous fish: Omnivores like to feed through the day and can tolerate various food items. Examples of these types of fish are the popular neon tetras who enjoy feeding off the majority of flake foods.
To fully answer the question, recommended feeding schedules depend on what type of fish you own!