I am looking for opinions on a controversial subject. I read that it is good for your fish to fast one day per week, which improves the health of the digestive track. Agree or disagree?. Recommended for adolescent or just adult fish? What are your opinions on the matter? Do any of you practice this?

When I had an adult Oscar I would sometimes give him a day with out food.

i keep a pair of green spotted pufferfish, and yes, one day per week they go without food.


when dealing with large oscars, such as mine, i only feed every other day with a few small treats in between.

during juvenile, i used to skip a day or two without food, then full feeding.
i love to see my small fish bloated....

today, they are all grown up, whenever they are not to eager to eat, i give them
a day or two without foods...then full feeding also... i don't have any issue yet
with them. same is true with the ID sharks

I too often only feed my Adult Oscars every other day, this insures they eat when you feed them, and helps with water quality!

I don't see how fasting one day a week can improve their health, feeding them on a correct diet is the best way of keeping a fish healthy. Fish can go for a very very long time without food so even if you do want to hold back food for a day or two, they are certainly not going to come to any harm whatsoever. Many fish in the Amazon get stranded in the dry season and go without food for months.

i've read (on here i beleive) that it is good to skip a day once a week. if i remember correctly, it helps "purge" their intestines, and prevents constipation or blockage.
i personally feed every day as my O's still have a lot of growing left to do.

My oscar is still young only 6 months, I believe I'll begin the one day a week fasting once he reaches maturity, about 18 months. He has one year left of 3 squares a day. Thanks for all you input!

I feed my oscars for 6 days out of seven. I think its a good idea for 2 reasons.

1- It gives their digestive systems a clear out.

2- As they dont get food every day it keeps them eager to eat when food is put in the tank- should help reduce any fussyness when it comes to food

Oscars can go a few weeks without food so it dont do them any harm, and in the wild they will regularly go without food for a few days