10 Best Automatic Fish Feeders For Aquariums – Reviews & Top Picks

The Buyer's Guide

Some automatic feeders are more dependable than others, but they’re nonetheless important. Consider these suggestions for home use of the feeder before making a purchase decision on a particular brand.

Conducting Research Before a Vacation

The best fish feeders, like the one we used, will drop meals for as long as a month. Customers who installed their feeders before they left town had horrible outcomes, according to our observations.

In our testing, we found numerous feeders that did not live up to the makers’ promises that they take all food varieties and are unaffected by dampness. Perform a few experiments and feed the fish for a few weeks with the gadget before you go on vacation.

Before attaching the feeder to the tank, you should test it on a piece of paper or a piece of cloth. The first quantity of food may not be suitable for the species in your tank if you don’t do a test to see how much is dropped each time. It’s best to operate the feeder for a few days or weeks to see whether the blockages or moisture build up.

Species of Fish

If you feed your fish pellets, powder, or flakes, you may run into problems with the feeder if you do so. Fish Mate F14 was able to drop pellets without a hitch, but blocked up when filled with flake.

Flake-based fish food may not be ideal for feeders, so you may want to experiment with a different type of food for your fish if you want to use one. Although the flakes grew wet and clogged the pipes, some customers were able to utilize air hoses and fans to remove the moisture.

Aspects of Condensation

Several models of automatic feeders have problems with moisture dampening the food supply since they sit inches above the water level. Condensation regularly seeps into the reservoir even though the feeders are covered with plastic covers and ventilated with air holes.

While a dehumidifier or fan can help reduce humidity in the feeder, several users found that leaving a gap at the top of the food chamber also helped. This may fix the condensation issue, but if you’re going to be gone for a long time, the fish will have less feeding options.

Modifications to the Feeder

Even on the lowest level, some feeders’ portion control may be too much for your fish. As many dissatisfied customers have done, you may secure the aperture using waterproof tape, but you must check it frequently to ensure it remains secure.

The waterproof tape will function better than masking tape, but it will ultimately wear out and lose adhesion due to its proximity to the water.

In the Event of a Failure, a Plan B.

In case of power loss, you don’t have to worry about your fish being hungry. In the absence of a back-up, the water pump will cease to function.

Despite the fact that purchasing a bird feeder was intended to reduce your reliance on a friend or neighbor, you should still arrange for someone to check in on the birds periodically when you are away for an extended period of time.

It’s possible that your fish will go hungry because of a clogged chamber or a broken timer. While you’re gone, you may be certain that your fish will be well cared for if you have a human backup.

Conclusion

While automatic feeding is essential for regular travelers, certain brands in our research were better suited for extended flights than others. With a 6-week supply of food, the Eheim Everyday Fish Feeder Food Dispenser BestForPets (bestforpets.org) top selection.

There were just a handful of feeders that consumers had been using for many years without any problems. The Zoo Med BettaMatic Automatic Daily Betta Feeder was our top value pick. It’s a low-cost choice for betta owners who don’t want to deal with a sophisticated timer or a betta timer.

Thank you for reading our article on the Best Automatic Fish Feeders for Aquariums.

Reviews

Food Dispenser: Eheim Everyday Fish Feeder

• It is 5.5″ long by 2.5″ wide by 2.5″ high and is available in black or silver.
• A 59-gram weight loss

As one of the most reliable items on the market, the Eheim Everyday Fish Feeder won the prize for best overall automated fish feeder. The Eheim, in contrast to many of its rivals, can store enough food for six weeks.

The release hole may be adjusted to drop varied amounts of food since the aerated chamber maintains air circulating over the pellets to avoid clumping and mold formation.

Unlike some versions, the Eheim offers an easy programming procedure and a digital display that alerts you when the batteries are low. The mounting screws on certain tanks were too tiny, according to some customers who had been using Eheim feeders for several years with no problems.

Pros

• Capacity of 100 milliliters
• Fits a variety of aquarium shapes and sizes.
• Condensation can be reduced by using an aerated chamber.
• Feeding schedules that you control

Cons

• Some tanks make it difficult to attach small screws.

This automatic betta feeder from Zoo Med is the best value for your money.

• Seven-inch-by-five-inch-by-two-inch White
• It weighs a whopping 6.4 oz.

It’s a wonderful choice if you’re looking to save money on fish supplies, and it received our award for the finest automated feeder for the money. It feeds your betta every 12 hours and can be fitted to any rectangle freshwater tank or betta bowl.

A single AA battery powers the compact device, which is pre-assembled and ready to use. The Zoo Med, unlike many of the feeders on our list, does not enable you to schedule feeding hours. If you want food to be released every 12 hours, you must insert a battery at exactly the time you want the food to be released.

Pros

• Fits beta bowls as well as rectangle tanks.
• Included in the package is a single battery.
• Affordable

Cons

• It is not possible to program a timer to automatically feed at particular intervals.

 Aquarium Fish Feeder at the FREESEA Aquarium

• 5 inches long, 2 inches wide, and 4 inches high in black.
• Weight: 2.24 ounces

Every 8 hours, 12 hours, or 24 hours, the FREESEA Aquarium Automatic Fish Feeder may be configured to feed. The FREESEA, in contrast to other versions, has a clear lid on top that reveals the amount of food and allows you to fill it up at any time, without than stopping the timer first.

Granules, pellets, strips, flakes, and powder can all be fed into the feeder. It is possible to attach the feeder to an open tank or a closed tank using the bracket or double-sided stickers.

However, a few consumers were dissatisfied with the FREESEA because they were unable to adjust the amount size. This feeder is better suited for aquariums with several fish due to the large volume of food it disperses.

Pros

• Two hundred milliliters
• Up to three meals a day can be given
• The reservoir can be easily accessed because to the open design.

Cons

• The parts are out of my hands.
• All aquariums with multiple fish should use this item.

Aquarium Fish Feeder Fish Mate F14

• Dimensions: 5.5″ L x 4.6″ W x 1.5″ H; Color: Black.
• The 6.56-ounce weight

In contrast to other feeders, the Fish Mate F14 Aquarium Fish Feeder allows you to use several kinds of food in the same reservoir. Using the F14, you may feed your fish up to four times a day.

Unless you add another feeder, this one can only maintain small to medium-sized aquariums. Parents loved the simple feeder, but some complained that the wetness in the flakes made them clump together.

The F14’s major flaw is its irregular portioning, which may be remedied by attaching an air hose to the unit. For each feeding, a different volume of food is released.

Pros

• Up to four times each day, feeds
• Affordable
• Diverse foodstuffs are stored in separate reservoirs.

Cons

• Flakes of food form clusters
• Parts that aren’t consistent

Feeder for aquarium fish made from lychees

• Size: 5″ L x 4.4″ W x 3.2″ H Color: Black.
• 7.2 ounces in total weight.

With a 60-milliliter capacity, the Lychee Aquarium Fish Feeder provides food up to twice a day. Pellets, strips, powders, and flakes are stored in the food chamber.

You may use a plastic bracket to connect the Lychee to an open tank, or you can use double-sided tape to attach it to the tank’s top. The Lychee is less expensive than our top value selection, but it isn’t as dependable or long-lasting.

Timer malfunctions have been reported by a number of customers, and some received the same malfunctioning timers when they bought replacements. The owners of the units that did not have broken timers appeared satisfied with how well the feeder worked.

Pros

• A better value for the money than the alternatives
• Eats three to four times every day.
• Holds granules, flakes, powders, and strips of different sizes and shapes

Cons

• The timer does not work.
• Afraid to last