Automatic fish feeders are a relatively new concept in the fishkeeping world. It’s no secret that most people hate feeding the fish. It is a difficult and time-consuming task, one which many people do not have the patience for. In fact, it is often the reason for a bad day at work or an argument with your spouse. The automatic fish feeder solves this problem. It automatically refills the food dish every morning, so you never have to worry about forgetting to feed your pets again!
The automatic fish feeder is a mechanical device which is designed to make the feeding process much easier by automatically delivering food to your fish tank. There are many designs on the market today with varying features and costs.
What are the types of Automatic fish feeders?
Automatic fish feeders offer convenience and can help control waste with little effort. These fish feeders comes in two main types:
Automatic fish feeder for aquarium
Many avid aquarium owners spend a lot of time researching and caring for their fish. Setting up a healthy environment that includes the right amount of food, plants, and space can be a daunting task. Fortunately, there is an easier way to maintain your aquarium! The Automatic Fish Feeder provides an easy way to feed your fish on a set schedule, so you don’t have to worry about it.
I will cover each of their reviews on my reviews portal here as I get to test them. There are many automatic fish feeders available in the market and you can check them all here. Here are some of the feeders we recommend to choose from..
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EHEIM Everyday Fish Feeder
EHEIM Everyday Fish Feeder is our 1st choice when it comes to automatic fish feeders for home aquarium. It’s very easy to use, programmable, splash proof and more importantly does the work what it is meant for. Ideal for holidaying without worrying on feeding your beloved fish.
It has a 100 ml capacity to store the food. The opening can be adjusted and it can rotate thrice in one feeding cycle. Hence this feeder can cater to any aquarium. This is our #1 Choice and you can order from amazon by clicking the “Order Now” button given below.
- Great for everyday use whether you are home or away
- Set it and let if feed your fish everyday
- Convienient worry-free feeding for healthy fish
- Easy to set up and use and includes easy start guide
- Integrated fan and ventilation system keeps the food dry
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Petbank Automatic Fish Feeder
Petbank Automatic Fish Feeder is unique in it’s own way as it’s equipped with a USB charging cable which gives you a flexibility for various charging scenarios. The battery lasts long and the battery management is optimized well for longer and efficient duration and can feed your aquarium for 3 to 5 months once charged.
It comes with 200ml capacity to hold the food and supports both granules and powders. This automatic grain feeder can feed upto 4 times a day and is suitable for the tank size upto 600 liters (158 US gallons). This is our #2 Choice and you can order from amazon by clicking the “Order Now” button given below.
- Environmental & convenient: Equipped with a USB charging cable, this automatic fish feeder is suitable for various charging scenarios. No need to repeatedly buy batteries, energy saving and environmental protection.
- Long work time: Powered by a large-capacity battery, Petbank auto fish feeder can be charged and discharged up to 800 times. According to the number of feedings set, it can be used for 3-6 months on a single charge.
- Large capacity: 200ml large-capacity feed bucket fish feeder automatic dispenser, suitable for a variety of fish feed such as granules and powders.
- Intelligent design: You can set up to 4 feedings a day, feeding 1-3 times each time. At the same time, you can also feed manually and experience the fun of feeding.
- Fish Feeder for Vacation：Fits for 600L (158 US gallons / 131 UK gallons) fish tank, the feeder can perfectly feed goldfish and turtles on weekends or holidays.
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FREESEA Aquarium Automatic Fish Feeder
FREESEA Aquarium Automatic Fish Feeder comes with both manual as well as automatic modes. It’s easy to use interface can set 8h, 12h and 24h for feeding just by push of a button. This feeder has a moisture proof design which ensures the freshness of food for longer duration.
It has 200ml capacity to hold the food and supports both granules and powders. It comes with a 12 month warranty and 24hrs after sales support. This is our #3 Choice and you can order from amazon by clicking the “Order Now” button given below.
- 【Manual and Automatic Mode】: FREESEA Automatic Fish Feeder allows you to feed at any time. Aquarium auto fish food dispenser can be easily set up regularly. You can set 8h, 12h and 24h for feeding, just gently press the button on the setting page. At the same time, you can also feed manually at any time. The fish tank feeder can free up your time and let you spend a good holiday easily.
- 【Adjustable Feeding Amount】: The Automatic Fish Feeder uses an open design. You can add fish food without removing the timer feeder. You only need to gently push the opening at the top to complete. And you can decide how much fish food you want to put in according to the number and size of the fish, and the feeder will automatically rotate 360°for feeding at the time you set.
- 【Moisture-Proof Design】: The electric feeder adopts moisture-proof design to ensure the freshness of food. No blockage will occur. The feeder is suitable for fish food such as strips, powder , granules, and flakes.
- 【0.05 Gal & Two Fixed Methods】: The Electric Adjustable Auto Fish Food Dispenser has a capacity of 200ml, which can hold a variety of types of food, and the Timer feeder adopts two fixed methods and is suitable for a variety of aquariums. One is to fix the bracket on the wall of the aquarium. The second is to stick it on the aquarium with double-sided stickers. Both methods can make the feeder firmly fixed on the aquarium.
- 【Warranty】: Comes with a 12-month warranty; If you have any questions about the goods you receive, please feel free to contact us. 24 Hour Professional After-sales Service.
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Fish Mate F14 Aquarium Fish Feeder (for large tanks)
Fish Mate F14 Aquarium Fish Feeder is specially designed for large tanks. It works on 1 AA battery with reliable and accurate quartz timer. It can store upto 14 individual meals which makes it a perfect choice if you are frequent traveler. Because of it’s accuracy in operating timing, it helps in reducing risk of overfeeding. We recommend this one if you have gold fish. Do also check out our article How to take care of a gold fish.
It’s recommended to clean the feeder at least once in 2 weeks to ensure hygiene. Due to it’s design characteristics, some food particles can sit underneath the rotor. This can cause foul smell. This is our #4 Choice and you can order from amazon by clicking the “Order Now” button given below.
- Serves up to 14 individual meals
- Feeds all fish foods, including flake
- Easy to use timer provides from 1 to 4 meals per day
- Reliable and accurate quartz timer
- Battery condition indicator
Automatic fish feeder for ponds
Despite the benefits of having a pond in your yard or garden, maintaining it can be difficult. One of the most important factors to ensure the health of the fish in your pond is to feed them regularly. There are some people who draw their own fish food and others that buy it in bulk, but the most convenient method is an automatic fish feeder for ponds. Let me know if you want me to cover each of their reviews on my reviews portal and I will try to get them for you and post the reviews. Here are some of the Automatic fish feeder available for ponds in market.
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Fish Mate P7000 Pond Fish Feeder
Fish Mate P7000 Pond Fish Feeder comes with easy to read digital display and can store upto 3 cups of food. It works well with all food sticks and pellets. It operates with 4 “C” type batteries which does not come along with the package. Although it’s designed to be weatherproof, it’s not suitable for submerged application.
It has a 3killogram capacity. It can be operated in both manual as well as automatic mode. This is our #1 Choice in pond food dispenser and you can order from amazon by clicking the “Order Now” button given below.
- Large 30 cup capacity
- Easy to read LCD digital display
- Accurate and consistent portion control
- Suitable for all food sticks and pellets
- Requires 4 x 'C' batteries (not included)
LONDAFISH High Capacity Pond Fish Feeder
LONDAFISH is a brand known for it’s quality product. This High Capacity Pond Fish Feeder is unique in design. It has a range of 120 ° and with the oblique movement, it can distribute the food evenly in each corner of the fish pond without injuring the fish.
This feeder comes with 10liters of capacity. User can set amount of food from 50 grams to 1400 grams per day which makes it suitable for wide range of ponds. This is our #2 Choice in pond food dispenser and you can order from amazon by clicking the “Order Now” button given below.
- Intelligent power supply, covering a wide range
- Timely feeding and intake control, 1-4 times a day
- With a range of 120 °, the oblique movement is distributed evenly in each corner of the fish pond without injuring the fish
- Automatic capacity of the fish dispenser: 10 litre. Weight: 2.5 kg
- The amount of food is adjustable from 50 to 1400 g per day (see the feeding guide)
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Hygger Pond Fish Feeder
Hygger Pond Fish Feeder has a modern design when compared to other pond fish food dispensers. This feeder can be programed for 6 times a day and can have 0 to 9 portions lasting for 8 seconds. This feeder also comes with manual button for instant feeding.
It comes with 5.5 liters of storage which can feed your fishes for several weeks. It comes with a 16 foot long wire cable to work on your AC supply, hence no batteries needed! This is our #3 Choice in pond food dispenser and you can order from amazon by clicking the “Order Now” button given below.
- 【Feed Your Fish on Schedule】Hygger Automatic Pond Feeder dispenses food automatically for your outdoor fish on scheduled time when you're on vacation or on business trip, weatherproof and safe from wildlife
- 【Easy to read LCD display controller with clock】 Build in controller, this auto fish feeder can program up to 6 times per day, 0-9 portions depending on your preference, each portion lasting 8 seconds. And manual feeding button for instant feeding. Easy to program
- 【Lasts up to Few Weeks】 With a full load of food, the storage bin is 5.5 litre capacity which can feed your fish for several weeks, depending on how many fish you have and how big they are. Ideal for 4-10 mm pellets or sticks food, not for flake! Comes with 2 shaped sliders for your feeding requirement, slider with dense grooved rings can dispense less food for your fish. Vice versa
- 【No Battery Needed】16 foot long electric wire requires No battery. Just wipe clean, less maintenance. Large feeder measures 20.7" L × 14.2" H. Storage food bin measures 10.6" H ×7" Dia can holds fish food up to 5 lbs.
- 【Designed for Koi Pond】This auto feeder require tools (drill and screwer) to be mounted at the pond's edge (wooden or stone floor). Constructed with metal and ABS plastic, resistant to bad weather, snap lid is easy to refill and safe from wildlife
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Texas Hunter Directional Fish Feeder (For Large Ponds)
Texas Hunter Directional Fish Feeder is specially designed for larger ponds. It comes with their Patented Centrifugal Air Blower System and Two feed level Sight Glasses. It comes with 12 Volt Rechargeable Battery and it’s Pre-wired for Optional 2-Watt Solar Charger, Model SP2W, which is Sold Separately.
This Feeder comes with 75lbs of fish food capacity or 125lbs of corn capacity. This is our #4 Choice in pond food dispenser and you can order from amazon by clicking the “Order Now” button given below.
- 300 lb. Corn Capacity
- Stand & Fill Design - Easy to Fill from the Ground
- Includes Texas Hunter's Premium Digital Timer
- Powerful Centrifugal Air Blower System projects corn in a 30’ x 50’ wedge-shaped patter
- 100% Varmint Proof
Benefits of Automatic Fish Food Dispensers
One of the benefits of owning an automatic fish feeder is that you can determine how much food your fish receive, when to feed them, and when not to – without being home. This also ensures that your fish are getting a sufficient amount of food throughout the day, eliminating any worry about overfeeding or under feeding. With this device, you can control when to stop feeding during a vacation or when you’re going out for a while.
Here are some of their key benefits:
- Automatic fish feeders are very convenient, they make an easy task
- They save a lot of time and money
- They feed your fish with accurate amount of food than other methods
- Automatic fish feeders are less stressful for the fish
- Reduced risks of fish food waste
- Reduces mortality rates of your fish due to overfeeding or underfeeding
Installation of Automatic Fish Food Dispensers
Automatic fish feeders are often plug-in devices, so set up is simple. Yet we need to take care of following steps.
Step 1: Setting up the feeder
Slide in batteries into the battery-holder enclosure if it’s a battery operated. If it’s a switch type, plug the switch. The battery operated are typically effective for 3-4 months. After that you need to replace the batteries. Usually they need 2 AA batteries to operate.
Step 2: Setting the food on the feeder
make sure to restrict the food til two third of the capacity. It’s advisable not to pour it till it’s capacity. We have seen that over pouring result in malfunctioning.
Step 3: Setting up a timer to dispense food
Switch on the power. Depending upon the feeder you have, read their user manual. Go to timer settings and set the timer to dispense the food. All the standard automatic feeders support all type of fish foods viz. flakes, pallets, powders & strips.
Step 4: Testing and you are done
We usually recommend to test the feeder before you let it go. This will ensure all the settings you have done are working correctly. You can test them by setting the time for say just 5 seconds to see if it actually dispenses the food or not. Once completed this step, you are all set and done!
Maintenance of Automatic Fish Food Dispensers :
Automatic fish feeders require very little care, maintenance and attention. You can clean the feeder after each use. However it is not recommended to clean the feeder with any solvents as it will damage the food chamber and the impeller. Cleaning the other parts of the feeder is okay as these are made out of non-porous material. It is recommended to change the filter when it gets clogged with dust or debris. You can also replace the food with a fresh batch after a few days. Do also check battery periodically to ensure your fish are getting fed regularly. Also have check on water quality. Read this review on Seachem Prime Water Conditioner to know why it’s a Editor’s choice. We also have covered an article on testing your aquarium water with Aquarium water test kits.
Conclusion:
An automatic fish feeder offers an easy, customizable way to provide your fish with an adequate diet. They’re also easy to use, easy to clean, and easy to replenish. So this was all on the Automatic Fish Food Dispensers. Hope you find this useful. If you have any questions or queries, feel free to comment below and we will try to get back to you ASAP.