Feeding fish is a process which needs regulation so as to ensure fish get fed with the right amounts of food at regular intervals. Advances in technology have lead to production of automatic fish feeders which are machines that feed the fish at regular intervals when the aquarist is absent. Fish feeders are either attached to the wall of the aquarium or over the tank. Their mode of operation is basically the same though a variety of designs exist. A timer rotates a hopper which is loaded with different types of dry feed thereby dispensing feed at regular intervals. The device also consists of a mechanism for setting the time interval in-between feeding and the amount of food dispensed.

Automatic fish feeders are commonly battery-powered and there are some advanced models with features such as multiple food chambers for different types of feed. The timer mechanisms depend on the type of feeder with some having timers that operate two, three or four times a day at regular intervals. Fish feeders are designed to handle different types of feed in pellet, flakes or freeze-dried form, and prevent clogging due to moisture from the aquarium in order to maintain a regular flow of feed.

Battery operated automatic fish feeders are favored by most fish keepers because they can be placed anywhere without having to plug in and they continue operating even in case of power blackouts. The size of the aquarium determines the kind of fish feeder to be used with some types being suitable for ponds and large aquariums. Some designs are meant to reduce feed wastage by having directional feeding mechanisms that ensure that the food lands in the water and this is especially useful for ponds and lakes fish feeders.

It is important that the automatic fish feeder you install be reliable in timing to ensure that regular intervals are maintained in between feeding and that just the right amount of feed gets dispensed. This is important for some fish varieties which may be harmed by over or underfeeding. The amount of feed to be dispensed depends on the type of fish in the aquarium or pond and therefore it is essential that the fish feeder can be adjusted to release different amounts of feed.

Shopping for automatic fish feeders can be done online with a variety of stores dealing in feeders and other accessories. There are different types of fish feeders with a range of features and shoppers have to choose the ones that best meet the needs of the type of fish they keep.

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