Guppy Feeding - How Much And How Often?

[beccalovely]

Another newbie question!

I have Hikari Tropical micro pellets and currently 3 guppies (1 male, 2 females).
According to the instructions on the packet I should feed them 2-3 times a day and enough that they consume it within a few minutes.
As these are the first fish in this tank (30L biOrb, checking water quality twice daily, ammonia, nitrites and nitrates all staying at 0ppm so far) I don't want to overfeed them, but whenever I go over to the tank they get very excited... is this just normal behaviour or are they hungry do you think?

The food itself, if you're not familiar with that brand and type, is literally tiny little round bits, and I've been giving a pinch at a time, 3 times a day, because it sinks fairly quickly (probably because of the bubble movement at the surface) so if I give any more they'd probably miss it before it reached the bottom. They do catch a good few bits on the way down though, and I usually put it in above some of the decorations because I noticed they seem to like foraging for it when it lands on things.

So, basically am I giving them enough and are they just excitable when I go over because they look forward to food, or because they're hungry?

Thank you!

 

[fish48]

2 or 3 times a day is fine do not feed more then 3 times a day if you can give them a variety of foods.
i have heard there are some very good fry foods for sale these days Although i have not tried eny of theme
all of my fish are feed daily on live foods i rarely use prepared foods

 

[beccalovely]

Thanks for the confirmation there, much appreciated, any further advice on different types of foods, especially what 'live foods' are exactly would be great.

Eventually there will be a couple of Gouramis in there too - can they eat the same food as my guppies do you think?

Thanks again for all the advice everyone!

 

[fish48]

micro worms are the cheapest of live foodsand very aesy to maintain they a very good first live food fornew born fry.
How to start a culture of micro worms All you need is a small plastic container such as a butter/margarine tub. Mix some readybrek with milk or water mixed to a paste, when mixing with milk the microworms will stop smelling but when you mix it with water the microworms will still smell and seems to go off faster, once mixed add a teaspoon of the old culture, puncture air holes into the lid then put on the tub, the warmer the micro worms are kept the faster they will multiply and will soon start to climb up the walls of the tub the best way to remove them is to use a mini artist brush these worms can be fed to all fish but are more suitable for the small and , it helps them to develop and grow better.

 

[beccalovely]

micro worms are the cheapest of live foodsand very aesy to maintain they a very good first live food fornew born fry.
How to start a culture of micro worms All you need is a small plastic container such as a butter/margarine tub. Mix some readybrek with milk or water mixed to a paste, when mixing with milk the microworms will stop smelling but when you mix it with water the microworms will still smell and seems to go off faster, once mixed add a teaspoon of the old culture, puncture air holes into the lid then put on the tub, the warmer the micro worms are kept the faster they will multiply and will soon start to climb up the walls of the tub the best way to remove them is to use a mini artist brush these worms can be fed to all fish but are more suitable for the small and , it helps them to develop and grow better.

Great advice, thanks!