If you have an upcoming trip, whether it’s for a few days or weeks, then you’ve likely been looking into options to make sure your fish are cared for while you’re away. In lieu of having someone check on your fish while you’re gone, an automatic fish feeder is a great option to make sure your fish are taken care of.
But making sure the automatic fish feeder you choose will work as expected is extremely important, especially if nobody will be able to check in on your aquarium. Here are reviews of the top 10 automatic fish food feeders for aquariums to help you make an informed decision so you can pick a product that will leave your fish safe and well-fed.
The best overall automatic fish food feeder for aquariums is the Eheim Everyday Fish Feeder. It’s customizable with three programmable feeding times with adjustable feeding amounts. This automatic feeder is designed with flakes in mind, but just about any type of dry fish food can be used in it.
The Eheim Everyday automatic feeder holds up to 100ml of food, enough to feed multiple fish for up to 6 weeks, even with heavy feeding multiple times per day. It features a digital display and a warning system that gives you plenty of heads-up before batteries die. It measures 5.5 inches by 2.5 inches by 2.5 inches and the sturdy plastic housing means it can be safely used for freshwater or saltwater. This feeder includes a mounting bracket to attach it to a tank without a lid. It is not made for use with lidded tanks but can be set on top of a lid, allowing the food to drop through an opening. However, this isn’t an ideal setup if there are other pets in the home that may knock the feeder over.
Pros
Three feeding times
Adjustable feeding quantities
Can be used with most types of dry fish foods
Holds enough food to feed multiple fish for up to 6 weeks
Digital display
Warning system alerts you to low battery
Freshwater or saltwater use
Mounting brackets for use with lidless tanks
Cons
Intended for use with lidless tanks
2. Penn-Plax Daily Double II Automatic Fish Feeder – Best Value
The best automatic fish food feeder for aquariums for the money is the Penn-Plax Daily Double II Automatic Fish Feeder. This product is not only cost-effective, but is also made by Penn-Plax, a trusted name in the aquatics world.
This battery-powered automatic feeder will feed every 12 hours and the drum holds enough food to feed for up to 4 weeks unattended. It can be used with most types of dry fish food but is designed with flakes and pellets in mind. This feeder measures 7.24 inches by 2.76 inches by 5.24 inches. It has an adjustable clamp to hold it in place on the edge of an aquarium but is weighted in a way that allows for it to be safely used free-standing.
Pros
Cost-effective
Feeds every 12 hours
Adjustable feeding quantities
Holds enough food for up to 4 weeks
Can be used with most types of dry fish food
Adjustable clamp to hold to edge or can be used free-standing
Cons
Cannot be set to feed at specific times
Does not have a digital display
3. Current USA 3860 Aquachef Automatic Fish Feeder – Premium Choice
The Current USA 3860 Aquachef Automatic Fish Feeder is the premium choice for automatic fish food feeders for aquariums but includes plenty of features that make the premium price tag worth it. It is made for use with most types of dry fish foods and the drum has a hopper bar that internally stirs the food with every rotation of the drum.
This automatic feeder has a digital display and can be set to feed up to four times per day. Each feeding has the option of a single or double portion feeding. It also has a manual feeding button to allow for quick extra feeds. It has an adjustable clamp that allows this feeder to be used with a variety of tank shapes and sizes. It also includes double-sided tape, so this can easily be attached to a tank lid instead of the rim. This feeder runs on AA batteries and alerts you on the display when the batteries are dying. This product measures 5.1 inches by 2.7 inches by 4.5 inches.
Pros
Can be used with most types of dry fish food
Internal hopper bar stirs food with each rotation
Digital display
Display alerts you when batteries are dying
Can be set to feed up to four times daily
Mounting bracket and double-sided tape are included
The Fish Mate F14 Aquarium Fish Feeder is a cost-effective, simple automatic feeder. This battery-powered product can feed up to 14 meals and the timer can be set for up to four feedings per day. It uses one AA battery and can use the same battery for up to a year with daily use.
This automatic feeder is made for use with all types of dry fish foods and different foods can be put into each meal slot, allowing for foods for different types of fish to be fed within the same day. The manufacturer recommends the use of pellets or tablets in high-humidity environments as opposed to flakes. It uses a simple timer dial for setting the feedings and has a battery indicator that lets you know when the battery is running low. It can be mounted on an aquarium hood or on the glass edge of a tank. This feeder also has the option to run airline tubing into it connected to an air pump, which is not included. This airflow helps keep the food from becoming stale and prevents clogs. The product measures 4.65 inches by 5.47 inches by 1.54 inches.
Pros
Can feed up to four meals per day
One battery can last for up to a year with daily use
Different foods can be put into each meal slot
Can be used with most types of dry fish food
Simple setup
Battery indicator
Can be mounted on a hood or a rim
Air pump can be used to keep food fresh and prevent clogs
Cons
Does not have a digital display
Feeding amount per feeding cannot be set
Flake food use is discouraged in high humidity environments
The Zacro Automatic Fish Feeder is an intelligent, rechargeable automatic fish feeder. It includes a lithium-ion battery and a USB charger. This feeder can be used for up to 6 months on a single charge and can be fully charged and discharged up to 800 times.
This automatic feeder has a 200ml drum capacity and can be set to feed 1-3 portions up to four times per day, making this a great choice for large tanks or large animals like turtles. There is also a manual feeding option. It can be used with just about any type of dry food, including pellets, powders, and flakes. It has a digital display, making it easy to setup. It has an adjustable mount that allows for it to be mounted on glass of multiple thicknesses. This feeder is not made for use with a tank that has a lid. This feeder measures 6.61 inches by 4.8 inches by 3.54 inches.
Pros
Can last up to 6 months on a single charge and battery can be fully charged up to 800 times
Holds 200ml of food
Can be set to feed up to four times daily
Can feed 1-3 portions for each feeding
Can be used with most types of dry food including large food
The Barkmew Automatic Fish Feeder is an automatic feeder that can be customized to feed 1-3 portions up to three times per day. It also has a manual feeding option. The drum holds up to 200ml of dry food and is easy to refill from the top instead of having to remove the drum.
This automatic feeder can be used in large tank settings or to feed large aquatic animals like turtles and koi. It can be used with just about any type of dry food, including large food like sticks for koi. It can be installed vertically on the rim of a tank with an adjustable mount or horizontally with a double-sided sticker to attach it to a tank hood. The digital display makes for easy setup and customization. This product measures 5.9 inches by 2.76 inches by 4.7 inches.
Pros
Holds up to 200ml of food
Can be set to feed up to three times daily
Can feed from 1-3 portions per feeding
Can feed most types of dry food including large food
The NICREW Automatic Fish Feeder features a unique ventilation system that fans fresh air through the system, decreasing moisture buildup and keeping food fresh. This feeder can be set to feed up to five times per day with 1-3 portions per feeding. It also has a manual feeding option.
This feeder is powered by two AA batteries and features an easy-to-use digital display. The adjustable clamp mount allows this feeder to be attached to the rim or edge of most tanks, but it is not made for use with lidded tanks. This feeder holds 60ml of food and is made to be used with most types of dry food, including crisps and pellets. This product measures approximately 6.4 inches by 4.6 inches by 3.4 inches.
Pros
Unique ventilation system keeps food fresh and dry
Can be set to feed five times per day
Can feed 1-3 portions per feeding
Manual feeding option
Digital display
Adjustable mount
Can be used with most types of dry fish food
Cons
Cannot be used on a tank with a lid
Can only hold 60ml of food
Ventilation fan may cause batteries to die quickly
The Petzilla Automatic Fish Feeder is a simple automatic feeder option. It can only be set to feed once or twice per day and while the feeding amount is adjustable, it is a notch system that may not feed accurate amounts.
This product measures 3.9 inches by 1.65 inches by 4.3 inches and does not have a digital display. It is set with a 12- or 24-hour switch and the notches in the drum are used to set the amount per feeding. It’s best for use with flakes or granules. This feeder includes an adjustable mount that allows it to be mounted to the rim of a tank. It cannot be used on a tank with a lid.
Pros
Simple to use
Can be used with flakes, granules, or small pellets
Adjustable mount
Cons
Only two feeding times
Feeding amount notches may not feed accurate amounts
The EHEIM TWIN Automatic Feeder is a dual chamber automatic feeder. Each chamber can be set individually to feed up to 3 feedings per day. They can be set at the same time or different times. There is also a random feeding option.
Each chamber of this feeder holds 80ml of food and can feed pellets, flakes, sticks, or granules. The chambers are aerated to keep food fresh, but there is not an active ventilation system. This product has a digital display and is easy to set up. It requires four AA batteries and should be checked regularly to ensure all the batteries are still in working order. This feeder measures 6.34 inches by 2.91 inches by 4.65 inches.
Pros
Dual chambers can be set individually to feed up to three times per day
Holds 80ml of food per chamber
Digital display
Random feeding option
Cons
Too large for many practical uses
Requires four AA batteries
Not made for use on lidded tanks
May be too heavy for some rimless tanks
Some limitations on the food that can be used in this feeder
The SunGrow Pleco Fish Wafer Feeder is a cost-effective, simple feeder that is made specifically for wafer-type foods. It can be set to feed one portion up to four times per day.
Since this product is made specifically to feed wafer foods, it may not provide accurate servings for smaller foods like flakes and pellets. The drum holds up to 100ml of food and is aerated with a fan ventilation system to keep food fresh and dry. This ventilation system may cause the two AA batteries to die quickly, so they should be checked routinely. If the ventilation system is not working correctly, this feeder will accumulate moisture and the food will become clogged and rotten. This feeder is easy to set up and has a digital display. This product measures approximately 7.87 inches by 3 inches by 2.7 inches. It is intended for monitored daily feedings and is not made for long-term use, like for a vacation.
Pros
Cost-effective
Holds 100ml of food
Ventilation system
Digital display
Cons
Made specifically for wafer-type food
Other types of foods may not be portioned correctly
Ventilation system may cause batteries to die quickly
Not made for long-term use
Takes in too much moisture if the ventilation fan stops working
Buyer’s Guide
What to Consider When Choosing the Right Automatic Fish Food Feeder for Your Tank:
How Long You’ll Be Away: Some automatic feeders will be able to feed your fish for weeks if needed! If you’re planning a long trip, then you’ll want to make sure you’re choosing a feeder that will hold enough food and battery power to feed the entire length of time you’re gone. Some feeders are better for daily or short-term use, making them better choices for weekend trips or even routine feedings to take a task off your plate.
How Many Fish You’re Feeding: A tank with six large goldfish is going to require much more food than a tank with a dozen neon tetras. A good way to determine how much food you’ll need your automatic feeder to hold is to keep a log of how many times per day you’re feeding your fish and how much each time.
How Often You’re Feeding: How many fish you’re feeding isn’t the only considering when it comes to how much food you need your feeder to hold. If you want your fish fed four times per day, then an automatic feeder with once or twice daily settings isn’t going to meet your needs. You want to find an automatic feeder that will feed your fish the correct amount at intervals they are used to. The last thing you want is to overfeed your fish while you’re away and come home to a mess with your water parameters.
What Type of Food You’re Feeding: If you’re feeding koi, then you’ll need to ensure that your feeder can distribute the koi sticks that you’re feeding. If you’re feeding small fish, then you’ll need to ensure that your feeder can feed small food like powder, flakes, or baby pellets. Not all feeders are going to evenly distribute all types of foods.
What Your Tank Setup Is: If your tank has a hood, then you’ll need to find a feeder that can work with a hood or you’ll need to find a way to rig a feeder. If your tank is acrylic, then it will be able to hold different weight than glass but will be more likely to scratch from the use of adjustable mounts. Knowing your tank’s materials, thickness, and whether it has a rim or not will help guide you in choosing the right automatic feeder to meet your needs.
What Options Do You Have When Buying Automatic Fish Food Feeders?
Direction: Some feeders mount over the rim of a tank or over the glass of a rimless tank, while others can be mounted on top of a lid or hood and some may even be able to be installed on the underside of a lid that is far enough away from the waterline.
Power source: Most automatic feeders are battery-powered, but some have the ability to be plugged into a USB or an outlet. A plug-in feeder will not run out of power but is subject to reset during a power outage and obviously takes up outlet space. Battery-powered automatic feeders are effective but need to be monitored closely to ensure the battery stays fresh or charged to keep the feeder in working order.
Ventilation: Some automatic feeders have built-in ventilation systems that work to keep food fresh and dry. Some feeders do not have this feature but are made to be water-tight and do not allow for moisture to get inside of the food hopper. Other feeders have the option to connect external air pumps to provide airflow into the feeder to keep food fresh.
Size: Based on how many fish you’re feeding, how long you’ll be away, how frequently you’re feeding, and what type of food you’re feeding, you could need various sizes of feeders. Some feeders only hold enough food for a few days or only hold small food, while others hold enough food that they are impractical for anything other than feeding large fish or many fish.
Number of feedings: Automatic fish feeders can feed anywhere from 1-5 times per day. Knowing how many times per day you want your fish fed will help you pick the right feeder.
Setup: Some automatic feeders have digital displays and can have simple to complex setups. Other feeders don’t have digital displays, but some can still be confusing to get set up correctly.
Picking an automatic fish feeder for your aquarium can be a high-pressure task. You want to have peace of mind in the product you choose, so use these reviews to help you pick the best product for your aquarium. Once you’ve picked an automatic feeder, try it out for at least a few days before you plan to be away, so you know it’s fully functional and set to your fish’s liking.
Featured Image Credit: SunGrow, Amazon
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Three feeding times
