Shiners are small, freshwater fish commonly found throughout North America. Understanding their dietary needs is important for maintaining their health, whether observed in their natural habitats or kept in controlled environments. Knowing what these fish consume also provides insight into their role within aquatic ecosystems.
Natural Food Sources
Shiners are omnivorous and opportunistic feeders, adapting their diet to available resources in their diverse natural habitats, such as rivers, lakes, and streams. Their primary food sources include a variety of small aquatic organisms and plant matter. Golden shiners consume zooplankton and aquatic insects. These fish can feed at the surface, in mid-water, or near the bottom.
Common shiners primarily eat adult and larval aquatic insects, such as mayfly nymphs, caddisfly larvae, and midge larvae, which they capture from the water’s surface or within the water column. They also occasionally consume smaller fish and various plant materials, including filamentous algae.
Emerald shiners are planktivores, feeding on small organisms like zooplankton, protozoans, and diatoms. They also consume aquatic and terrestrial insects, with algae and other plant material becoming a larger part of their diet, particularly in spring.
Sand shiners, another omnivorous species, feed on aquatic and terrestrial insects, bottom detritus, and diatoms, often in schools in shallow waters. Younger shiners typically rely more on plankton and algae for their sustenance.
Feeding Shiners in Controlled Environments
For shiners kept in aquariums, ponds, or as bait fish, providing a balanced and varied diet is important. Shiners readily accept commercial fish feeds, with high-quality flake food designed for omnivorous fish serving as a suitable base. Larger flakes should be crushed into smaller pieces to accommodate their mouth size. Small pellets can also be offered, especially for larger specimens, and catfish feed is often a good match for their nutritional needs.
Supplementing their diet with live or frozen foods enhances their nutritional intake. Options such as brine shrimp, daphnia, bloodworms, zooplankton, and small insects are available. Small, finely chopped pieces of cooked vegetables like spinach, lettuce, or zucchini can be offered occasionally. Introducing aquatic plants such as duckweed or anacharis also provides supplementary food sources.
Offer commercial feed daily, complemented by live or frozen foods two to three times per week. Provide only what the shiners can consume within a few minutes to prevent overfeeding and maintain optimal water quality.