Best Fish Food for Herbivores of 2025

Chloe Foster Avatar
Chloe Foster
Last Updated: 8 Feb 2025

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For fish enthusiasts who own herbivorous species, finding the right food to meet their dietary needs can be a challenge. Fortunately, there are a variety of fish food options available that are specifically formulated for herbivores. These foods are made with high-quality ingredients that provide the necessary nutrients for optimal health and growth, while also catering to their unique flavour preferences. Whether you have a community tank or a specialised setup, there are plenty of options to choose from that will keep your herbivorous fish happy and healthy.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Vitalis Cichlid Herbivore Pellets Fish Food 260g Cover #TOP 1
Vitalis Cichlid Herbivore Pellets Fish Food 260g
ftb score rating icon 9.9
Tetra Malawi Complete Food for Cichlids Cover #TOP 2
Tetra Malawi Complete Food for Cichlids
ftb score rating icon 9.8
Fluval Bug Bites Spirulina Flakes Fish Food Cover #TOP 3
Fluval Bug Bites Spirulina Flakes Fish Food
ftb score rating icon 9.6

Top 4 Fish Food for Herbivores

#TOP 1

Vitalis Cichlid Herbivore Pellets Fish Food 260g

260 g (Pack of 1)
Vitalis Cichlid Herbivore Pellets Fish Food 260g Cover
Vitalis Cichlid Herbivore Pellets Tropical Fish Food 260g

The Vitalis Cichlid Herbivore Pellets are specially formulated fish food designed for cichlid fish. This 260g pack ensures that you have enough supply to keep your aquatic pets well-fed and healthy. The pellets are packed with essential nutrients, making them ideal for maintaining the health and vitality of your fish. You will appreciate the convenience of having a specific diet tailored for herbivorous cichlids, promoting their natural feeding habits and encouraging vibrant colours.

What We Like
High-quality fish food
Convenient 260g packaging
Supports fish health
Encourages natural feeding habits
Enhances fish colours
#TOP 2

Tetra Malawi Complete Food for Cichlids

T709981
multicolored
1 ml (Pack of 250)
Tetra Malawi Complete Food for Cichlids Cover
Tetra Malawi Complete Food for All Cichlides Herbivores for Aquariums 250 ml

Tetra Cichlid Herbivore Food offers a high-quality blend of spirulina, nori, and chlorella, ensuring your cichlids receive essential nutrients. With its rich vegetable protein content, this food promotes the overall vitality and health of your fish. It is specifically formulated for herbivorous cichlids, making it an ideal choice for their dietary needs. Additionally, it supports digestive health, helping to keep your aquatic pets in optimal condition.

What We Like
High-quality ingredients
Supports digestive health
Rich in nutrients
Ideal for herbivorous cichlids

Fluval Bug Bites Spirulina Flakes Fish Food

A7355
Natural Colour
45 g (Pack of 1)
Fluval Bug Bites Spirulina Flakes Fish Food Cover
Fluval Bug Bites Spirulina Flakes Fish Food 45 g

Fluval Bug Bites Flakes is an excellent choice for your fish, featuring Spirulina that enhances colour and promotes healthy skin, scales, and fins. This formula includes six types of vegetables, ensuring that whether your fish are herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores, they receive balanced nutrition. Additionally, these flakes are made with sustainably sourced Black Soldier Fly Larvae, offering a high-quality protein source. Raised on fruits and vegetables, they provide exceptional nutrition while also supporting eco-friendly practices.

What We Like
High-quality plant protein
Supports fish health
Sustainably sourced ingredients
Colour enhancement
#TOP 4

Tetra PRO PlecoWafers for Bottom Feeders

16448
Multi
150 g (Pack of 1)
Tetra PRO PlecoWafers for Bottom Feeders Cover
Tetra PRO PlecoWafers 5.29 Ounces, Nutritionally Balanced Vegetarian Fish Food for Bottom Feeders, Concentrated Algae Center

Tetra PlecoWafers are specially formulated to meet the nutritional needs of herbivore bottom-feeders, including Plecostomus. These sinking wafers contain concentrated algae, providing a complete and balanced diet for your algae-eating fish. Made from all-vegetable ingredients, this fish food is not only easily digestible but also naturally high in fibre, ensuring your fish stay healthy. It's recommended to feed only what your fish can consume within a few hours, promoting a clean aquarium with minimal waste.

What We Like
Specially formulated for herbivores
Complete diet for algae eaters
Easily digestible vegetarian food
Promotes clear water
Convenient daily feeding
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What do you feed herbivore fish?

Herbivorous fish are ones that get most of the energy that they need to survive from a plant-based diet. This mainly includes algae and plants in the wild but pet fish can also be supplemented with fruit and vegetable matter in the aquarium.

2. Are any fish herbivores?

Herbivorous fishes are fishes that eat plant material. Surgeonfish and parrotfish are two familiar MAR examples, often seen browsing and scraping on reef algae. Herbivory is one of the most important processes in maintaining ecological balance on the Mesoamerican Reef.

3. What kind of food fish eat?

The most common dry foods include pellets and flakes. These foods come in different formulas depending on the nutritional needs of individual species. Meanwhile, some fish enjoy frozen or freeze-dried shrimp, prawns, krill, plankton, and worms. It's important to note that some fish do better on a live food diet.

4. Are most fish herbivores?

Marine macrobenthic algae (or seaweeds), epiphytic microalgae, and other aquatic plants constitute the main food items of marine herbivorous fishes. About 5% of all fish species are herbivorous; only 30% of these are marine, most of them living in coral reefs.

Editor's Notes

During our fish food for herbivores research, we found 36 fish food for herbivores products and shortlisted 4 quality products. We collected and analyzed 180,774 customer reviews through our big data system to write the fish food for herbivores list. We found that most customers choose fish food for herbivores with an average price of £10.73.

The fish food for herbivores are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of fish food for herbivores, including Vitalis Aquatic Nutrition, Tetra, Fluval. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 3,085 consumers with an average rating of 4.8.

Written by
Chloe Foster Avatar

Happy Pet Happy Owner by Chloe Foster sold over 100 thousand copies in the UK. Chloe worked as a veterinarian in The Veterinary Medicines Directorate, Woodham. She stayed for seven years before coming home to set up her pet store in Swansea. Chloe is an experienced veterinarian with a flair for literature. Chloe is vast in the knowledge of animals, animal nutrition, medication, and care.