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Adding an automatic fish feeder to your aquarium will minimise your daily tank chores. It will also provide useful assistance if you have a busy lifestyle or tend to be forgetful about feedings.
After strategically placing and programming the feeder, you don’t have to remember to feed your aquatic friends or fuss over feeding times during the day.
This is also a must-have addition if you sometimes leave for several consecutive days or long vacations.
Keep reading to find out the best automatic fish feeders reviews.
The best automatic fish feeders compared
Automatic Fish Feeders Reviews
We rounded up for you the top automatic fish feeders picks.
- 1- Eheim Everyday Fish Feeder
The affordable, reliable, battery operated Eheim Everyday Feeder has a drum volume of 3.3 fl. ounces (100ml) and offers a digital display.
It comes with 2 AA batteries. It is well known to last for approximately six weeks when filled with food depending on your situation and fish population.
The Eheim Everyday Feeder has four possible feeding settings per day and is quite simple to program.
It also offers cycles where you can program two feedings. The bin will turn once and wait one minute and then turn again, dispensing more food for the fish in the same feeding.
The opening consists of a sliding door that you can adjust to your own specific needs. This also has the random feeding option so you can give snacks to your fish at any time between the scheduled feedings.
It comes with both “feet” for free standing on a flat surface beside the tank and with a clamp for attaching on the aquarium.
This feeder can be used with flakes, pellets and granules. It offers a ventilation system to keep the food dry and free from moisture. It is well known to have a fairly quiet mechanism but it is also a bit chunky and probably not good for the smaller aquariums.
The Everyday Feeder has a minimum of one setting per day, so you cannot program it to skip a day. This unit doesn’t have a low battery display. It also comes with a 3-year guarantee which makes it pretty unique in the industry.
What we like
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- 2 - Eheim Twin Automatic Fish Feeder
Eheim products are on top our list because it is a top leader in the industry with proven reliable fish feeders.
The Eheim Twin Automatic Fish Feeder is another great option because of its unique design and features.
Although It is more expensive then the Eheim Everyday Feeder, it is still a good price/quality product.
The most special feature of this feeder is its double barrel capacity.
You can place different types of food in each 2.7 once (80ml) barrel that can dispense feedings at different times during the day. This battery operated feeder comes with 4 AA batteries.
It has an option of one to three feedings per day.
The Twin Automatic Fish Feeder boasts a ventilation system to keep food from getting moist and clumping.
Again, this feeder accommodates all types of fish food, from flakes to pellets.
The double barrel feature comes in especially handy if you like to give different kinds of food during the day. The display is large and easy to read.
The Eheim Twin Automatic Fish Feederhas the unique option of skipping a day every 7 days. The programming of the feedings is a little more complicated and takes a bit more patience than some other feeders.
It comes with a low battery warning on the display, so you can change the batteries before the unit stops functioning. It also displays the time on the screen at all times.
The Eheim Twin Automatic Fish Feeder also has the random feeding option so you can give snacks to your fish at any time between scheduled feedings.
What we like
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- 3 - Fish Mate F14 Aquarium Fish Feeder
The Fish Mate F14 battery operated dispenser is also high up on our list because of its low cost and great features.
It functions with 1 AA battery and can easily function up to one year with this single battery. This unit may be mounted on the aquarium hood or fixed on the glass edge.
The Fish Mate F14 can dispense all types of fish foods, from flakes to pellets. The main unique feature about this feeder is that it has 14 individual meal portions which makes it quite interesting. Each individual meal is dispensed in a slow fashion; the food is served over several hours.
This feeder does not have a ventilation system so flakes may go stale and clump in high humidity situations. This is a well suited feeder for smaller aquariums. You can program from one to four meals per day.
Here is a short video from a Fish Mate F14 happy customer displaying the feeder in his aquarium.
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- 4 - IntelliFeed Fish Feeder
The IntelliFeed Fish Feeder is on the pricier side but has some great features.
The most interesting thing about this feeder is the design of the barrel that extends and then retracts to keep moisture out and away from the food.
It also dispenses all types of fish food, from the flakes to the pellets. It comes with two pre-programmed feedings and can be programmed manually to go up to twelve feedings daily.
The IntelliFeed can be automatically and digitally controlled. It comes with 2AA batteries and also a 6-volt power adaptor option. It possesses a low battery indicator.
The Intellifeed has a mounting bracket and also rubber suction feet for various mounting options to suit various aquarium set-ups.
What we like
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the Value of Having an Automatic Fish Feeder
How to choose an Automatic Fish Feeder
There are plenty of choices on the market today.
You will have to assess your needs and lifestyle in order to make the right decision.
Not all feeders are created equal.
There is an assortment of characteristics and features for food dispensers and you need to go over these carefully in order to purchase the right one for your aquarium and for your particular needs.
We have put together these automatic fish feeders reviews to help you make an educated choice.
Fish Population and Size of Tank
First the number of living creatures in your tank will determine the size of the feeder.
Some feeders have bigger containers which will be useful if you have a high volume tank with lots of living creatures who require several daily feedings.
If you have a smaller tank with few fish, then a smaller dispenser will be just perfect for you.
You, of course, need to resupply the container when empty and the size of the container will determine the frequency of this task.
Usually this needs to be done every few weeks or so, depending on your fish population obviously.
There is no need in buying a container too big for your requirements as the food may go bad inside the dispenser before being fed.
Also this is an added visual distraction on your tank, so you may want to choose the smallest one that meets your exact needs.
Lifestyle
Next is your lifestyle.
Are you very active and out of the house a lot or are you a home body?
This will definitely have an impact on the feeder you need for your aquarium. If you leave the house all day and if you are one to go on regular vacations, then you will need a very reliable food dispenser with a bigger holding container.
If you mostly stay at home and pay very close attention to your tank, then a smaller feeder may be suitable for you.
You may want to install the device and use it on a daily basis, or you may only want to install it when you leave for long periods.
Either way, you need a reliable one that suits your lifestyle and family activities.
For more tips on how to take care of your fish while on vacation, check out this article.
Advantages and Benefits of Using a Fish Feeder
peace of mind
You will benefit from the peace of mind that you will get from knowing that your fish are being fed at regular intervals and also you won’t be guilt ridden should you forget to feed them. It takes away a duty out of your daily aquarium keeping tasks.
No Need for a Fish Sitter
You won’t have to ask any family members or friends to come to your house to feed your fish when you go away on vacation.
Healthy Tank and Fish
Your fish will benefit from the regular timed feedings which in turn will keep them and the habitat healthy.
Automatic fish feeders are quite inexpensive and the benefits you get for your money is quite valuable.
The dispenser supplies the same amount of food at every feeding, so this can in turn be more cost effective for your pocket.
You won’t be using too much food as you may when hand feeding your fish. Also overfeeding can cause excess food to sink, waste deposits and algae.
What are the Disadvantages of Using a Fish Feeder?
Dependency
One of the downsides that we can see about adding a fish feeder is the dependency on the dispenser to work at all times.
And well, sometimes things just stop working.
You will need to keep an occasional eye on it and not rely on it 100%. A simple check once in a while will assure you that your fish are being fed on time.
Here’s a great video with a quick trick to test the machine should you have a doubt that it isn’t working properly.
Moisture Build-up
The one main reason that these dispensers stop working properly is because of moisture.
If moisture gets into the container, the food may clump and not dispense properly. This is the reason why it is important to do your homework and purchase the best one for your budget.
This is a piece of equipment where you will want to buy the best quality to have the most reliable option for your buck.
Less Interaction with Your Pets
Some are skeptical in using automatic fish feeders because they argue that the interaction you get from manually feeding your fish daily is important.
This is of course a debatable subject. Either way you stand in this opinion, it is always a very handy addition to your aquarium even if you only use it when going away on vacations.
Things to Look for When Shopping for your Automatic Fish Feeder
Different types of power sources
There are different options to choose from.
Some are battery operated, others are electric, and some offer both. You will have to analyse your set-up and see if you have an extra power socket you can use for the electrical dispenser.
The battery operated ones will continue to work in power outages, taking one worry off the table but you will need to make sure that the batteries don’t die to make sure that the feeder keeps working properly. This is particularly important if you plan to leave the house for long periods.
If they have been in the unit for a long period of time, changing them before going away on vacation may be a good idea.
Moisture Proof Containers
Some units are moisture proof so that the food does not clump and continues to dispense properly.
Some dispensers are equipped with small fans that air the food to keep it dry.
Other dispensers have retractable bins that keep the food dry.
The sort of food you use for your fish will also determine the type of dispenser you need.
Some are great for dry flakes; others are good with pellets and granules.
Although, most on the market today are made to accommodate all types of fish foods.
Times and Number of Daily Feedings
Some units are programmed for twelve hour feedings, others will let you set the desired times and number of daily feedings.
The feeders on the market offer a variety of dispensing options. You have to purchase the one that fits your feeding schedule the best.
Fish feeders offer between one to twelve feedings per day, with four being the average.
Size Matters
The size of the container is an important thing to consider when purchasing your fish feeder.
The size of your aquarium and the amount of fish that you have will determine what size you need.
More fish, more food, more feedings, bigger container.
Mounting options
Most fish feeders offer two mounting options.
One being the option of fixing it with the clamp to the side of your tank, and the other being setting it on a flat surface and steadying it with the Velcro attachments that are usually provided.
It is important to have an idea of where and how you want to set your fish feeder on your aquarium when setting out shopping for your feeder.
Depending on your set-up and aquarium size, you may prefer one mounting option more than the other.
Obviously, the features play on the prices of the dispensers but always try to get the most features for your budget.
Conclusions
If you have a busy lifestyle and want to eliminate the daily feeding task or if you are going on vacation and don’t want to ask someone to come feed your fish, you definitely need to consider an automatic feeder.
Our top picks round up offers different models in different price ranges for various aquarists’ needs.
You can decide on the one that best suits your specific needs and lifestyle.
Our top recommendation considering quality, price, and features is the Eheim Everyday Feeder.
This is a proven and reliable product that has great reviews and consistent quality.
It is quite affordable making it a great buy. You won’t break the bank with this one, and you will still get some great features.
It is suitable for all aquarium sizes, but especially for the larger ones.
Having a moisture protection feature is especially important and the fan in this one provides great ventilation in order to keep food dry and clump free. We also feel like the 3-year guarantee on this product is quite interesting.