The 5 Best Automatic Fish Feeders of 2018 – Top Models [Reviewed]

Automatic fish feeders are perhaps a great way of feeding fish while away from your home. They can also work for absentminded people who often forget when they last fed their fish.

Fish feeders can be programmed to accommodate various types of feeding schedules and portions. That will ensure your tank or pond’s food supply is constant.

The best automatic aquarium feeder saves you much effort, time and frees you to engage on other activities, instead of being shut-in like your fish (Source).

Bearing that in mind, fish feeders are flexible in the way that they come in various sizes to fit different tanks and the needs of your aquatic ecosystem.

Best Automatic Fish Feeders 2018

1. EHEIM Everyday Automatic Fish Feeder – Best All-Around Automatic Fish Feeder

The EHEIM Everyday Automatic Fish Feeder is one of the most popular fish feeders for pellets and other fish food types on the market right now. It is recommended for both beginners and experts due to the various features. It is ideal for aquariums and terrariums.

Starting off the features of this all-around feeder is its all-water feature. This feeder can be used with all kinds of water, be it salty or fresh without risks of being degraded. To add to this, it features a digital LCD that makes it easy to program it.

You can set the feeding intervals up to 8 times a day, implying that the feeder will automatically release food up to 8 times daily. This is quite convenient, especially for those who cannot make it to home to feed the fish.

The durability of this feeder shouldn’t be of any doubt. It is an impact resistant and waterproof feeder with a splash-proof screen and splash proof buttons that ascertain durability. Adding to its features is the adjustable slider that allows you to set the exact quantity of food to be released every feeding.

The EHEIM Everyday Automatic Fish Feeder comes with dual AA batteries that ascertain long lasting use. It also has a battery indicator that lets you know easily when the batteries need replacements.

Despite the feeder being always close to water, fish food spoilage is prevented by a built-in fan and efficient ventilation system that keeps the food dry and fresh. If you don’t intend to stick with automatically programmed feeding times, this model has a manual food release button that lets you feed the fish whenever you want.

2. IntelliFeed Automatic Fish Feeder – Best for Lots of Fish

If you need an automatic fish feeder that will expertly handle lots of fish, the IntelliFeed Automatic Fish Feeder should be your choice. It is preprogrammed to feed twice daily but can be adjusted up to 12 times each day.

The IntelliFeed Automatic Fish Feeder is best known for its expert moisture control. This feeder sits well on the side of the tank and simply drops food without chances of getting wet before being dispensed. Besides, the dispensing mechanism retreats to its housing when dispensing is complete.

You will also like how easy it is to use this automatic fish feeder for pellets and other foods. All you need to do is place the feeder on the side of your aquarium with the help of a mount. The digital display program makes it easy to dispense food with easy controls.

Controlling the amount of food is pretty simple. You just need to adjust the feeder door more or less. The power provided by the feeder’s batteries is reliable, with a power adapter that suits those who aren’t entirely dependent on batteries.

3. Fish Mate F14 Automatic Fish Feeder – Best Old School Fish Feeder

The Fish Mate F14 Automatic Fish Feeder is quite an old-school feeder that remains effective and relevant to fish feeding needs. Instead of using the current LCD, the feeder uses a simple quartz timer that gets the job done like LCD models.

The best part of this fish feeder is that it can set up to 14 meals at once. All you need to do is fill the container with your desired fish food and leave the remaining task for the feeder. Simply put, you can fill the meals of 14 coming days, either pellets or flakes. However, it is not suitable for a large amount of fish.

The Fish Mate F14 Automatic Fish Feeder comes with an easy to set timer similar to that of an egg timer. It uses a reliable and accurate quartz timer with four feeding indicators to choose from. This enables you to choose the exact times for four feeding intervals daily.

You can attach the feeder with an airline that allows dry airflow to keep the food dry and fresh. Like other models, simple batteries that need replacement power it. Mounting this model similarly isn’t a daunting task.

4. eBo Trade Automatic Fish Feeder – Best Automatic Fish Feeder for Pellets

The eBo Trade Automatic Fish Feeder is specifically designed for pellets but can be used for other common fish foods including flakes. It is a large automatic feeder perfect for use for feeding lots of fish in a large aquarium. Below are of the features of this feeder.

• All foods – perfect for pellets but also feeds flakes and crumble.
• Programmable – features an easy to use digital display with navigation buttons. The feeder can be programmed to provide food up to 4 times a day. The manual feed button lets you feed the fish anytime between the intervals.
• Portioning – you can easily adjust the amount of food to be dispensed using a portioning lever.
• Easy mounting – features integrated clamps and Velcro mechanism that eases mounting.
• Moisture free – has a fan and efficient ventilation system that prevents food spoilage and clogging.

5. Heneng Automatic Fish Feeder – Best Automatic Fish Feeder for Large Aquariums

The Heneng Automatic Fish Feeder is a fairly efficient, easy to mount and adjustable fish feeder for large aquariums. Despite not being a top contender and little noisy, it is an excellent feeder to try out.

This feeder is convenient with its easy to mount nature. It uses screws to attach to the edge of the aquarium. Portioning the feeder is quite easy and allows users to adjust the portion of food to be dispensed using the slider.

It is compatible with all foods including pellets, crumbles and pellets. Its special design provides efficient ventilation as well as prevents clogging.

Things to Consider When Buying an Automatic Fish Feeder

As mentioned, there are a lot of options available to choose from. However, to find the best, you will need to assess several factors. Note that not all automatic fish feeders are the same.

They vary in features and characteristics, just like food dispensers. This is why it is prudent to go through this feature detail cautiously.

However, before diving into the feature details, it is of immense importance that we point out some of the benefits of having a fish feeder.

• A great solution for vacation – the automatic fish feeder for ponds and aquarium will take great care of your fish if you plan to skip town for some few days or month-long vacations.
• Affordable – fish keeping is no doubt an expensive hobby. For sure, you might be cringing at the thought of having to purchase another equipment for your tank. However, automatic fish feeders are surprisingly cheap. You can find the best product with less than 30 dollars.
• Can be used anywhere – for many people, reef tanks are full of awful aquarium equipment plugged into the nearby socket. Be it pumps, lights, protein skimmers, heaters, wavemakers or temperature controllers, getting an extra socket for automatic feeders can be a headache. However, worry not as these tools run on batteries.
• Safe portion for good fish health – unlike other fish feeding equipment, the automatic fish feeder cannot overfeed or underfeed your fish.
• Convenience – are you having a busy schedule? Manually feeding your fish may not auger well with your schedule. Automatic feeders come in handy during these situations. They work well for any hobbyist looking to ease fish rearing.

With all these outlined benefits, finding the best automatic fish feeder for aquariums is certainly of immense importance. Consider the following factors to find the right product.

Features to Consider

Size of the Food Chamber

The first thing to consider is how much food you can store in your feeder. This equipment can easily crash your aquarium. Therefore, ensure that you get the right size. If you are looking for a feeder to fit a large pond with many fish, consider the best automatic fish feeder for a pond with a large container.

For such situations, avoid feeders fitted with minute compartments that will not be easy to fill. Besides, it may be prudent to invest in a large capacity feeder in future options of expanding your aquarium.

Battery Life

Remember that automatic fish feeders rely on batteries for power. Therefore, if the feeder’s battery fails or runs out, your fish certainly won’t feed. This could lead to illnesses and subsequent death.

If you plan to go away for quite some time, ensure that you get a feeder with a longer lasting battery. This will maintain the feeder for the time you are out before being recharged or replaced. Besides, it is prudent to get a feeder that clearly displays battery life.

Ventilation System

Most fish food requires to be dried to prolong its shelf life. Otherwise, most food will readily deteriorate as time goes by. Some feeders let moisture in, presenting a risk that your food may spoil sooner.

Therefore, it is wise to ensure that your automatic feeder is well ventilated to keep the chamber properly aerated to prevent food from rotting. For instance, ensure that there is a fan or vent in the chamber.

Ease of Use

Whereas some automatic fish feeders are a breeze to set up, others are nightmares. This can be true especially if you are used to manual feeding. Therefore, always consider how easy your chosen feeder is to install, though it can be intimidating at initial stages.

Modern feeders have digital display systems that make it easier to program the feeder and make adjustments. Some automatic fish feeders have complex options that accompany wide feature options that allow users to adjust feeding frequency as well as use multiple food types.

Frequency of Feeding

This choice solely relies on the type of fish in your pond or aquarium. Some dispensers give food twice a day while others can dispense up to 8 times. However, you should consider the number of fish and their daily food requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are There Any Downsides to Using an Automatic Fish Feeder?

As noted above, an automatic fish feeder is convenient, affordable and it controls portions. However, it is essential to note that fish feeders can fail.

When that happens, your fish will either be underfed or overfed. With overfeeding, there is the risk of ammonia spikes. Also, too much food can promote algae growth. For these reasons, it is essential to pick an extremely high-quality auto fish feeder.

Also, experts recommend that one periodically checks the functioning of an automatic fish feeder to avoid undetected failures. As long as you purchase a high quality device and combine this with vigilant maintenance, then chances of failure are slim to none.

How Long Can an Automatic Fish Feeder Feed the Fish?

It depends on the size of the chamber. Some auto feeders with big chambers can last up to 6 weeks. A good example is the EHEIM discussed above.

However, the more common time frame is two to four weeks. Of the two to four weeks, the feeder is further programmed to feed the fish either twice daily or four times per day. It is essential to compare your schedule with the maximum feeding time before purchase.

If you happen to be a frequent traveler, then a fish feeder with a bigger chamber is ideal. Note that you also have to consider the type of food. Usually, an automatic feeder can only dispense flakes, pellets or freeze-dried foods.

Some types of fish do not eat pellets or flakes. A good example is a carnivorous fish. Always make a point to check if the type of food your fish eats is compatible with the automatic feeder you intend to purchase.

How Long Can a Fish Survive Without Food?

Technically, this question has nothing to do with fish feeders. However, anyone intending to purchase an automatic fish feeder will need to know if they even need one in the first place.

A fish can survive up to three days without food. However, this is not an absolute answer. Depending on the age and size of your fish, this answer may vary. Older and larger fish can last longer without food and vice versa for younger and smaller fish.

How Do You Attach a Feeder to a Hooded Tank?

Not all fish tanks are open. If you happen to own a hooded fish tank, then you can mount the fish feeder in two ways.

One, you can cut out a section and mount the feeder. Note that this is only possible if the hood is thin enough and it is made of plastic.

Second, if the feeder does not come with a Velcro attachment, then you can invest in one and use it to attach the feeder.

Can All Automatic Fish Feeders Be Mounted Outdoors?

No, not all models are designed to handle outdoor elements. If you desire an outdoor automatic fish feeder, then you have to look for one specially designed for outdoors. However, note that you can also modify an indoor auto fish feeder to work outside.

Our Final Review

Keeping your fish safe and healthy is often a challenging task, especially if you have tight schedules. However, with an automatic fish feeder, keeping fish ceases to be a tedious task anymore. Regardless of where you are, you will always be free about feeding as the feeder does the task.

However, before settling on one product, ensure that you have gone through the factors mentioned above. Apart from these, you can also inquire if the feeder is suitable for both salty and freshwater or can handle more than one food type.

Looking into the factors mentioned above and the automatic fish feeder review above will ease your fish rearing adventure.

From the feeders mentioned above, which one do you think is your favorite? Share with us in the comments section below!