Perhaps you are going on vacation, and no one is available to feed your fish for you. This is where automatic fish feeders come in handy, and they do the job for you. Most automatic fish feeders are easy to set up and they are convenient when it comes to ensuring your fish are fed every day.
Automatic fish feeders are a great item for fish keepers to have around, as you never know when you might need one. An automatic fish feeder should be reliable, easy to install, and the right fit for your aquarium.
By keeping this in mind, we have reviewed the best automatic fish feeders you can buy today.
The best overall automatic fish feeder is the Eheim everyday fish food dispenser. This is an automatic fish feeder that is battery-operated. The capacity of food that can be stored in this automatic feeder is 3.5 ounces, making it perfect for pelleted, flakes, and granular fish foods.
As fish keepers, we want to ensure that our fish food is kept fresh, and this Eheim fish food dispenser has an aerated chamber to prevent the food from becoming foul quickly, even if it has been stored inside for several days.
Furthermore, it has a digital display that allows you to easily program the feeder to the desired times you want it to dispense food. It is important to ensure that you follow the instructions to set up this feeder properly, otherwise, it can dispense the food inconsistently.
Pros
Easy to program
Allows for double-feeding
Affordable
Cons
Inconsistent feeding
2. Fish Mate F14 Aquarium Fish Feeder – Best Value
The Fish Mate F14 aquarium fish feeder is the best value for money. This is an automatic aquarium fish feeder that can be attached to the hood or the edge of the aquarium. It has a smaller and more compact design that makes it suitable for different-sized aquariums. The compartment holds fish food in 14 separate trays, meaning it automatically dispenses the food 14 times before it needs to be filled again, making it perfect for long vacations.
In comparison to other automatic fish feeders, the Fish Mate F14 is quite accurate and consistent with its feeding. It serves food to your fish without the risk of overfeeding as it only dispenses the amount of food in separate compartments.
Pros
Affordable for the quality
Easy to attach
Consistent feeding
Cons
Small capacity
3. Underwater Treasures Aqua One Digital Auto Feeder – Premium Choice
Underwater Treasures Aqua One digital auto feeder is our premium choice. This automatic fish feeder makes it easy to consistently feed your fish up to five times a day. The feeder can be programmed to feed three portions of food during each feeding, and it has a capacity of 2.11 ounces.
This automatic fish feeder has a digital display that can easily be programmed to dispense a variety of foods like small pellets, flakes, granules, and crumbled fish foods. The digital timer determines when the food will be dispensed into the fish tank, and it can be programmed to the desired feeding time. It runs on two AA batteries and needs to be placed on the edge of the glass to dispense food into the aquarium. It does not fit properly on aquariums with hoods.
Pros
Accurate feeding
Feeds up to five times a day
Easy to program
Cons
Not compatible with hooded tanks
Batteries are not included
4. Zoo Med BettaMatic Automatic Feeder – Best for Betta Fish
If you are a betta fish owner, then the Zoo Med Bettamatic feeder might be a good choice for you. This automatic betta fish feeder can easily be mounted onto small betta fish aquariums and even betta fish bowls. It is programmed to dispense food every 24 hours, making it ideal to use while you are on vacation or unable to feed your betta for a few days.
A sample of betta fish pellets is included, along with two AA batteries. It is compatible with pelleted betta fish food if it is small in size, as larger pellets will get stuck in this feeder. It dispenses around 2 to 4 pellets during feeding, which prevents overfeeding. One side of the food holder should be filled, and the other part needs to be clicked on top of it for this product to work properly.
The convenient and efficient Petbank automatic fish feeder is ideal for dispensing larger fish or turtle foods. It has a holding capacity of 7 ounces, allowing this product to hold a large amount of food in comparison to similar feeders. It can be used on both freshwater and marine aquariums up to 158 US gallons in size. This automatic feeder is ideal for dispensing an assortment of fish foods, including granules, pellets, and flakes.
It can be programmed to dispense food four times a day, with one to three food portions depending on how often and how much food your fish needs during mealtime. Furthermore, this automatic feeder is equipped with a large-capacity battery that can be charged up to 800 times, making it a long-lasting feeder. This saves you from having to buy and replace old batteries. Instead, you just need to ensure that the product is routinely charged every 3 to 6 months depending on how long this product is used with the included USB cable.
The innovative DXOPHIEX WiFi automatic fish feeder is ideal if you want an easy way to feed your fish from the comfort of your mobile device. It runs on two AA batteries which should be purchased separately, or it can be plugged in using the USB cable and run off electricity. You can also use both the batteries and electricity to ensure that the product can dispense food during power outages too, and you do not have to worry about it losing power.
A mobile app can be downloaded to control this product’s feeding schedule with the click of a button, and you can also manually set the time to ensure that the food is being dispensed at the right time each day. You can attach this automatic fish feeder to the aquarium via the clamp at the edge of the aquarium, but it is not compatible with hooded aquariums. The two holding capacities are 7 ounces of food, and the other container holds 3.5 ounces of food.
The FYD electric automatic fish feeder makes it easy to feed your fish either automatically by a setting, or manually if that is your preference. This feeder runs on two AA batteries which are included with the purchase, and it can run for 2–3 months on new batteries.
It is compatible with flake, powdered, and pelleted fish foods, and the food can be programmed to feed every 12 hours or every day by a switch on the side of the product, making it easy to program.
The holding capacity of this automatic fish feeder is 6.7 ounces, and it is ideal for daily use or only when you are away from your fish. You can attach this fish feeder using the clamp onto the edge of the tank, or a flat surface using the sticker.
The battery-operated Fish Nosh automatic fish feeder is made from durable acrylic while being easy to program and set a scheduled feeding time for your fish. This feeder is suitable for small and large fish tanks, including some fish ponds. It can be programmed to feed your fish up to nine times a day with a rotation of three rounds per day.
A manual, an extra feeding window, and two double-sided stickers are also included. However, the two AA batteries required to run this product are not included. This automatic fish feeder can hold up to 7 ounces of fish food, and it can be mounted on the tank’s edge, or stuck to a canopy using the included stickers. It is compatible with many different types of fish foods and the operation is practically noiseless.
Pros
Quiet operation
Ideal for both small and large tanks
Both manual and automatic feeding
Cons
Needs specific programming to work properly
Buyer’s Guide: Finding the Best Automatic Fish Feeder
Picking out your first fish feeder can be challenging if you don’t know what to expect. Not every automatic fish feeder is created equal, and the quality and function of each feeder vary depending on the brand. Automatic fish feeders work by dispensing food at a time that is scheduled, and it is typically used if you are going on vacation and will be unable to feed your fish. Or, it can be used to consistently feed your fish at the same time each day if you have to go to work.
When it comes to choosing the right automatic fish feeder for you and your aquarium, these are the factors you need to consider:
The automatic feed should be compatible with your aquarium and easy to mount.
It should be able to hold enough food to last while you are away.
If you wish to feed your fish quite often during the day, choose a model that has more feeding options per day.
If you have a hooded aquarium, choose a feeder that can be attached to the lid.
The power supply should last long enough to operate the model while you are away. Some feeders run on batteries, others on electricity, and some on both.
Conclusion
After reviewing these automatic fish feeders, we have chosen three as our top picks. The first top pick for those of you who are looking for an inexpensive and simple feeder is the Fish Mate F14 feeder, as it is the best value for money.
If you are looking for a feeder with two power supplies for extra reliability while you are away from your fish, then the DXOPHIEX WiFi fish feeder is worth considering.
Lastly, if you are looking for a simple yet efficient automatic fish feeder, the Eheim everyday feeder is recommended.
We hope our reviews have helped you find the best automatic fish feeder for your needs.