Guppies are curious creatures when it comes to new food. They wouldn’t object to trying out some rice from time to time. Despite the fact that fish don’t need carbs, most of them enjoy nibbling on rice. This is mainly because rice is the perfect bite-size for guppies.
In the article, we discuss the question, can guppies eat rice? And whether or not you should cook the rice first. Additionally, we tell you the benefits and downsides of feeding rice to your guppies.
Let’s get to it.
Can Guppies Eat Rice?
Omnivores, which include guppies, need both meat and plant-based proteins in their foods so that they can grow up healthy. Carbohydrates, on the other hand, aren’t part of an omnivore’s diet in the wild.
Put simply, guppies are omnivores that don’t really need to eat rice. These fish could eat a horse if they could, though, because of their big appetites. In other words, your guppies will never say no to trying rice out.
Plus, guppies have tiny mouths and small stomachs. If you think about it, rice sounds just like the right choice of feed for them. They can easily nibble on rice grains as occasional treats—all while enjoying it too.
How to Feed Guppies Rice
Unlike most human food, rice is probably the easiest to feed to your guppies. Thankfully, it doesn’t require you to do much work beforehand. There are only a few questions you need to know the answer to first.
Cooked or Uncooked?
Your starting concern will be whether to cook the rice before you serve it up or not. The short answer is that cooked rice is ten times better for your guppy to digest than uncooked ones.
The reason behind this is the guppy’s tiny mouth. It’s less difficult for them to eat and swallow cooked rice since it’s softer to chew on. Your guppies can easily digest cooked rice grains too and don’t find it hard to dispose of them later.
How Often?
Rice isn’t part of a guppy’s diet in the wild, which means you don’t need to make it part of their daily feed. This is mainly because rice contains high amounts of starch and carbohydrates that guppies don’t really have a need for.
Keeping those facts in mind, you’ll understand why you shouldn’t be feeding your guppies rice too often. Think of cooked rice grains as fish treats rather than dietary supplements or meals. In other words, you should probably feed your guppy rice only a few times a week.
Why Should Guppies Eat Rice?
Since no fish needs rice, why should you add it to your guppies’ diet?
Guppies don’t quite benefit from rice since they can’t absorb the starch found in rice grains. Add to that the fact that rice has no nutritional value for fish because it doesn’t contain any amounts of minerals, vitamins, or proteins.
All of those are nutrients that a guppy needs to grow healthier and bigger. That’s why there’s no real health advantage to feeding your guppies cooked rice. It’s also why you shouldn’t opt for a full rice diet at any point.
So, with that said, there’s no real answer as to why guppies should eat rice. No actual advantage comes from having them eat it, but at least you’ll be occasionally handing them delicious treats.
Why Shouldn’t Guppies Have Rice?
On the other hand, many fish owners are against the idea of feeding guppies rice. There are only a few reasons as to why that is and these include the following:
No Nutritional Value
First and most important, rice isn’t rich in any multivitamins, antioxidants, or proteins that your guppy needs to grow healthier skin and a better immune system.
Rice grains contain high levels of starch and carbohydrates that your guppies don’t need in their diet. This leads to many guppy owners not seeing the point in giving rice to their pet fish.
Poses as a Health Risk
Rice should always be well-cooked before you give it to your guppies. If you feed your fish raw or undercooked rice grains, you’ll be putting their health at risk.
That’s due to the fact that uncooked rice may expand in the guppy’s stomach. Many digestive issues will arise as a result. Your pet guppy will likely experience indigestion or constipation.
Can Guppies Eat Rice Alternatives?
Considering what we said about rice being more of a treat than a nutritious meal, you might be wondering if there are other alternatives you can offer your guppies instead.
Lucky for you, and your fish, there are! You can choose one of the two options below to give to your guppies instead. If you’re up for it, you can even alternate between all three choices and keep your pet fish satisfied with enough treats.
Rice Krispies
Krispies are a good solution to rice’s lack of nutritional value. These healthy human treats are rich in nutrients that your guppy can benefit from. For starters, they include a small percentage of protein that your fish can easily absorb.
In addition, Rice Krispie treats have no chemical additions or artificial flavors, meaning, they won’t cause your guppy digestive problems.
Krill Rice
Krill is a kind of fried rice made from krill shrimp. As fish food, it’s typically sold frozen or dried so it’s easier for aquatic animals to digest. This rice is highly nutritious because it contains the required amount of meat-based proteins your guppy needs.
Not only that, but krill rice is rich in antioxidants that’ll help boost your guppy’s immunity.
Conclusion
Can guppies eat rice? If cooked and served correctly, your guppies will have no trouble nibbling on rice. Keep in mind that you shouldn’t keep rice as a permanent part of your guppies’ diet. Remember that your fish don’t actually need any carbs or fiber.
In other words, rice will become a tasty treat for your guppies, and nothing more. So, just stick to cooking the rice beforehand to avoid risking the guppies’ health. Want to go the extra mile? Try handing out Krispies or Krill rice and watch your pet fish become happier!