How important is feeding at consistent times?

[Sonatine]

I've just started adding fish (gradually) to my new 32.5g tank. The current inhabitant has been in there a week now. My main question is whether keeping consistent feeding times really matters. I'm starting a new job next week and my shift will be drastically different from day to day (I'll start at 5:30am some days, noon some days, 3pm some days, even the occasional night shift, etc).

My clownfish hasn't seemed to mind when I switch up the times so far as long as it isn't immediately after the tank lights go on; if I show up in front of the tank with the feeding pipette and the filter gets turned off it knows that means food. I guess I'm worried my future fish might be dumber. Am I likely to have a problem? I'll be able to feed twice a day, just not always at the same time.

 

[ying yang]

What I would say is try to get times set up so your lights can be on whenever the feeding times if possible as me personally I wouldn't want to be changing the times when lights come on and go off ( this mainly because my silver belly wrasse adapted to my lights time schedule and rises just after lights come on and as regular as clockwork ,30 minutes before lights go out, he dives under the sand to go sleep lol )
But if you need change times lights come on depending what shift you on,would all be what fish you got,and I bet there is a schedule that you could programme into your light timer where its on and no matter your shift you can feed with lights on.

So sone days 5.30 am starting.
Some days 12 noon.
Some days 3pm
So if me I would programme timer from say 5am -4-4,30pm so can feed just before start 5.30am ( depending how long takes you to get to work )
Lights still on at 12 noon so ok
Lights still on at 3pm so still OK.

And to your question feeding at different times ,if that's what you need to do and no wife ,kids to feed for you then that's situation you in so that's that and fish will adapt to different feeding times imo

 

[Beau_B]

I agree to keeping the lights consistent, fish definitely have an awareness of that.

Feeding… I’m not consistent at all. Sometimes I skip mornings. Other days I happen to be home at lunch… early evening feeding is typical but occasional forgetfulness and it’s “late” with the only downside that some fish already bedded down for the night. In that case I’m sure to feed well in the AM when they’re awake.

Consider using an auto feeder to give a small base diet.

Edit to add: all my fish beg for food anytime I get near the tank — even if I fed them 10min prior.

 

[Sonatine]

Thanks for the responses! The lights will remain consistent. I control those with an app so they're set to automatically come on at 6 or so, and then automatically dim and shut off in the evening. I can always change the time/duration depending on the needs of the corals I'll eventually have, but I plan to try and keep that consistent day to day.

I might try the auto feeder if I can get them accepting pellets or flakes consistently. Might be easier once I have more fish; with just one and no CUC yet it's hard to limit to how much my only fish eats, and I'd rather not overfeed such a new tank.

It's just me living here, so there's no one else to help with feeding. But with my lighting timing I should be able to get two feedings in while the lights are on most days.

 

[ying yang]

Sounds like a good plan and like above poster Says ,sometimes they miss a feeding as forget or could just be life gets in the way as go out on a day trip ,and I also forget now and then or go out for day so only can feed once or what not,but if forget or can't feed fir ine day,then a healthy fish be ok,even a few days without food they be good,obviously not all time and try your best to feed to your schedule etc .
I feed clams,oysters and other shell foods mainly and 2 times a week algae sheets and occasionally drop algae pellets in and very rarely pellets,but main reason is my copperband won't eat anything but shellfish so target feed him with tweezers and food that floats off is for other fish.
Maybe if you only have one fish use tweezers or a pipette/ turkey baster or any way you can give it to him slowly so none float away then rot in system as alot off fish won't get food once its on sandbed ( probably got natural Instinct that big bobbet worms and predators could be there ^_^l)
But once you start seeing algae on your Rocks/ sand start slowly adding cuc members and if them and you can't keep up with algae then add a fee more etc.
And once you add coral frags ,even if you dip them in coral dip,you will still get pods and worms and the likes so even if forget to feed tank,alot off fish still got food in the tank as they eat the pods and worms and all the micro fauna ( ovbiously if remove corals from frag plugs/rocks and do a very agressive dipping procedure and inspect all coral frags /have coral qt tank then could keep the pods/micro fauna out,but where theres a will there's a way so still probably get in ha ha )
And most the micro fauna vert beneficial

Good luck