The world is moving fast towards automation and less human intervention – aquarists are getting on board too with the adoption of automatic fish feeder for aquarium.
For some, feeding their pet fish by themselves is one of the joyful moments of being an aquarium owner; for others, they don’t have the time or they simply can’t be bothered. A fish food auto feeder is a lifesaver for the latter group of people.
In this post, we’ll take a look at the factors you should consider when buying an automatic aquarium fish feeder. Let’s also look at some of the best automatic fish feeders for 2025 that you can buy.
Let’s get started.
Why Use an Auto Fish Feeder For Aquarium
Automates the Process of Feeding
This is the most obvious reason to use an auto fish food dispenser – you want to save time and make it convenient for you.
Considering that you have to feed your fish daily – often multiple times – this is a big part of aquarium maintenance taken off your shoulders. Now you just have to worry about water changes and cleaning of the filter, which don’t need to be done often.
Some may not like it because it means less time spent with their lovely pets, but not everyone has the time to do it.
Feeding Fish When There is Nobody Around
Even if you like the act of feeding your hungry fish, there are times when you (or anybody else) are not around to feed the fish. Maybe you are taking a vacation, or visiting family members for the holidays.
In those cases, an automatic aquarium fish feeder is a lifesaver – it is a literal lifesaver for your fish. This way, you are also not tied down to your aquarium pets.
Regular Feeding Schedule
With the use of automatic timers, you can feed your fish at the exact times every day. It is hard to do so if you are feeding them manually – there is always something that comes up in your daily life.
With a regular feeding schedule, your fish will be accustomed to the feeding times and will be ready for it. You can also space the meals precisely so that you don’t overfeed or underfeed them.
Increase the Frequency of Feeding
Since it is automated, you can increase the feeding frequency without it being a hassle. This is great for fish breeds that need to be fed often, such as silver dollars, mollies, danios, and farlowellas.
Moreover, if you increase the frequency of feeding you can reduce the amount of feed with each meal, potentially reducing wastage.
How to Select the Best Automatic Fish Feeder for Aquarium: Factors to Consider
Reliability
Needless to say, a device that provides the sole sustenance for your fish should be reliable – it should not fail under any circumstances.
That is why it is important to test it before leaving it on autopilot. Many things can go wrong, from blockages to the battery running out.
It is preferable to have a feeder running on battery, as it can still work when there is no power in the house. The problem is if the battery itself runs out; make sure the product you choose has a low battery warning.
A rechargeable battery is also convenient and cost-effective.
Amount of Feed
Make sure you can control the amount of feed with the automatic fish feeder for aquarium – it is important to not underfeed or overfeed your fish.
Underfeeding can make your fish malnourished, while overfeeding can lead to excess food waste that can reduce the water quality.
The amount of feed required should be determined according to the size of tank, number of fish, and fish type.
Type of Foods Supported
Fish feeders can hold pellets, granules, or flakes. Pellets and granules are the best choices, while flakes may stick together and cause blockages.
There are even automatic frozen fish food feeders in the market. Unless your fish feeder specifically says it supports frozen fish food, do not attempt to cram it into it.
How Long It Can Feed the Fish
You should consider how long the feeder can continue to feed the fish before either the food runs out or the battery runs out – usually it’s the former.
Most fish feeders can keep filling your fish’s bellies for 14 days, which is enough time for a good vacation.
Waterproof and Manual Feeding
Something that is around water all the time should be waterproof. Also, it would be great to have a button to manually feed your fish, so that you can experience the joy of feeding your adorable pets.
Best Automatic Fish Feeders For 2025
FREESEA Fish Feeder Automatic Dispenser: Aquarium Flakes Food Feeder with Timer Battery
This is one of the best automatic feeders for fish you can get at an affordable price.
It can automatically feed between 8, 12, and 24 hour intervals, which is sufficient for most needs. You also have a manual button to instantly dispense food.
Running on rechargeable batteries, it is quite reliable. The battery can last for 2 months and takes 6 hours to fully recharge.
The FREESEA fish feeder conveniently has two installation methods: you can either clamp it on the wall or, in the case of tank with lids, fix it on top.
It is nice of the sellers to throw in a digital thermometer and feeding ring as extras, especially for its price.
Now, coming to the cons, you don’t have that much control over the amount of feed. And, despite claims by the manufacturer, they don’t work well with flakes, which is the case with most auto feeders. The flakes tend to stick and clump inside the compartment.
It is also a somewhat bulky device.
What Our Testers Say:
It is indeed bulky, but does a good enough job. We tested it with flakes, and it did not produce a good result, so stick with pellets and granules
What We Like
- Automatic and manual feeding options
- Runs on high-capacity rechargeable batteries
- Quite affordable
- Includes digital thermometer and feeding ring
- Has two installation options
What We Don’t like
- Flake food tends to stick
- Not great control over amount of feed
- A bit bulky
- Can’t set manual times
Automatic Fish Feeder – Rechargeable Timer Fish Feeder with USB Charger Cable, Fish Food Dispenser for Aquariums or Fish Tank
This one comes with a convenient LCD display that makes it easy to set the timer and shows the battery level to let you know how long it will last.
A great thing with this is it has highly adjustable timers; you can set it to feed 4 times per day, and 1-3 feeding rotations per session. You can manually set the times when you want to feed your fish, allowing greater control.
The manufacturer didn’t forget the manual feeding button to give some instant snacks for your aquatic buddies.
The device is charged with a USB cable and can last 3-6 months with 3-4 hours of full charge.
There is a sliding door on the food compartment to control the amount of food dispensed, but it is not consistent and sometimes the door opens too much because it is loose.
Also, there are complaints of manual feeding not working properly because the compartment doesn’t rotate fully.
What Our Testers Say:
The amount of feed dispensed is different with different types of food, but it is understandable because they have different weights and sizes. We found no issues with the manual feed option. Overall a pretty decent device.
What We Like
- Highly adjustable timers with LCD display
- Adjustable slider to control food amount
- USB charging
- Battery lasts 3-6 months
What We Don’t like
- Food dispensed is still not precise
- Slider door is loose and may open
- Some issues with manual feeding
Automatic Fish Feeder for Aquarium – Moisture-Proof and Precision Feeding Betta Vacation Feeder, USB Rechargeable Auto Fish Food Dispenser with Timer, LCD Display
This is the best automatic fish food dispenser for you if you are a control freak. The best thing about it is that its food compartment is divided into 16 grids, so you can precisely control the amount of food per meal.
Moreover, you can feed different types of food to your fish to ensure they receive a balanced diet, which is a great thing.
Because of the grid design, there’s not much chance for blockages, and each grid is well-sealed against moisture.
The device has an LCD display and control buttons to highly customize the feeding schedule. There’s also a battery level indicator. If you want to instantly feed your fish, use the manual button.
The in-built battery can last 1-2 months with just 3 hours of full charge.
Now, coming to the downsides, the feeder has 15 grids where you can store food, which means you can feed only 15 times. If you want to feed your fish multiple times per day, you’ll find that the feeder will run out of food pretty quickly.
The grid size is also somewhat small – it just stores 2 grams of food – this makes the device suitable as an auto fish feeder for small tanks.
Despite the ability to store multiple types of fish food, it doesn’t support shrimps or flakes, which is a pity.
Lastly, some users have complained of issues charging the device.
What Our Testers Say:
Great feeder that allows you control over a lot of things. The grid size indeed is a bit small, but it will be fine for small tanks. The device charged fine when we checked it.
What We Like
- Precise control over amount of feed
- Can store multiple types of food
- Highly customizable timers with LCD display
- Little chance for blockages
What We Don’t like
- Can only feed 15 times before refill
- Just 2 grams of food per feeding
- Doesn’t support shrimp or flakes
- Charging issues with some units
EHEIM Everyday Fish Feeder Programmable Automatic Food Dispenser
This is a reliable fish feeder with a programmable timer that allows up to 8 feedings per day. An option for manual feeding is included.
It is small and compact, taking very little space around your aquarium.
There is an adjustable slider to control the amount of feed per session; however, this doesn’t lend precise control over the amount.
The feeder is operated by non-rechargeable batteries. It has a whole ventilation system to keep the food dry and ready for consumption.
One other downside is the size of the feeder – many feel that it can’t store that much food, making it unsuitable for large tanks.
What Our Testers Say:
It’s a handy little auto feeder. It takes a bit of trial and error to get the feeding amount right, but it will work reliably afterward.
What We Like
- Programmable timer with 8 feedings per day
- Manual button included
- Small and compact
- Ventilation system to keep food dry
What We Don’t like
- Can’t precisely control amount of feed
- Unsuitable for large tanks
- No rechargeable batteries
Automatic Fish Feeder with 2.5K Camera, WiFi/App Control, WOLMDS Moisture-Proof Vacation Food Dispenser | 2.4G Precision Feed System, Visual Monitor for Aquariums
If you want something to not just feed your fish, but also monitor them to make sure they are fed properly and taken care of, this automatic fish feeder from WOLMDS is right up your alley.
With a 2.5k camera including night vision, you can always check up on your beloved pets – this way you can enjoy your aquarium from miles away.
The device can be controlled remotely by a phone app connected through Wi-Fi. The App provides sophisticated info such as low food alert and feeding records. The device can still function on autopilot.
It also has a large capacity of 230ml for fish food, which is sufficiently protected from moisture.
It is powered using a USB cable, but it also has an option to connect to a power bank for added reliability.
All these sophisticated features come at a cost though, as the fish feeder is by no means affordable. The camera is also a bit bulky and doesn’t offer a wide angle of view. The Wi-Fi range could also be better.
What Our Testers Say:
A really sophisticated device that offers the next level of remote fish care. However, it’s not exactly easy to learn to use it. Also, the Wi-Fi range is indeed not that good.
What We Like
- 2.5k camera to monitor, not just feed, fish
- Comprehensive app control
- Large food capacity
What We Don’t like
- Quite expensive
- Camera is bulky and doesn’t have a wide angle
- Wi-Fi range is lacking
