Do Pokemon Need Food To Survive In The Anime?

[Twinx]

In several episodes, we see how some pokemon can stay years inside a pokeball without the need to have anything to eat.

e.g:

- In the episode, "Two Degrees of Seperation", James finds Carnivine in it's pokeball in a box in his Sinnoh mansion.

- In the episode, "Sandshrew's Locker", Mira searches for the Sandshrew she has lost when she was little in an underwater town, and she later finds the pokemon hidden safely in its pokeball in some building.

So what's the deal? When the pokemon are in their pokeballs, are they in a "Pause" state? They no longer need food to survive?

 

[Jorah]

I'm sure there's food in the Pokeball somewhere... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_sc0ysScoA XD

Anyway, I suppose being in a Pokeball is like hibernating or something...but for years? I don't know

 

[.Azelf]

I doubt it. I bet they sleep in their pokeballs..

 

[BeachBoy]

I think they need food when they use their energy, and the pokeballs restore that energy too, as well with food, so they could go either way I think.

The pokeballs as said above could be like a hibernative state too.

 

[Sweet Candace]

No, since when the Pokemon are in their Pokeballs, they're hibernating, so they don't need food

 

[GKS]

I seen pokemon eat food in the anime so they may need to eat to survive, but when they are in their pokeballs, i don't think they need to eat, kind if like breathing. I think they breathe when they are outside.

 

[Zennerick]

I think the pokeball is a Luxury suite with a giant fridge and an HD Tv.

Also, why do we hardly see varietys of Pokeballs (Such as Master, great, etc)? It's always a red and white ball!
How do you catch a legendary with a noobish Pokeball?!