Food questions

Ok this is my first post but have been reading and learning for awhile now. I have a 55 with an assortment if Africans and South American chiclids and everything is fine tanks been going for a little over a year and my question is about food. I feed flake, bloodworms, pellets, and brine shrimp rarely. And on special occasions some feeder fish which it seems that they love more than life itself. Is there a rotation I should stick to or is it to much variety.

From my experience it's the variety that counts. Cichlids seem not to care about consistency of the variety as long as they are getting fed

Sounds like you have some happy cichlids!

Got pictures?

Ya I do since that was my first post I do not know how to put them up

What species do you have? I know some africans that bloat easy on blood worms but others don't mind and even enjoy them. A species list might help us direct you one way or another.

2 yellow labs 1male 1 female
2 convicts. First baby's so I keep them
1male 1 female jack dempsey
1red frontosa
2 venustus. Starting to look like a male and female
And 1 common pleco

Crazyfishguy wrote:Ya I do since that was my first post I do not know how to put them up

I use [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]. Down load pictures, photoshop them if need to be, then copy and past the link...

I am not sure of the forum rules though. I know there is a period where newbies can not post links. I think its 7 days though.

Ok guess I should space them lol

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]


Copy and paste the IMG link. That should show the picture instead of the link to the website...

 -Perfect!

Great photos too!

Thanks I'm doing my best and learning more every day. I love reading everybody's posts.

Thanks I'm doing my best and learning more every day. I love reading everybody's posts.

Looks like we turned your thread into more of an introduction. Sorry about the derailment. I'm usually pretty good about staying on topic...

The good news is you don't have any of the africans that bloat off the bloodworms (that I'm aware of at least). The slightly bad news is you will need to rehome some of them as they get bigger. The really GREAT news means you'll get to buy a new, bigger tank!!!!  

Nice pics!

Since your asking about food, I will say one thing. The worst thing to feed your fish is feeder fish. No nutritional value and full of issues. I would refrain from that.

Ok no feeders. That's good to know.

fishNAbowl wrote:From my experience it's the variety that counts.

SHHHHHH!!!! Youre gonna make someone at NLS very angry with talk like that!!!!

nick_76 wrote:

fishNAbowl wrote:From my experience it's the variety that counts.

SHHHHHH!!!! Youre gonna make someone at NLS very angry with talk like that!!!!

Cult leaders do not like dissension....  

all that matters is feed what works for you and what you feel is the best for your fish.

Ill mention though is all the frozen treats as well as flake IMO are a waste and carry little actual nutrition or in the case of flake do not have enough nutrient density and absorb water quickly leaching nutrients in the water. So my suggestion is always going to be pellets over anything else with maybe freeze dried foods being a good supplement (krill, mysis, brine) to a pellet regimen.

Pellets are pellets are pellets. Difference is negligible for the most part but If you would like me to get more in depth of what I look for in pellets just let me know.

In the end if fish are properly cared for then they will turn out nice. Food plays little part in the grand scheme of things..

Im still pretty picky though lol

Thanks for that. The only thing is that they don't seem to really like the pellets is that just because they are used to flake and other stuff. I've tried very little pellets and they just don't really eat them. It's wierd.

I would feed 1mm sinking cichlid pellets from nls as I don't believe that anyone has been able to show facts proving there is a better food on the market. And, I only strive to give my fish the best food available.

And for the bloating africans mentioned before, even though it dosent apply to your case, I have read that a lot of tropheus breeders feed exclusively nls, that says something to me as tropheus have to be the easiest fish to bloat.

my .02

Thanks I'll try it