Feeding African Cichlids

[plecoman]

I started keeping Africans again this year and they are all Malawi cichlids. I've had them in the past and did well with them, but I'd like to find out what you are feeding your fish and how many times a day you feed them.

I've been feeding mine 2 to 3 times per day rotating their food. I'm feeding them color flake, spirulina flake, shrimp flake, garlic flake, and veggie flake from Kens Fish. I don't over feed, because rarely does a flake make it to the bottom before all has been ate. I feed the pleco's after lights out, so that the cichlids won't get their food.

Let me know what your doing and also do you think I should be doing anything different? Any input would be appreciated.

[bnoel210]

I feed mine twice a day. I also rotate what I feed them depending on what fish im feeding. Your foods look fine. I would just suggest going down to two feedings a day. Some people even fast there fish one day a week. I dont anymore, but its more of user option. One thing you dont want to do is feed to much or to often. This could cause BLOAT. We all know our fish will eat as many times a day you put food in the tank. Once your tank grows algea they will also feed on that also. Depending on your fish if they are mbuna you dont want to feed to much protien cause if im correct that will also cause BLOAT.

[plecoman]

Thanks Brian. Mine only get the shrimp flake about 1 feeding every 3rd day. I've never had any of my fish get bloat and hope I never experience it

[bnoel210]

I like to give my fish brine shrimp or mysis shrimp about once maybe twice a week. Kind of like a treat.

[charden]

Man I only feed mine NLS every other day. I am paranoid about bloat.

[mruble]

I feed Zeigler's once a day for everything but fry. Fry get live baby brine shrimp and Zeigler's crumbles. Feed adults frozen krill/brine shrimp once a week.

[aaron]

Yeah I feed mine once a day as well... then brine shrimp every week (frozen).... I make some fresh brine shrimp every so often and disperse through my tanks.

[kyangelsncorys]

i guess im the odd ball here then , i feed my fish atleast 6 times a day but i rotate what i feed and im doing 50% water every 5 to 6 days. i have never had bloat. i have 15 diff africans

[plecoman]

I believe that I'll only feed mine 2 times per day instead of 3. When I do feed them you would think that they are starving to death. LOL....... I was thinking that I might not be feeding them enough.

[bnoel210]

No matter how much or how many times a day you feed these fish they will beg, beg and then beg some more

[bamaplants]

complex proteins without the proper fiber is the main cause of bloat NOT too much food by itself... here is a good recipe for a frozen food you can make yourself
African Rift Lake Cichlid Food
1 cup fresh shrimp with shell on even better if you can get head on as well
1/2 cup spirulina powder
1/4 cup kelp powder
1TBS chopped raw garlic( this stimulates feeding AND is a great internal anti parasitic)
1 tsp cayenne powder
250mg vitamin C crushed
200mg Vit B complex crushed
1/2 packet knox unflavored gelatin
1/4 cup warm water( warm not hot)
additional water as needed

Bloom gelatin in water

place whole shrimp in food processor and blend until smooth. Add spirulina and kelp. Add water with bloomed gelatin and garlic and cayenne and vitamins. blend until well incorporated. should be thick "goo but should still roll in food processor add water if needed.

place in quart ziploc freezer bags so it can be flattened so it is about 1/4 inch thick.. freeze.

Break off chunks to feed fish.

[signde]

i had bloat problems initially but since i switched to NLS i've not had any problems.

i feed both my mbuna and haps/peacock NLS exlusively. feed once a day, occasionaly fasting them and occasionally slipping in a day of HBH veggie flakes. stick to high spirulina foods and you'll be fine.

NLS > everything, imo

[kyangelsncorys]

NLS is the best as far as im concerned it and extreme are both good but i like NLS the best

[bamaplants]

fasting one day a week is always a good idea for any fish especially Rift Lake Cichlids overfeeding and bulky bodies can and will actually reduce reproductivity as the females are already down to only one functional ovary.


And TRUE about "Mainly Spirulina foods" BUT do NOT just look at the name of a food and assume because it says " Spirulina" that it is high in Spirulina. Read the ingredients because many " Spirulina" foods still have, as the first ingredient, Fish meal.

[jon carman]

Some prefer meaty foods as well so know what you keep. All have different needs, but most premium foods are fine. I feed fronts and large cichlids a more meat diet while mbuna and trophs get the veggie.