Interesting read! I've had a few CA cichlids that grew rapidly and grew large then died at what I thought was a fairly young age. At the time I blamed the warm water (was keeping CL's in another tank in the fishroom and it was hard to keep the other tanks under ~27C) for speeding up their metabolism, and partially still do. However, I think the quantity of food also played a big part, I'd say it is far easier to over-feed fish than we realise (and unlike the childrens book 'A Fish Out Of Water' they don't end up in a giant swimming pool only to be shrunk by the pet shop guy, they end up prematurely dead!)
At the moment the only cichlids I'm keeping are Geophagus altifrons, which AFAIK are designed for constant grazing rather than big meals. They're still sub-adults and I try to feed 1-2 meals a day (with the occasional day of fasting) of fine sinking foods so they can feed in their intended fashion of sifting thru the substrate (uneaten food scattered all over the substrate is most fishkeepers nightmare, but for geos its the best way to feed them!). I only feed quality flake and small foods like 1mm NLS Thera A, with the very occasional feed of frozen brineshrimp, and also try limit the quantity they get, which is sometimes difficult when you're trying to feed a big group of plecos too!
At the moment the only cichlids I'm keeping are Geophagus altifrons, which AFAIK are designed for constant grazing rather than big meals. They're still sub-adults and I try to feed 1-2 meals a day (with the occasional day of fasting) of fine sinking foods so they can feed in their intended fashion of sifting thru the substrate (uneaten food scattered all over the substrate is most fishkeepers nightmare, but for geos its the best way to feed them!). I only feed quality flake and small foods like 1mm NLS Thera A, with the very occasional feed of frozen brineshrimp, and also try limit the quantity they get, which is sometimes difficult when you're trying to feed a big group of plecos too!
