Picking the Ideal staple large Cichlid food

[FishyCarChick]

Hey Fish folks, I'm doing some research as to what everyone's feeding their large cichlids. I have a Flowerhorn, a pair of JD's, a pair of Oscars (not in the same tank) and a Jaguar. all are eating well and growing quickly, My question is this: What is the ideal staple food for them. I'm looking into Hikari gold and Massivore Delite. Should I go for sinking, as they seem to like it MUCH better. I just want the best for my babies!
Thanks!

 

[ECW]

Between the both. I would pick massivore. You should consider some NLS Thera-a. I would do the NLS and massivore as a treat.

 

[Siddons11]

2.2 pound bag of hikari cichlid gold is cheap on amazon

 

[ehh]

Read the ingredients and try to keep the wheat, corn, soy and other grain content to a minimum.
I don't know anything about massivore but a lot of hikari has a lot of wheat. Nls, omega one and northfin all seem to be good ones.

 

[Walzon1]

most pellet food is abnormally high in protein around 30-40 % sometimes more, protein is great for size and thickness but I have read it's also rough on the liver over time, so I like to balance it by mixing with Shrimp, bloodworms or other frozen food, which is around 3-4% a huge difference. I think mixing things up often is best not picking 1 good food only.

Just to give you an example currently feed
Northfin Cichlid
ZooMed freeze dried RED SHRIMP
Omega ONe Turtle sticks
Frozen Bloodworms
Frozen Mysis
and I also feed Tetra Flake in case I need to medicate

 

[Razzo]

Not sure how relevant my reply will be as I keep frontosa (C. gibberosa). Been keeping them for close to twenty years. I used to feed NLS but switched to, almost, 100% frozen Canadian mysis and plankton years ago. They have responded wonderfully to this diet and there is a lot less waste (feces) in the tank and nitrates build up much slower too. Also, frontosa have large feces and with this diet their feces is almost undetectable. They convert much more of this food into energy which I have to believe must be good.

I have started feeding NLS again for one reason and one reason only: I'm trying to recondition them to eating it so I can proactively treat for Hex with a 3% Epsom solution dried into the pellets (thank you RD). I think most cichlids, under normal circumstances, have these protozoans in their GI tracts so this proactive treatment may be helpful to you too in the new world.

Sometimes, I will make a special jello treat with frozen shrimp, green peas, spirulina powder, etc. Havent done that in a while and should make up a new batch.

Hope this is helpful.

Cheers,
Russ

 

[FishyCarChick]

Not sure how relevant my reply will be as I keep frontosa (C. gibberosa). Been keeping them for close to twenty years. I used to feed NLS but switched to, almost, 100% frozen Canadian mysis and plankton years ago. They have responded wonderfully to this diet and there is a lot less waste (feces) in the tank and nitrates build up much slower too. Also, frontosa have large feces and with this diet their feces is almost undetectable. They convert much more of this food into energy which I have to believe must be good.

I have started feeding NLS again for one reason and one reason only: I'm trying to recondition them to eating it so I can proactively treat for Hex with a 3% Epsom solution dried into the pellets (thank you RD). I think most cichlids, under normal circumstances, have these protozoans in their GI tracts so this proactive treatment may be helpful to you too in the new world.

Sometimes, I will make a special jello treat with frozen shrimp, green peas, spirulina powder, etc. Havent done that in a while and should make up a new batch.

Hope this is helpful.

Cheers,
Russ

Wow! Thanks so much Russ, that's wonderfully helpful as I just got my first frontosa!

 

[Pomatomus]

My fish won't touch Massivore and it clouds the water too much for my liking.

I feed Tetra Jumbomin sticks. They look almost identical to massivore but my fish find them more palatable. It's the only pellet my datnioid will eat!