African Cichlids and live food

[Wight]

I have heard conflicting opinions all over about giving live food to certain african Cichlids that will eat it. If this is ok at times then what can they be fed for live food? Are earthworms or minnows fine?
Also, I want a small blue lobster (crayfish) as a bottom dweller. I have you you both can and can't do this, but what if I kept feeders around for the lobster?

Thanks, Wight

 

[mike dunagan]

Depends on which africans you keep... Most lobsters, get attacked during multing and are killed

 

[Wight]

Well Mike, I actually already have plans to house an electric blue crayfish in a currently empty 20 gallon. Feeder minnows will make fine roommates.

 

[mike dunagan]

good call!!!!

 

[bobgobucks]

I have Malawi haps and a front. Been feeding them some tadpoles. Yumyum

 

[moonchild1970]

Mine like guppies that I breed myself. So I know that they are clean.

 

[Aesop]

I'm sure it's different from case to case, but I've had problems keeping crawfish with cichlids. My crawfish always seem to injure the fish, no matter how fed they are. 10 years ago, I had a 3 inch crawfish take down an 8 inch oscar!

 

[Cakilla]

That would be hard to imagine a 3 inch crawfish taking down a 8 inch oscar ?
All the same though good call on getting a seperate tank for the crawfish and don't forget to keep the water level a little low so they do not get out ... had that happen before the wife wasn't happy she freaked out it was on the kitchen floor lol

 

[Aesop]

That would be hard to imagine a 3 inch crawfish taking down a 8 inch oscar ?

That's exactly my point, haha! It wasn't in a mighty battle or anything, it was a build up of stress and constant picking from the crawfish.

I just wanted to point out that sometimes, what we think couldn't happen, does.

 

[Pharaoh]

Live food will definitely depend on the type of Africans that you are keeping.