So i have a small amphilophus lyonsi. I have been feeding him blood worms, brine shrimp(switching to mysis), sprinula flakes and NLS. He is temporarily in a 55 gallon with some centrachus and a convict. He seems to not really like the sprinula flakes much but eats everything else. i was wondering is it natural for this genus to eat plant matter? Should i continue to feed sprinula? There isn't alot of info on these guys but im guessing thier diet is similar to thier cousins. What do you midas, red devil, chancho, etc. keepers feed your fish?
Amphilophus diet?
- Thread starter rrcoolj
- Start date
No real need for anything other than the NLS. Some good fishkeepers still like to vary the diet a bit, but I don't do much of that anymore.
Of the items you listed, there's no need for more than one prepared food (i.e. spirulina flakes and NLS). Also, the bloodworms aren't a great item for more than once in a blue moon.
In the wild, most Amphilophus are primarily invertebrate feeders. They graze in the substrate, taking in lots of edible and inedible material, in an effort to sort out the crustaceans, snails, tiny organisms, etc. There is a fair amount of plant matter being consumed, even if plants aren't their chief target.
In captivity, there is little need to complicate diet matters as was once required. Years ago, pellets were adequate at best, but now some have become very complete diets with a solid nutritional profile. Certainly some are better than others, but the premium brands are great staple foods. You'll find the great majority of breeders and collectors feeding a primarily pellet based diet.
One thing I believe is overlooked a lot is pellet size. Most fishkeepers tend to feed the largest pellet their fish can take, but I don't think that's always wise. Piscivores certainly seem to do well with that approach as they are built for taking in large food items. Many Amphilophus, though, are quite different. The grazing species like robertsoni, rostratus, altifrons, etc. spend most of the day sifting through the substrate straining out tiny bits of food. The more familiar types (citrinellus, labiatus, etc.) are more like "pickers" in eyeballing interesting items first, and then nibbling on them. Lyonsi would fit more in that second category. Regardless, I think most Amphilophus would do well given the opportunity to graze on tiny sinking bits (like small 1 mm pellets) several times a day. The bigger species or non-sifting types (like your lyonsi) could also be offered larger options (floating or sinking) from time to time too.
Of the items you listed, there's no need for more than one prepared food (i.e. spirulina flakes and NLS). Also, the bloodworms aren't a great item for more than once in a blue moon.
In the wild, most Amphilophus are primarily invertebrate feeders. They graze in the substrate, taking in lots of edible and inedible material, in an effort to sort out the crustaceans, snails, tiny organisms, etc. There is a fair amount of plant matter being consumed, even if plants aren't their chief target.
In captivity, there is little need to complicate diet matters as was once required. Years ago, pellets were adequate at best, but now some have become very complete diets with a solid nutritional profile. Certainly some are better than others, but the premium brands are great staple foods. You'll find the great majority of breeders and collectors feeding a primarily pellet based diet.
One thing I believe is overlooked a lot is pellet size. Most fishkeepers tend to feed the largest pellet their fish can take, but I don't think that's always wise. Piscivores certainly seem to do well with that approach as they are built for taking in large food items. Many Amphilophus, though, are quite different. The grazing species like robertsoni, rostratus, altifrons, etc. spend most of the day sifting through the substrate straining out tiny bits of food. The more familiar types (citrinellus, labiatus, etc.) are more like "pickers" in eyeballing interesting items first, and then nibbling on them. Lyonsi would fit more in that second category. Regardless, I think most Amphilophus would do well given the opportunity to graze on tiny sinking bits (like small 1 mm pellets) several times a day. The bigger species or non-sifting types (like your lyonsi) could also be offered larger options (floating or sinking) from time to time too.
Thanks so much for the info...
I do feed small NLS that sink and my little guy does seem to like picking it off the sand instead of eating it directly off the surface although he does both. I have read that blood worms aren't all that great for them but I feed it for variety. I didn't realize how complete pellets were nutritionaly. But surely feeding frozen krill a couple times a week isn't too bad. I always thought the more "stuff" you fed your fish the better but hey im still learning. Just trying to give him the best diet.
I do feed small NLS that sink and my little guy does seem to like picking it off the sand instead of eating it directly off the surface although he does both. I have read that blood worms aren't all that great for them but I feed it for variety. I didn't realize how complete pellets were nutritionaly. But surely feeding frozen krill a couple times a week isn't too bad. I always thought the more "stuff" you fed your fish the better but hey im still learning. Just trying to give him the best diet.
I say go for what the fish like and what helps you sleep well at night. I like to do the same thing you do with the variety. It helps me feel like i'm giving them the best possible life. I also like to do 75% water changes every week
Great post cch hcc! Op, giving the krill a couple times a wk will be fine.Frozen krill is a good natural color enhancer.