Best food to fatten cichla?

[ado124]

I was going to pack them lunch but i thought you already bought some stuff!

 

[The True Guapote]

Lol. I didn't have a chance. No worries I'll getit today. Packed lunch...lol I love it. I too had a really picky kelberi...only wanted frozen bloodworms and picked at those. Food sticks it'll be for them! They looked great this morning, my other 2 orinos are enjoying a break from the third harassing them, there all schooling now

 

[johno27]

I have great success with the food sticks. They love hitting the top water for sure

 

[The True Guapote]

Got a bag of them waiting my brother picked up. Fingers crossed they'll be hungry when I get home!

 

[TimTheBadass]

Honestly, it's whatever they'll stuff themselves with!

I had a kelberi that would only eat a few massivore pellet then stop going for them. He never grew and I had to get rid of him.

If you're talking about the two you just got, go with massivore and hikari food sticks. I'm pretty sure they'll hit that stuff till they're bulging.

What i'm doing with another cichla is feeding them hikari food sticks till they won't eat anymore of it or aren't as aggressive toward it then I start feeding them market shrimp.

Some great advice here. I've used this technique quite a lot and it definitely works.

 

[The True Guapote]

They took some of the ken's sinking pellets my other cichla are eating. Glad to see they're both eating some. Time to make them fat

 

[fishmanbob87]

worms or nightcrawlers is the best way to get protein into them and bulk them up. super clean water and water volume is another key.

 

[The True Guapote]

Well they're in a 210 (6x2) which isn't huge but it's what I got. Might pick up some red worms or something if I'm out ANC try those. I'm starting to think one of them scarfed down my little pictus cat today
They weren't going after the food sticks quite yet, they were grabbing pellets that sunk to them but they're eating and that's all I care about!

 

[kendragon]

I believe the theory to building body mass (conformation) is like human body building.
Nuitrition - high protein
Lots of water - clean water
Rest - reduce stress with right tank mates
and most important is exercise - current (good water turn over).
But if you start too at a young age you will stunt growth.
I would not power feed for the first eight months but maintain good water in a small growout tank. Move to a larger tank once ready to build mass.
This is exactly what I did. What do you think? Full of crap? Try it. Very low cost.

 

[The True Guapote]

Makes sense to me. I know it won't be an overnight thing.