The FH in the link below was raised on a mix of specialty FH foods, including Grand Sumo & Ching Mix. When I got him (June 2010) he was sickly & in rough shape. I switched him over to NLS Large Fish formula (3mm sinking), gave him plenty of clean water, and he went from a zero, to a hero.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?436561-Red-Diamond-from-Zero-to-Hero
No doubt water quality also played a large part in his improvement, he now lives alone in a 90 gallon tank & receives a 70% water change every week, but if nothing else this proves that one doesn't need to pay the redonkulous prices for FH specialty foods in order to get the best that you can out of a fish. The pics in that link were taken with an outdated $50 point & shoot, he looks far more impressive in person & keeps getting better as time goes on.
HTH
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?436561-Red-Diamond-from-Zero-to-Hero
No doubt water quality also played a large part in his improvement, he now lives alone in a 90 gallon tank & receives a 70% water change every week, but if nothing else this proves that one doesn't need to pay the redonkulous prices for FH specialty foods in order to get the best that you can out of a fish. The pics in that link were taken with an outdated $50 point & shoot, he looks far more impressive in person & keeps getting better as time goes on.
HTH
