CA/SA Cichlid Feeding

[Dippiedee]

Hi, first time posting here

I have a 425 litre tank with;
EBA, Firemouth, Red spotted Severum, Convict, Silver Dollars, Denison barbs, pictus catfish and a bristlenose. I feed them brine shrimp, daphnia, bloodworms (one type each day for example Monday brine shrimp, Tuesday bloodworms) and algae wafers almost everyday, then zucchini, peas or cucumber once or twice a week. I feed cichlid pellets instead of frozen food once a week but sometimes not at all; I just feed exclusively frozen food and veggies.

The problem is my EBA and Severum are both starting to look a bit plump. Is swapping the frozen food for pellets more often a better idea? I was feeding frozen foods almost exclusively because I thought that would be better for them but now I'm not so sure. I've attached pictures. Everyone else looks fine.

 

[eon aquatics]

they are very plump maybe they are females

 

[duanes]

Are you feeding every day? More than once per day?
If so, it may be too much, I feed average once a day for 2 days, then the next day completely off amy food, and so on. Sometimes I skip two without food.

 

[Deadeye]

Looks like overfeeding, my sev balloons up like that after large feedings (not that much).
Not sure about the acara, but the sev looks male to me.
Make sure they are getting enough veggies, most of them (especially sevs) do need a lot of greens in the diet.
Try feeding less often as duanes suggested.
I only feed my cichlids every other day, it keeps them full but always willing to eat.

 

[eon aquatics]

can i feed my fish once a week or is that not enough?

 

[Deadeye]

can i feed my fish once a week or is that not enough?

That would depend on species. Some large predators only need a large meal every few days.
With cichlids, I would say every other day. Having watched this in my tanks, every day longer without food, the meaner they start to get without it. Over 4 days, they really would get mean.
Moral of the story is unless you don’t have a choice, feed more often.
Once a week really is a no, especially if fish are being kept together. Once they start to get hungry, their tankmates will look real tasty.
Continue with every other day.

 

[Dippiedee]

I feed once a day everyday, 2 cubes. I used to feed one but it was gone in seconds. I shall cut back to every other day. Is feeding them frozen instead of pellets fine then, its just that I'm feeding too often?

As for veggies, my sev is a big veggie eater. I feed zucchini once or twice a week usually and him and the bristlenose eat most of it. He also ate 3 anubias plants and a bunch a java fern.

 

[Dippiedee]

Oh also I'm sure it's obvious from the photos but they're not adults

 

[tlindsey]

I feed once a day everyday, 2 cubes. I used to feed one but it was gone in seconds. I shall cut back to every other day. Is feeding them frozen instead of pellets fine then, its just that I'm feeding too often?

As for veggies, my sev is a big veggie eater. I feed zucchini once or twice a week usually and him and the bristlenose eat most of it. He also ate 3 anubias plants and a bunch a java fern.

What type of food is the cube?

 

[Dippiedee]

What type of food is the cube?

Brine shrimp, bloodworm or daphnia. I alternate between the three