Feeding large cichlids

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Uh huh...so, if your friend jumps off a bridge...:)

In that list of ingredients, you must go to the third item to find something even remotely approaching a food naturally eaten by fish (fish meal), and that looks like the only semi-natural foodstuff on the whole list. Otherwise, it's wheat...poultry...corn...feathers...soy...

Of course, I'm a caveman who actually makes homemade fish food and homemade dog food. I don't even have a single vegetarian-approved human food in the house.

I think my wife has some vegan recipes, but we will hold out until after the zombie apocalypse before we start cooking and eating vegans.:yuck:
 
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How many fish are you feeding?

I have 4 tanks (3 125s and a 180) and I just use a variety of pellets - nls (thera a, probiotic, big floating, algae max), omega 1, and hikari bio gold - generally deemed as quality by the fish community as a whole. Also mix in repashy, brine shrimp cubes, occasionally earth worms. Fish don’t get same thing every day and seem happy and healthy.

I don’t come anywhere near $250 per year and i don’t have to wonder about nutrition or spend tons of time preparing the food (kudos to those who do, just not my bag). Just a few clicks on Amazon if I need more.
 
Hi! I'm sorry if I am postingbout of line! I would like to know if I could give my green severum fresh apple chunks and blueberries cut into small pieces of course! I apologize for my ignorance! My brother was killed by a drunk driver a month ago and I agreed to make sure his pets would lead a very happy long life! I intend on doing just that! Thank you for any advice! He's come a long way already, he had a bacterial infection and then a fungal infection he is coming along fine now with treatment.. He let's me pet him literally! He is an amazing little guy!
 
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I am very sorry to hear about your loss. If you expand in the hobby, I will send you some cool fry, no charge. Fish can be a productive distribution from reality. To answer your question, I don't have the exact answer for exact species and food but I do know my fish have never eaten anything that kills them (referring to human food). I always figured if they eat it, it must be safe. Don't go crazy jump street...take your time. Small piece today then few days later 2 small pieces and so on. Unrelated I had a huge jaguar and was feeding tank above him. I dropped the plastic lid of food container in his tank. It had to be as big around as half dollar and half inch tall with threads. He inhaled it faster than I could grab it. I knew for sure he was dead. Next day alive, 2 days alive 3 days.....fish are funny. I had the biggest (and beautiful) african trout (champsichromis) no exaggeration he was 15"+. A breeding machine. The fry would come out of the females mouth day one the size of my dovii fry after 2 months. We're talking a cash cow. I put in a group of 2" clown loaches. My wife said don't, they'll get eaten. I said don't worry they're too fast and if not they can use their horn bone (research it) to defend themselves. I got hit by a big clown loach once and it felt like a 2 week bee sting. Had to have some type of poison or bacteria or hit a nerve. I don't know, but bact to the trout. He chased and chased and I watched wondering if the loaches would get ich from stress and then the trout caught one. Within a couple seconds he spit it out and for 2 days opened and closed his mouth like a snake after a big meal. 2 or 3 days later he was floating. I think the clown loach horn poked a hole thru trout's mouth and got to the brain. Anyway not sure about apples but don't feed loaches, lol.
 
I am very sorry to hear about your loss. If you expand in the hobby, I will send you some cool fry, no charge. Fish can be a productive distribution from reality. To answer your question, I don't have the exact answer for exact species and food but I do know my fish have never eaten anything that kills them (referring to human food). I always figured if they eat it, it must be safe. Don't go crazy jump street...take your time. Small piece today then few days later 2 small pieces and so on. Unrelated I had a huge jaguar and was feeding tank above him. I dropped the plastic lid of food container in his tank. It had to be as big around as half dollar and half inch tall with threads. He inhaled it faster than I could grab it. I knew for sure he was dead. Next day alive, 2 days alive 3 days.....fish are funny. I had the biggest (and beautiful) african trout (champsichromis) no exaggeration he was 15"+. A breeding machine. The fry would come out of the females outh day one the size of my dovii fry after 2 months. We're talking a cash cow. I put in a group of 2" clown loaches. My wife said don't, they'll get eaten. I said don't worry they're too fast and if not they can use their horn bone (research it) to defend themselves. I got hit by a big clown loach once and it felt like a 2 week bee sting. Had to have some type of poison or bacteria or hit a nerve. I don't know, but bact to the trout. He chased and chased and I watched wondering if the loaches would get ich from stress and then the trout caught one. Within a couple seconds he spit it out and for 2 days opened and closed his mouth like a snake after a big meal. 2 or 3 days later he was floating. I think the clown loach horn poked a hole thru trout's mouth and got to the brain. Anyway not sure about apples but don't feed loaches, lol.


Thank you so much for the answer, I appreciate it! I went ahead and tried to give him the apple and blueberries... He tried them and spit them out. He doesn't appear to like them. He just got his (I hope) last treatment for his fungal infection. I feel so sad for the poor little (I say "little" ) he's actually gotten quite big even after being bullied by a much bigger red spotted cichlid, a move to my place, then in his own tank for treatment and get away from said other guy... He's amazing, I love him! I wish my brother could see how great a little guy he chose! He's a very strong fish! Thank you so much again, I really appreciate it!!!
 
Thank you so much for the answer, I appreciate it! I went ahead and tried to give him the apple and blueberries... He tried them and spit them out. He doesn't appear to like them. He just got his (I hope) last treatment for his fungal infection. I feel so sad for the poor little (I say "little" ) he's actually gotten quite big even after being bullied by a much bigger red spotted cichlid, a move to my place, then in his own tank for treatment and get away from said other guy... He's amazing, I love him! I wish my brother could see how great a little guy he chose! He's a very strong fish! Thank you so much again, I really appreciate it!!!

Sorry for your loss. I suggest a pellet or flake food for Cichlids. Also do you know how much to feed?
The Nitrifying cycle?
Water changes and filter maintenance?
If you don't know please let us know.
Welcome aboard!
 
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I have a fishroom of about 60 tanks (cichlids, livebearers and native fish) and feed high quality pellets and flakes (Northfin, NLS) and mix it with lower but decent quality (Kensfish, YourFishStuff). The good ingredient food costs a bit more, but I feed less and buy in bulk, so I'm good with it.

I also feed live red wiggler (AKA composting worms) that I culture. It's really simple and they're safe and nutritious and fish love them. I also feed dried solider fly larvae. They're sold in bulk for feeding poultry and quite affordable. Either whole or crushed, fish love them. I think I bought a 5 lb bag for $30.

I skip feeding a couple of days per week and don't feed altogether when I'm away on vacation or work (which, admittedly) hasn't been the case for some time. Especially with adult fish, not overfeeding is important. Little fish find all sorts of good stuff off of Poret foam, plants, algae and all the rest.
 
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Sorry for your loss. I suggest a pellet or flake food for Cichlids. Also do you know how much to feed?
The Nitrifying cycle?
Water changes and filter maintenance?
If you don't know please let us know.
Welcome aboard!
I finally figured out just taking time and feed him a pellet at a time until he let's one drop... He's super easy to just hangout and love on him. He really is a special little guy! Thank you for everyones insight and suggestions and kindness! Thank you!
 
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