I feed Cichlid Excel by Hikari. compare it to gold/staple. any meaty frozen food is great as well, and I also buy them smelt from the grocery store when it's on sale. chop it up abit and they love it. I also throw them Nightcrawlers, and the occasional Rosy minnows to keep them active. quarantined ect first 
I have recently switched to NLS from HIkari but still feed both to counter the $ of the NLS. I fed them ALOT when they where juvies, and it was rough keeping their bellies rounded out 2-3+ times a day. I wouldn't consider it power feeding, sunken bellies indicate lack of nourishment imo.
My best advise is to offer as wide a range of foods as you can. and high protein foods. look for deals on fish in the meat dept of your local grocer ect. You can save alot of money this way. I try to balance out 50-75% pellets and the rest frozen/meaty foods. peas are great for their digestive tracts and my guys do enjoy them now and then as well. Avoid mammal based protein if you can, but the occasional beefheart hasn't harmed my guys at all.
I have recently switched to NLS from HIkari but still feed both to counter the $ of the NLS. I fed them ALOT when they where juvies, and it was rough keeping their bellies rounded out 2-3+ times a day. I wouldn't consider it power feeding, sunken bellies indicate lack of nourishment imo. My best advise is to offer as wide a range of foods as you can. and high protein foods. look for deals on fish in the meat dept of your local grocer ect. You can save alot of money this way. I try to balance out 50-75% pellets and the rest frozen/meaty foods. peas are great for their digestive tracts and my guys do enjoy them now and then as well. Avoid mammal based protein if you can, but the occasional beefheart hasn't harmed my guys at all.
