found this on google, thought it was interesting, hope you all don't mind me sharing..
If you have several fish in the same tank, it will be important for you to feed them several times a day. Don't continue to feed them the same amount that you have been, but cut it back. For example, I try to feed my fish 3-4 times a day, but only what they can consume in 20-30 seconds or less. By following this routine you will find that your cichlids will tend to be less aggressive. Remember, because cichlids are avaricious (e.g., borderline obnoxious) eaters, they can consume a great deal of food in 30 seconds.
The primary cause for aggression among cichlids is food. In the wild, cichlids have been seen to dwell in relatively high density. As a result, they compete greatly with other cichlids of their own species to find food.
you most likely know, African cichlids are very territorial. This is because in nature, they establish territories to ensure their survival in these crowded conditions. With their own territory, they have a spot to graze and to prey on small invertebrates in the sand or mud. Fish which consume the same food are driven off for obvious reasons. Females are only allowed into a male's territory if she is willing to mate. And males of the same species are driven off because they are competiting for breeding with the females, in addition to competing for the same foods. By keeping your fish well-fed, you can control and manipulate their aggression. That is why I feed them 3-4 times a day. Or you could feed them less often, but a little more each time. (You can also curb aggression by heavily stocking your tank -- this way, not one fish takes all the damage, and cichlids tend to lose each other more easily in the crowd. If you are going to heavily stock your tank, make sure your filter can handle to load!)
Your cichlids should always appear HUNGRY. African cichlids will gorge themselves in captivity, which is carried over from their feeding behavior in the wild. Let me explain. In nature, most cichlids rely heavily on foods with lots of fiber, such as blue-green algae and organic detritus. While these foods constitute the majority of their diet, they supply very little food value per gram. Consequently, these cichlids must eat continuously in order to meet their metabolic needs. With nature having established this feeding pattern, cichlids will attempt to do the same in your aquarium, notwithstanding the superior nutritional value of the foods you provide them, not to mention the higher protein content too. While this doesn't directly describe predators, caution should also be attended to them because in the wild these cichlids only eat occassionally, preying on scarce food sources with high protein content. Consequently, nature has not placed a limit on their feeding behavior and so these fish know little satiety; they will overeat if allowed.
