How much food is too much?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
FlorabamaTrigger

FlorabamaTrigger

Gambusia
MFK Member
Nov 23, 2010
187
11
18
San Anselmo, CA
I've heard everything from "Whatever isn't eaten in 30 seconds is too much", to "Whatever isn't eaten in 5 min is too much."
I've got 16 African Cichlids, roughly 2-3 inches each. I was told that I should feed 2 frozen blocks of either the blood worms or the brine shrimp at a time daily with this number of fish.
So my question is exactly how much food is too much? My levels are all good, so I'm assuming i'm not over feeding with the two blocks a day?
:feedback:
 
And while I'm on this subject, I might as well throw in the question of how many African Cichlids can I safely put in a 125 gallon tank? I know since I keep about 15 gallons in my sump underneath, and with my substrate and my decorations in the tank give me roughly 110 gallons of actual water to work with. And if I go with the "1 inch per gallon" rule, and figuring on average the African cichlids will eventually get to be roughly 5 in long each, that would mean I should keep it around 20-25 total. But then again, I see a LOT of pics and videos of people's tanks that have way more than that. Granted they're also not showing their ammonia levels, nor listing how often they have to do water changes, etc..
But I've also heard that African Cichlids do better when their tank is 'overstocked'. Opinions anyone??
 
got a similar question, except w/ pellets....first time feeding my new fish tonight w/ floating pellets and the 6 cichlids ran to the top and ate what they could and left when they were done....however the hi-fin didn't get none.
 
yea i heard that people overstock aswell so it reduces there agression. but im not really sure. why dont you have them on flakes or crisps. just wondering.
 
I feed my Africans pellets twice a day and flakes once a day. I try to feed them in quantities that can be cleared in 1.5 - 2 minutes.

If you are going with 5" fish in a 125, I would aim for 8-12 (if full-grown). My brother always accuses me of "understocking" my tanks.

My brothers 120 has about 25 2.5 - 4" Africans and it seems to prove the aggression rule about having more is better.
 
I feed once a day, pellets one night, Brine Shrimp the next, then Blood Worms the next. Occasionally I drop in a piece of Cucumber about once a week.

It's hard to get used to the fact that they are ALWAYS acting like they haven't been fed in weeks!!!
 
So far I've got 11 total. I've tried going online to identify them. So far this is the best that I can come up with for what I have. I know these aren't the 'proper' longer names, but you'll get the idea hopefully.

2 Electric Yellows (One is solid yelow, the other has black stripe along top fin)
2 Blue Kenyi Africans
2 Bumblebees
2 Zebras (Bright Orange in color)
3 Acei Cichlids.
4 Peacocks
1 'White Knight" (Best I can guess. All white, slight orange tint at ends of fins, and red eyes.)

And yes, all my pellets are sinking type.
 
I agree, 2 - 3 min is a good rule of thumb. With africans they will consume all they can eat in 30 seconds. I feed floatng food first and then wait till the agressive eaters are full, then drop in some sinking food for the rest. I also use different brands and types of food and only feed brine shrimp once a week, almost never feed worms.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom