Everyone loves Hikari (I feed it myself) but the fish cannot digest the flaked corn and the wheat flour, the second and third most ingredients (they're binding agents).
Actually in that particular formula, the wheat flour and the wheat gluten would be the binding agents. I'll leave it up to you to decide why a fish food company would use flaked corn, in such massive amounts in their feed.
Also, fish can indeed digest a certain amount of grain, and they do utilize carbs (to help synthesize both fats & protein), but not in excessive amounts such as one sees in many of todays fish foods.
Due to the fact that some carbohydrates can be used as a rather inexpensive source of protein, and energy in fish foods, some manufacturers utilize a high amount of low cost grains in their foods to reduce feed costs.
Just keep in mind that the
only protein that truly counts, is the digestible protein (DP) as in the amount of protein that can be fully assimilated by your fish. The protein percentage shown on a label is nothing more than a lab reading of the total nitrogen content in the food.
Without some grain content via binding agents, the food would simply fall apart. Having said that, a single binding agent is ideal, and for most cichlids the less grain content, the better. As an example, a Koi may be able to utilize a diet that contains 40% carbs, where most cichlids are better served with a diet in the 20% range.
In my opinion excessive use of low cost grain fillers is also the #1 cause of
dietary bloat in cichlids. If a fish can't properly digest these grains, then it can lead to impaction's in the gut. The fish stops eating (as it can't pass what's already in it) the impacted area goes septic from multiplying bacteria, and the result can be deadly. All fish foods require a binding agent such as wheat flour, but if you see wheat flour followed by several more grain based ingredients, or worse, a grain based ingredient listed before a binding agent such as wheat flour, then in my opinion you best look for a new formula of food to feed your cichlids.
Xtreme food can be purchased via the link below:
http://www.cichlidbroker.com/xtremeprces.htm
and you can read the ingredient list of their Cichlid formula here:
http://www.xtremeaquaticfoods.com/5.html
I would highly recommend reading all labels very closely, and consider the cumulative effect that the total amount of grains & grain by-products have on overall digestibilty of any feed, and not just the sticker price.
Most large scale breeders can't afford to feed premium foods long term, it's simply too cost prohibitive. Last time I spoke with Jeff Rapps he was feeding bulk catfish crumble to all of his juvies, but that certainly doesn't equate to that feed being the "best" food available. Even the inventor of NLS can't afford to feed all of his ponds & vats NLS (even at HIS cost), and has to use a lower cost farm feed for most of his fish. (display tanks excluded)
Just for the record, there's been a recent addition to all NLS products .....
New Life Spectrum
Antarctic Krill, Herring, Wheat flour, Squid, Algae Meal, Soybean Isolate, Beta carotene, Spirulina, Garlic,
Vegetable & Fruit extract that consists of; Spinach, Red & Green Cabbage, Peas, Broccoli, Red Pepper, Zucchini, Tomato, Kiwi, Apricot, Pear, Mango, Apple, Papaya, and Peach, Vitamins and trace elements.
I'll admit that I'm biased in this area, but I'm also not one to fall prey to hype.
One needs to learn to separate the wheat from the chaff (no pun intended), and then decide how much
they are personally willing to spend on the health & well being of
their fish.
