that is incorrect. Never starv cichla
Trainning for pellets is the same as trainning for any other food item.
edit- also, IME feeding pellets will bring poorer color. Feeding whole fish or live is best.
"Never" is a very restrictive word. Sometimes, starving them a few days is the only thing that will work. Depends on how the cichla was raised. If they are wild caught it might be the only thing that may work.
Not all fish are the same. Not even cichla of the same specie will behave the same way when it comes to eating. It all depends.......