In my opinion the younger they are the better off you are because you can get them eating a wide wide array of things like large tropical flake, shrimp (frozen) (dryed) or fresh, either blood or earth worms, beef heart and live feeders. My tank consists of Five 8-9" reds, One 7-8" GOLD and a 6" black all togther in a 300 gallon long. I have had them all for about three years or so. I have had them since they were dime size and got them eating almost anything but their favorite is dryed Krill, Large Flake and feeders.
