should I or shouldn't I???

[wantokeeptrout]

ok, i read a bunch of bloat articles and was worried about that given how bad it affects most malawi cichlids. the bloodworms are frozen so i hope that will lower the risk plus the store is reputable. like i said i'm only feeding every 2 weeks. If you have a better alternative live food to suggest i am all ears. I'm pleasantly suprised that they are schooling to an extent instead of shredding each other they'll stay in a loose aggrigation beside the heater. hoping i got 1 male. my suspected male is about 25% larger then the others (2-2.5 inches) and has somewhat paler stripes even when he is very mellow.

thank you for the help and support so far.

 

[why_spyder]

As someone once told me - frozen bloodworms can basically be the bottom of the barrell stock, any worms that have died and can't be sold alive. There are alot better foods to feed your fish.

 

[wantokeeptrout]

ok, would brine shrimp be better? Mysis?

 

[why_spyder]

Brine shrimp is a great food.

 

[wantokeeptrout]

thanks alot spyder. i was most worried about the diet issues mbunas normally have but looks like i unwillingly introduced a pretty big other issue. I'll try posting some better pics of them later.

 

[C L O W N K N I F E]

Although I don't have any D. Compressiceps, I find that all my africans love brine shrimp the most. Its one of the best frozen foods to feed a fish IMO.

 

[wrslrcichlid]

NLS is a great food (arguably one of the best).

As has already been mentioned bloodworms are not the best for the reasons stated. Another reason though that pertains to mbuna (and I believe at least some haps) is that the hooks in the blood worms can get caught in their long digestive track - becoming a source for bloat.

Also, I would second brine or mysis shrimp and would actually suggest freeze dried over just frozen. I can't find the article that I read (someone else provided), but the process of freeze drying food kills all bacteria and usually has better nutrition. Sometimes frozen foods can carry harmful bacteria, while freeze-dried cannot. If I find the article I will post it up.

 

[wantokeeptrout]

here's a photo of the tank. i moved the rocks so that they form 2 little piles on the sides of the tank and leaving the middle area open. sorry for the bad photo, i'm new to photographing fish.