Improper diet AND stress can both contribute to bloat...and overall fish health. So do environmental conditions (TDS, nitrate, etc.).
Fish that are specialized herbivores (e.g. tropheus, mbuna) have long intestinal tracts that are easily clogged by feeding meaty foods. These fish have evolved over millions of years to eat large volumes of low protein stuff (like algae and other stuff on rocks). Their mouths are also specialized for this diet.
Haitiensis are not specialized herbivores. I've never cut one open but I'd guess that the intestines look quite different than those of a, for example, tropheus. Haits are un-specialized meaning that they're built to eat whatever's available, vegetable and otherwise. It just doesn't make sense that they MUST HAVE an nearly exclusively veggie diet.
I think that people have found that stress, water quality, and diet that is too extreme on the protein side (e.g. beef heart) can contribute to bloat/death of young haits. The exact proportion that these three factors contribute to the death of haits is hard to figure. But my guess, as I've stated before, is that stress (from aggression) represents a pretty major factor.
Mine are happy sharing a 75g with a temp of about 76-78, eating NLS, flake, and super worms (giant meal worms), and getting 25-30% weekly water changes.
Fish that are specialized herbivores (e.g. tropheus, mbuna) have long intestinal tracts that are easily clogged by feeding meaty foods. These fish have evolved over millions of years to eat large volumes of low protein stuff (like algae and other stuff on rocks). Their mouths are also specialized for this diet.
Haitiensis are not specialized herbivores. I've never cut one open but I'd guess that the intestines look quite different than those of a, for example, tropheus. Haits are un-specialized meaning that they're built to eat whatever's available, vegetable and otherwise. It just doesn't make sense that they MUST HAVE an nearly exclusively veggie diet.
I think that people have found that stress, water quality, and diet that is too extreme on the protein side (e.g. beef heart) can contribute to bloat/death of young haits. The exact proportion that these three factors contribute to the death of haits is hard to figure. But my guess, as I've stated before, is that stress (from aggression) represents a pretty major factor.
Mine are happy sharing a 75g with a temp of about 76-78, eating NLS, flake, and super worms (giant meal worms), and getting 25-30% weekly water changes.
