Staple diet

[reptileguy2727]

That is a lot of protein, but they need more than protein. Those ingredients are equivalent to the first few in a high quality pellet. The rest of the ingredients are providing all the other nutrients that are vital in a diet.

Economical should not be the goal of any diet.

 

[High City Rida]

I say a well rounded diet is needed as well and plenty to offer with Cichla. I love talapia/silversides/pellet's any kind and shrimp.

 

[Morledzep]

well, in southern CA, and no longer able to buy in bulk anymore. i can get 51-60 shrimp for about $3 lb. tilapia fillets run from $3 lb to $5 lb depending on the store and availability. all natural boneless skinless chickenbreasts (no salt or enhancements added) runs about $4 lb. catfish nuggets run about $5 lb no matter where i look for them, sometimes more. the tiny bay scallops run about $5 lb in a 2 lb bag, sometimes a bit higher.

the 8.8oz bag of floating hikari gold (doesn't matter which size pellet) goes for about $5 (this is an online price, if i have to buy it locally it's easily double) and one bag will feed the monsters 3 or 4 days. if i feed meat it takes 2+ lbs of meat to feed all of my fish.

i do buy the jumbo carnisticks in the bigger bag for $37 or $38 and i feed that to the big fish a couple times a week, and about once a month to the "little" fish. makes the bag last about a month if i'm careful.

 

[Venom SS]

Pellets are convenient, but like the other guys said, they are very messy. Massivore in particular. I have large river rock as substrate in my tank, and if they miss one of those Massivore and I dont get it out, it will stink up the whole room in less than an hour. Not to mention the waste the fish make from it can make tank maintenance very intensive. I would feed meaty frozen foods as a staple for sure. All my fish took mainly frozen raw shrimp and tilapia. They dont need much more variety than that, but any fresh fish you can get that they will eat is good. FYI stay away from catfish filet. Its VERY oily and will nasty your tank with the quickness.

 

[Morledzep]

Pellets are convenient, but like the other guys said, they are very messy. Massivore in particular. I have large river rock as substrate in my tank, and if they miss one of those Massivore and I dont get it out, it will stink up the whole room in less than an hour. Not to mention the waste the fish make from it can make tank maintenance very intensive. I would feed meaty frozen foods as a staple for sure. All my fish took mainly frozen raw shrimp and tilapia. They dont need much more variety than that, but any fresh fish you can get that they will eat is good. FYI stay away from catfish filet. Its VERY oily and will nasty your tank with the quickness.

i agree 100%.. i don't use massivore, and only use floating pellets because of the mess.. the cichla won't pick up the pellets after they touch the substrate..

and the only tank janitors i have in the 210 are 2 plecos that spend more time fussing with each other than eating. i probably should go searching or some decent sized yabbies but i'm afraid of the damage they could do to sleeping fish.