Staple, meaning everyday food, would be a bag of HIKARI Color Enhancing pellets.........$7.99-12..99 would last the "average" tank for a whole month, month and a half...........Breeding your own feeders by spawning COnvict Cichlids is another way feeding your own fish........Convict cichlids have the potential of breeding three times every month........Each spawn averages about 70-100 fry.............Full grown 5+ inch COnvicts can lay hatch way more...........Mealworms are another live food source that can be kept...........For example, 5000 mealworms can cost as low as $5.............