african cichlid small

[African cichilds brianna]

i was just wondering for Africans sizes 5-6 inches does anyone feed them live feeder fish? if so what kind? thanks!

 

[jseiverd]

You can feed them guppies but not often they dnt need much protein in their diet

 

[Mumma.of.two]

When you say 'Africans' what kind of fish exactly? There are many different fish from different regions/lakes/rivers that all need different diets.

 

[African cichilds brianna]

ohh okay! thanks for your help

 

[African cichilds brianna]

idk what kind of Africans yet I'm just building my tank now and want to know as much info as possiable

 

[jseiverd]

Mbunas are mainly herbivores so dnt need much protein but haps and peacocks are carnivores ....i have all and even my mbuna will eat sum feeders

 

[Mumma.of.two]

Ok. Well, generally when fish are labeled 'Africans' they are fish from lake Malawi. These fish don't handle high amounts of protein. There is not point feeding feeder fish for a few reasons other than the above. Feeder fish can carry diseases that can infect your fish, they can encourage further aggression and if supplied with a well balanced pellet food (like NLS) the fish simply won't need anything extra.

I'd suggest you look into exactly what kind of African cichlids you wish to keep and research accordingly.

 

[jseiverd]

I find that if i feed strictly pellets they dont poop as often i feel like they need some wetish food like frozen or live foods

 

[jseiverd]

And that is not true haps and peacocks are both from malawi and do need high protein diets

 

[Mumma.of.two]

What I am saying is that there are a multitude of different fish with different dietary requirements in Africa. The OP has not stated or simply does not know what fish they wish to keep. It's not as easy as saying yes they can or no they can't have a feeder fish or two.

 

[Malawi Freak]

And that is not true haps and peacocks are both from malawi and do need high protein diets

They do not need a high protein diet. That's a quick way to lead to bloat.

 

[jseiverd]

There carnivores meaning most of their diet is live food in the wild how is that not high protein

 

[Malawi Freak]

There carnivores meaning most of their diet is live food in the wild how is that not high protein

They are omnivores. They primarily feed off of aufwuchs in the wild.

 

[jseiverd]

They need some plant matter but they are labeled as carnivores

 

[Malawi Freak]

You need to go do some research. Look up Malawi bloat.

 

[jseiverd]

Thats primarily for mbunas show me an article that has haps or peacocks labeled as anything but carnivores

 

[erikmoseley]

I find that if i feed strictly pellets they dont poop as often i feel like they need some wetish food like frozen or live foods

Mine poop plenty just ask my filter! I feed NLS Thera a pellets and veggie flame. Mbunas

 

[Malawi Freak]

http://www.malawicichlidhomepage.com/haps/haplochromines.html