Diet

[Mbuniac]

What would be considered a good variety diet for mbunas? Us newbies gotta start with the basics!

[jonah]

I mostly feed spirulina flakes from BigAls (their brand). It's real cheap and the fish seem to like it. Sometimes I'll give them Omega One African Cichlid Flakes, but I try to mostly stay with spirulina to avoid excess protein (and bloat). Romain lettuce, frozen peas squeezed out, and zuchinni are enjoyed as well. Make sure you blanche or freeze the lettuce and zuchinni before you use it. I've also got some Wardley floating cichlid pellets for a occasional change up.

[SGypsyMermaid]

i feed a pretty wide variety of foods with heavy emphasis on spirulina: mostly in flake form, from 'kensfish' on aquabid-brine shrimp, krill, earthworm, seafood blends. tetra pro crisps, big al's bulk flake, hbh graze pellets(very rich), hikari spirulina based cichlid pellets, daphnia...

[Mbuniac]

Thanks for the advice folks! I have been feeding spirulina, but also just general color cichlid flakes. Also blanched spinach, and algae pellets.
Sam

[ferdelance]

we had a little party at our house and I let the fish participate by giving them some shrimp cocktail (without the sauce). They loved it :!: recently i have been feeding them some frozen brine shrimp which they also eat voraciously.
seems to improve thier appetite in general.

[Mbuniac]

Thanks, that's a unique idea. Think I'll give it a try!

[Maingano]

All of the above sounds good,

you can also you a small rock and rubber band for feeding zuchini and other plant foods. Helps keep the left overs in one place and means you can put them in raw so they contain more goodness. I use to boil them for a while or else they wouldn't sink to the bootom, but the rock fixed this problem.

[Maingano]

All of the above sounds good,

you can also you a small rock and rubber band for feeding zuchini and other plant foods. Helps keep the left overs in one place and means you can put them in raw so they contain more goodness. I use to boil them for a while or else they wouldn't sink to the bootom, but the rock fixed this problem.

[jnorris]

Be carefull of the Bloat! This is due to poor water quality and a high Protien diet. Keep in mind these fish are normally vegitarians.

A good meaty snack every so often isn't bad however!

[Mbuniac]

The rubber band/rock idea sounds fine, but where were you before I went out and bought this cute little yellow plastic clip on a suction cup?

Aquariums are better than crack, unless the crack is in your aquarium! :P

[M_sfan87]

I feed mine when I wake up and when I go to bed. Feed them what they can eat in about 2 minutes(flakes or cichlid pellets). And then on Saturdays I feed them live/frozen food once in the Afternoon. But watch out for the "Bloat" thats why I saw about 2 minutes. They really like the frozen/live food, they don't need it but its a treat!

[Mbuniac]

What kind of live food are you feeding them? Do you believe in going one day a week with no feeding as has been suggested?

[M_sfan87]

I haven't went a day without feeding, but some say it helps when breeding...I am not sure. I feed them San Francisco Bay Brand (there web site is www.sfbb.com) I don't know where you are located but im on the west coast...you should be able to get it where you live. It's called "Emerald Entree" there are other kinds to. Theres about 25 chuncks it should last me for a while...theres lots of frozen foods to pick from this one just caught my eye.

[Mbuniac]

Sounds good, think I'll give it a try!
Thanks, Sam

[M_sfan87]

Who's Sam my name's Aaron...that's ok. :D

[Mbuniac]

Sam I am, or if you prefer I am Sam! 8)

[M_sfan87]

Oh I thought you were calling me Sam.