mbuna question

Question
QUESTION: I have 13 mbuna cichlids in a 60 gallon tank. About once a month I give them a little bit of packaged starkist tuna fish the kind in the fresh pack not oil or water can. Is it ok to do this? I also give them brine shrimp. They seem to like the tuna. Once again is it ok? Also if it is ok is it ok to give them salmon as well?

ANSWER: Hi Doug,
I prefer to give my fish frozen fish.  Just cut off the amount you wish to use, let it unfreeze, and feed this to your fish.  I would hesitate on giving my fish anything that comes out of a can.  Frozen fish are much safer, because we know they contain no bacteria that could harm our fish.  I would also like to mention that since African Cichlids are fresh water fish, I would feed them frozen fish that come from rivers, and lakes.  Also, feeding them Algae food is very important such as Spirulina.  There are many good quality fish food at your pet store, some of which are frozen for your African Cichlids.  They need variation to be healthy.  You could also feed them cleaned earthworms that you buy at the bait store.  Clean the worms by putting them in oats for about one week.  Regular minnows found at the bait store would be also safe.  Never make this their main diet, only now, and then, since African Cichlids are Herbivorous.  They need vegetables in their diet, or they will get constipated.  This often goes unnoticed, and leads to Swim Bladder Disease, and eventually if not treated quickly, will lead to Dropsy.  It's good to feed them fish, brine shrimp, earthworms, bloodworms, and whiteworms, but only now, and then, as a treat.  You should also feed them blanched frozen peas.  Romaine lettuce, and spinach are also very good for them.  A good quality pellet which contains spirulina is very important to their well being.
I hope this will help.
Lynda

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QUESTION: Everytime I give them either lettuce or spinach they don't eat it and eat goes to waste. Why don't any of them seem to care for it? Also you say minnows are safe. About once a month For years now I've given them feeders aka tiny goldfish is this ok?

ANSWER: Hi Doug,
If they do not eat the lettuce of spinach, then do not feed this to them, but make sure they do get vegggies, such as the Spirulina, and hopefully they will eat blanched peas.  Feeder goldfish are almost always full of disease, and if eaten by your fish, they too will get sick.  You have been very lucky that your fish have not been sick with feeder goldfish.  This also depends on the pet shop owner, and how the feeders are kept.  Feeder goldfish have no nutritional value, therefore, why chance it?  Mbuna Chiclids are algae eating fish.  In the wild they spend hours eating algae off rocks.  They need algae to be healthy.  A way to do this would be to put rocks in a clean container, and put it outside in the sun.  Soon you will see algae growing on the rocks.  When there is enough algae, you put it directly into your tank.  Your Mbunas will love it!
Google "Feeding Mbuna Cichlids" and you will find an interesting article on how to feed your fish.  It would be too long for me to write this all down here.
I hope this helps.
Lynda

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I've asked this question in the past but here goes. I have a dilemma. I have a pair of Livingstoni in a 60 gallon tank with various mbuna, 3 bumblebee, 2 red zebra, 2 red top hongi, 2 yellow lab, a OB peacock and a syndontis. When I bought them I hadn't realized the size range. I basically bought them because of their looks. The store I bought them from just had them marked as african cichlids and had them in the same tank as the yellow labs and red top hongi. This specific store has a policy of they must be dead to bring them back. I got them 3 months ago they're very healthy and a robust 4 inches already. What a beautiful fish by the way the male coloration on the top fin is a striking orange. Basically what I'm asking is it going to be possible to keep them if I have too. No fish store within 70 miles will take them. They get along well with the mbunas I have in there. They grew up from small juveniles and the mbunas in the tank are all at least 3 months old. In other words they don't try to eat them because none of them are bite size at this point.

Answer
Hi Doug,
I hate to have to tell you this, but Livingstoni's are predatory, very territorial fish.  They are often called the "Sleeper fish" because they lie down, and play dead.  Any other fish that goes near him, thinking it is a dead fish, will quickly be devoured.  This has been seen in aquariums, and also in their habitat.  The Livingstoni should only be kept with Haplochromies of the same size which would mean a very big aquarium.  The Livingstoni grows to 12 inches, must be kept with at least 4 females, thus would need at least 250 gallons tank, and bigger is best.  He alone would need a 110 gallon tank when he reaches maturity.  They do not belong with Mbunas.  They are still young, but trouble will happened.  It's really a shame that some pet stores sell these fish without any information.  The reason for this is that if they did, they would never sell these fish, or maybe one in a blue moon!  They never take back these fish, and it is very sad.  It always surprises me when a pet store tells me they do not know what fish they have in their tanks.  They know!  They order them, pay for them, so they know what they are getting.  A breeder does leave the pet store owner the name of the fish, and all the information he needs to sell these fish, so they are well aware of what fish they are selling.
As the livingstoni gets bigger, he will be a danger to your other fish.  
I hope you can find somebody to take them.  Your only option would be to buy a bigger tank just for the livingstoni's.  
I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but you would be better to find them a home now, and not wait any longer.
Lynda