fasting

Question
QUESTION: Hey Lynda,

I have about 10 small assorted African cichlids in a 120 gallon tank.  Would you recommend fasting them one day a week?  Does it help them or would you not do it?  Thanks, Mike

ANSWER: Hi Mike,
It is always good to let your fish fast one day a week.  What I do  is feed them unfrozen peas with the outer layer taken off.  On the day I feed them the peas, I feed them nothing else.  This cleans out their system, and prevents Swim Bladder Disease, and intestinal problems.  I would also like to mention, vary your food.  Buy them good quality flakes, pellets, etc.  The more you vary, the better.  Fish need vitamins, much like we do, and when well fed, water changes every week, you will prevent sickness.  It is better to spend a little more on food than to have weak fish, and then spend lots of money on medication, or even losing the fish.  
However if they are very young, I would not fast them, as they need food often to be strong and healthy, along with water changes daily, to remove ammonia build up.  
Hope this helps
Lynda

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

QUESTION: Thank you Lynda so much, you are awesome.  They are young so I'll hold off on fasting.  What age should you start fasting them?  Should I add the peas (with outer layer removed) to the diet now?  Final question, I have two Jack Dempseys (two inches apiece, same size as the African cichlids), I know I am not supposed to mix the South American JDs with the African, but I just always wanted a JD.  Do you think I'll have any problems with the JDs with the assorted African cichlids?  Thanks Lynda for all of your help, take care, Mike

Answer
Hi Mike,
Once they get to be nice, and plump, you could start fasting them, when they get to be a little bigger.  Jack Dempseys are true to their name.  They will kill other fish, once they are bigger.  They are very bad, territorial, and aggressive.  They should be kept alone, or with their mate.  I have had them, and I have never had one that didn't try to kill.  I would change my decor everyday, and still the Jack would try to kill, so in my book he is a big NO NO...pretty fish, but trouble in the tank!  With names like Jack Dempsey, Green Terror, be extremely careful.  They don't have these names for nothing.  
Lynda