Proper Cichlid Diet and How to Grow Healthy Cichlids

Your commitment in caring for cichlids does not stop when you have finished checking its habitat needs. Another thing you should have enough knowledge on is cichlid diet. Cichlids are not hard to feed. As a matter of fact, they like to eat! The responsible cichlid lover in you must see to it that you hold the reins for them.

Check the dietary type of your cichlids.

The necessary nutritional intake of your cichlid depends on the species it belongs. Check on this so you would know which to feed your pet fishes. Cichlids can be divided into three categories:

Carnivorous -they feed on other fishes

Herbivorous -eat certain plants and often eat algae from rocks

Omnivorous -eats other fishes or plants or invertebrates. They are obviously the easiest to feed

Micro-predators -feeds on planktons and small invertebrates

Know what NOT to feed your cichlids.

There might not be too much on the not-to-feed list. It is best to know what not to feed them so you are always safe. There are reports saying that bloodworms are a no-no for most cichlids. Research shows that toxins in bloodworm harm cichlids. Such a situation eventually leads to the death of cichlids.

Feed cichlids frequently but in small quantities.

Cichlids seem to have an innate love for food. They usually eat whatever you give them. So, you should be the one controlling their intake. They need to eat frequently so give them food in small quantities.

Let the fishes adjust on the new setup.

Cichlids do not respond to pellets quickly. They are natural food hunters so it is in their system that they should be the one looking for their food. It would be helpful if you mix them with cichlids that eat on pellets. Or, you can let a few plants or algae grow so they could feed on those. Some also recommend immersing a slice of orange or lemon as cichlids love them.

Do not over feed your cichlids.

There are a lot of cichlids deaths caused by bloating or over feeding. Make sure that you dispense the right amount of food for your pet fishes. They would not really know that they are getting too full.

Pay close attention to your cichlid's colors.

You might have been attracted to cichlids because of their bright colors. These same characteristics would let you know if you are feeding your pet fishes right. Cichlids have bright almost sparkly colors when they are healthy. When you notice that your cichlids lack shine, there is definitely something wrong.

Never fail to read about their diet.

There is a reason why you need to identify the specific cichlid specie that you have. Do your own research. Join forums for cichlid enthusiasts because these are havens for valuable information that are given for free.

Make sure that you feed your cichlids properly. This is the only way by which you ensure that they are properly cared for. Love them as you would for any other pets.

Larry Pearson is an expert author and cichlid fish enthusiast and has been keeping pet fishes for over 20 years.
To learn more about cichlid diet and how to keep healthy and beautiful cichlids go to www.cichlidfishguide.com and sign up for the FREE Email Mini-Course.