Cichlids are a popular aquarium fish and belong to a family of over 1,300 different species, with most found in Africa. Just like other tank-dwelling creatures, it’s important to do your research in order to meet the nutritional needs of the species you chose. Just like other fish, what you feed your cichlid will ultimately impact how they look, how close to their natural form and color they will develop and if you can extend their life long beyond that they would see in their natural habitat. Well-fed cichlids are healthy cichlids!
Cichlids all have the same basic needs despite their difference of original habitats. There are a large number of cichlids sold and bred in the aquarium industry today. Just as these cichlids can be diverse, so are their eating habits and needs. In the aquarium industry it is highly recommended that you feed your cichlids a variety of foods to keep them well balanced and healthy. This helps to promote growth as well as reproduction and it improves the color and quality of your fish.
First, you’ll need to figure out if your cichlids are carnivores, omnivores or herbivores as this will lead you to the proper type of foods to choose from. We truly understand the unique nutrient needs cichlids have and offer several options to help establish and maintain a happy, healthy tankful of color. We want your fish to be as active and colorful as they would in the wild, but also want them to live a life much longer than they would there. For this reason, we focus on nutrient utilization instead of marketing hype and unfounded facts.
Here’s a closer look at the dietary needs of African cichlids:
- Herbivores: Most African cichlids are herbivores that subsist on a diet of algaes, aquatic plants and biofilm.
- Carnivores: Carnivorous cichlids have incredibly short intestines which mean they require more animal protein like other fish, insects, and crustaceans, and for best results will most likely require more frequent feedings.
Cichlids require food derived from aquatic sources and insects scientifically balanced to allow them to unlock all the nutrients in the food.
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What, When & How to FEED AFRICAN CICHLIDS (Peacocks & Haps) | Color BOOST!
Understanding Malawi Cichlids' Diet
Malawi cichlids' diet is very important and if we are talking about them, we cannot mention how to feed them to have happy fish. Before we start on a specific diet, we need to look at how Malawi cichlids feed in nature.
In nature, generally we have:
- Herbivores = plant eaters
- Limnivori = algo-eaters
- Omnivores = eating everything
As we said, this is a general division, although, in Lake Malawi itself, we can indeed find many more fish with a specific diet. In their diet, it is best to pay attention to proteins, and food should consist of approximately:
- Herbivores - 12-30% proteins
- Limnivori - 30-40% proteins
- Omnivores - 32-40 % proteins
For example, when we feed herbivores cichlids with food for herbivores.
As with humans, dietary diversity is significant. It may not seem so important, but fish with fish, a varied diet will help them live a long and happy life. You have several brands on the market that produce food for Malawi cichlids.
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In addition to artificial nutrition for cichlids, giving frozen food, especially live food, is occasionally good. Both types of food should primarily serve as a one-week supplement and not as a practice every day.
Protein-rich foods are not recommended for most African cichlids because their long intestines will make it difficult to break them down. In addition, cichlids should have vitamins, which are necessary for cichlids and other fish. Soak their food before giving cichlids, just like cichlids, especially for granules and food in the sticks. Feed adult cichlids once a day, and to keep them fit, you should give them less food than usual once a week, or even not give them food at all. It doesn’t hurt them. Cichlids that are fat will not spawn, and of course, too much food and inadequate food causes cichlids to bloat.
Here are some recommended foods for Malawi Cichlids:
- Pellets or flakes: This is the leading food for most aquarium fish. Numerous brands offer great formulas that cichlids love. Some are specially designed for these fish, even to highlight their best colors. And what is especially good is to look for those foods that do not have a lot of protein (which you have to watch out for with Mbun). You also need to decide if you prefer pellet or flake food. Cichlids like flakes, while pellets sink to the bottom. You may even decide to use pellets and flakes.
- Spirulina: Plant-based food, which replaces algae, which would be their natural source of vegetables. Please don’t give them a lot of this; it is associated with causing black spots on fish. We recommend feeding them with spirulina once or twice a week.
- Homemade food: Lettuce, broccoli, peas, cucumber etc. All these green vegetables are great for Mbuna and their health, again taking the place of algae in their artificial environment. There are many ways you can feed them with this kind of food. Finely chopped and washed, or mixed and frozen into cubes. Garlic is also another great food. Make sure it is finely chopped, and maybe put it with something else. These foods can be combined and blended, arranged in ice cube trays and frozen, and given to your fish.
- Meat: Use meat with caution. If you have Haplochromis Malawi cichlids (abbreviated - Haps), they like a little variety. Foods such as shrimp and shrimp are an excellent addition to their varied diet. You should only feed them this protein-rich meat food twice a week to prevent digestive diseases. Mbuna will also enjoy the occasional treat of shrimp, but be careful.
Foods to avoid:
- Meat (again): Other things are not worth the risk. As we have already said, the digestive tract of African cichlids does not tolerate meat, so beef heart, chicken, or any other meat food like this is forbidden. Over time, you will see that moderation is most important, so you will be sure that your fish will not swell.
African cichlids are voracious and will eat almost anything you give them. Every time you pass by the tank, you will notice that they are rising to the top hoping that you will feed them. That doesn’t mean they need to be fed or that it’s good for them. Stick to the recommended foods to avoid the digestive problems that these fish are so prone to.
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Peacock Cichlids: A Focus on High-Protein Diet
Peacock cichlids are some of the most beautiful-looking freshwater fish available. They are incredibly active and friendly fish that come in vivid colors, like orange, red, yellow, and purple. A well-balanced diet for peacock cichlids plays a vital role in maintaining optimal health, growing big and fast, and having bright, vibrant colors. Therefore, when providing food for your fish, focus on foods rich in high proteins.
Peacock cichlids are carnivores and very agile hunters. These fish are bottom-dwellers that like looking for prey in their substrate. The protein-rich foods ensure that your peacock cichlids can fight diseases incredibly well and maintain their coat’s incredible color. One thing to note is to avoid mammalian meat and tubifex worms when feeding the peacock cichlids because they cause Malawi bloat. A good peacock cichlid diet combines good quality and suitable live, fresh, dried, and frozen protein-rich foods. These suitable protein-rich foods include larvae, crustaceans, small insects, daphnia, and brine shrimp.
The cichlids also benefit from foods such as high-quality pellets, white worms, black worms, and blood worms. Generally, peacock cichlids can stay for 7-10 days without consuming food. However, they will begin to show starvation signs like skin darkening, swimming sluggishness, and loss of appetite. Thus, it would be best to feed peacock cichlids everyday at least two to three times.
You should feed your cichlid small quantities of food two to three times a day. This small quantity of feeding will prevent overfeeding. Overfeeding your peacock cichlids can cause them to lose their vivid colors or be sick. It can make your fish obese, leading to serious health issues like liver problems, heart diseases, and high cholesterol levels. Also, observe your fish’s weight to ensure you are not overfeeding them. If you see any signs of a massive weight increase, reduce the food you provide. The small quantity of food should be little enough that your fish enjoys two minutes of feeding.
As stated above, peacock cichlids survive well on a high-protein diet supplemented with vegetables, vitamins, and fruits.
Here are some specific food options:
- Plankton Gold Flake Food: An incredible high-protein flake that serves as an excellent color-enhancing source.
- Tropical Flakes: Comprise a perfect mixture of vegetable and protein matter and has low fat.
- Sinking Pellets: Ideal for mid to bottom-feeding fish, including peacock cichlids. It is rich in vitamins, proteins, and astaxanthin.
- Frozen Tetra Blood Worms: Rich in protein and low in fat.
- Freeze-Dried Brine Shrimp: One of the safest peacock cichlid food options, highly digestible and nutritious.
Peacock Cichlids need a high protein diet and vitamin supplements to be healthy, happy, and maintain their brightly colored coat. Make sure you feed your peacock cichlids small quantities of food at least two to three times a day. Also, observe your fish for any sign of massive weight gain.
Selecting the Best Cichlid Pellets
Good quality cichlid pellets should form the staple part of your fish’s diet. Frozen food such as brine shrimp and mysis shrimp are great to feed once or twice a week. While flakes are a great option for a tropical fish community tank, African cichlids need something more substantial and pellets are ideal. Pellets are packed with nutrition and are the best food for African cichlids. I prefer to feed my cichlids a variety rather than sticking to one particular type of pellet.
When researching into the best pellets to feed African cichlids, some of the frequent questions I see on forums are ‘what pellets will make my fish grow faster?’ and ‘what pellets are best to enhance color?’ From what I’ve experienced, any of the pellets mentioned later in this article will do a great job growing and coloring up your cichlids. However, there are other factors besides food that influence growth and color. The growth rate is greatly affected by tank size and water change frequency. However, that being said you will achieve optimum growth, color and health if your cichlids are being fed a quality diet.
Here are a few recommended pellet options:
- Northfin Cichlid Formula: An excellent quality food with unparalleled popularity.
- Fluval Bug Bites Cichlid Formula: Ideal for large peacocks and haps due to the pellet size.
- New Life Spectrum: The quality of the ingredients is probably the best of all the pellets I’ve used.
- Hikari Cichlid Pellets: Usually the most readily available and cost-efficient option.
It may take a bit of trial and error to find the brand of pellets you are happiest with.
| Pellet Type | Key Features | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northfin Cichlid Formula | High-quality, popular | Excellent growth and color | Can be expensive |
| Fluval Bug Bites Cichlid Formula | Large, slow-sinking pellets | Ideal for large cichlids | Very slow sinking |
| New Life Spectrum | High-quality ingredients | Excellent ingredients | Clouds water slightly |
| Hikari Cichlid Pellets | Readily available, cost-efficient | Fish love it | Less impressive ingredient list |
Feeding Frequency and Other Considerations
One feeding a day is sufficient for adult fish, or you can split the same amount of food into two feedings. For the health of your fish, you should avoid the practice of ‘pumping’ the fish with food in an effort to increase the growth rate. A rest day once a week where no food is given is beneficial for your fish. It’s fun to watch the frenzy of African cichlids feeding. However, overfeeding can cause serious health issues including bloat. African cichlids are big eaters. They always look hungry and will behave like they haven’t been fed in days each time I approach the tank.
Manufactured dry fish flakes, pellets and granules are a very common food for most fish, not just cichlids. This tends to be the cheapest kind of food to buy for aquarists. When looking for a dry food you’ll want to look for one with meats and veggies. Be sure to find out if it is fortified with extra nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids for added energy and growth and vitamin C to promote good health. Most of these foods come with added color enhancers, which are pigments that help to bring out the natural colors in your fish.
Algae wafers/ discs are the best when it comes to providing veggies for your cichlid. Be sure to find one that is formulated with spirulina. This type of fish food can be fairly inexpensive so it is a practical everyday food. Spirulina is a food supplement also known as blue-green algae and is known for its excellent nutritional and healing qualities. Spirulina is high in protein, vitamin B-12, Beta Carotene, essential fatty acids and minerals.
Frozen worms, shrimp and ground beef hearts are a good source of protein. Most times these foods are fortified with multivitamins to promote good health. Feeding this to your fish can help to boost their immune systems as well as aide in digestive function. Manufacturers process these foods in such a way that it makes feeding easier as well as cleaner.
Fresh foods or live foods are also beneficial to the health of your cichlids. They provide great sources of protein to your growing pets. Live feeders can get pretty costly as a primary method of feeding so you may want to do this no more than once or twice a week. But be warned that feeders are not always clean or disease free. They are usually the lower quality fish that are not bred for keeping so they are not always raised in the cleanest or healthiest conditions. To ensure healthy feeders.
Overall, there is a vast variety of foods out there to suit the needs of all your different cichlids. Choosing the right foods really depend on what types your fish respond most positively to.
