Diet in community tank

[RichardChen]

In my 125g tank I have 30+ African from 9 species.  One specie is herbivore (Protomelas taeniolatus), three species are omnivore (Metriaclima estherae, Labidochromis caeruleus, Pseudotropheus crabro), and five are carnivore (Copadichromis borleyi, Neolamprologus brichardi, Peacocks, Otopharynx lithobate, and Sciaenochromis fryeri.)  I currently feeding them two days with the combination of Tetra color cichlid sticks, Tetracichoid flakes, Hikari cichlid staple, and Tetra microcrabs then I feed them one day with the combination of frozen blood worms, frozen mysis shrimps, and cichlid sticks.  Then I rotate the feeding.  Am I taking care of the diet need for the herbivore and the carnivore?  What other options do I have?

Please let me know.  Thank you.

[Zulaab]

Re: Diet in community tank

You have some VERY HAPPY FISH when it comes to food.. if they are getting all of this they should be more than happy about their diet...
One of the things you can do to add in on your two day diet Tetra Spirolina -- this will give you a little more veggie in the diet...
the other thing you can do which I know several people do is stop some greens in their tanks.  Like blanched Zuccini, Romaine Lettuce, etc..
This way you will feed both your herbivores and if you have any pleco's you will get them too.

[RichardChen]

Re: Diet in community tank

Thank you Zulaab for the input.

I found two spirulina product from Drfosterandsmith.  One is Tetra Veggie Flakes http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...fm?pCatId=4309 which has higher precent protein than Hikari Cichlid Excel http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...fm?pCatId=4297 48% vs 35%.  Somehow Excel doesn't indicate the amount of spirulina in the product.  They both name brand but big difference on the prices.  Which one would you pick?

Is there any article I can read about how to blanch veggies?

Thanks again.

[armthehomeless]

Re: Diet in community tank

I had to read up on blanching veggies a couple weeks ago:

http://www.ehow.com/how_13887_blanch-vegetables.html

[RichardChen]

Re: Diet in community tank

Thank you Tim.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Diet in community tank

I would just feed them NewLifeSpectrum.

[RichardChen]

Re: Diet in community tank

I like the sinking pellets of spectrum cichlid formula because Neolamprologus brichardi won't come to the top and feed.  Most of the sources on internet price for 300 gram is $13 plus $9 for shipping.  I might go to Houston this weekend for food and grocery.  Which lfs in Houston carries this product with low low price?

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Diet in community tank

Houston Aquarium Warehouse
City Pets

Best prices on NLS.

[RichardChen]

Re: Diet in community tank

What does NLS stand for?

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Diet in community tank

New Life Spectrum

[RichardChen]

Re: Diet in community tank

Thank you for the info EK.  Somehow my son's stomach is in trouble therefore trip to Houston this weekend is in the gutter.

I found one website posts the ingredients of the NLS products http://www.radeksfishroom.com/newlifespectrum.html.  Most of my cichlids size are from 2" to 6".  The NLS Cichlid Formula is 1 mm in size and NLS Large Fish Formula is 3 mm.  Will the later better for my cichlids?

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Diet in community tank

Most of yours have somewhat small mouths if I am not mistaken so the 1mm would be good for them all

[RichardChen]

Re: Diet in community tank

EK,

When you mentioned "I would just feed them NewLifeSpectrum", do you mean using NLS as the only food source or you meant you perfer NLS over Tetra Veggie and Hikari Cichlid Excel?

Sorry for the dumb question.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Diet in community tank

Personally.....Just NLS.

I have a reef tank that has different diet fish in it and have been feeding strictly NLS for the longest and it is supporting all their diets. What made Pablo Tepoot's food(NLS) so famous was the fact that he was able to sustain a healthy mixed saltwater fish tank where just about all the inhabitants required a specific diet on only NewLifeSpectrum food.

If he is able to do that with those finicky SW fish then I think just about any cichlid would be fine on it.

[myjohnson]

Re: Diet in community tank

NLS is the way to go.

Here is a good link that explains why......

http://tropheusfanatics.invisionzone.com/index.php?showtopic=2115

Hope the information helps.

p.s. it's a long read.