MousePotato

Trying to be a good fish momma, I purchased a variety of foods for my mbuna. I got some spirulina flakes and two foods specifically formulated for African cichlids. Unfortunately, the cichlid food did not specify which kind of cichlid and it's actually for carnivores.

Could someone recommend a good "diet" for my mbuna? I know the spirulina is fine, though I don't know how often to give it to them. It says it's a supplement on the container. What is a good, commercially available, base diet for these fish?

Thanks!

Shawnie

see if this link helps

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/feeding_mbuna.php

we have some great mbuna owners here and im sure they will help alot

Slug

Whats on the ingrediants. Finding good veggie based food is really hard.

I use New Life Spectrum foods for all of my tanks. Usually the general cichlid formula and never have had a problem with it.

MousePotato

Thanks for the recommendation, Slug. Shawnee, thanks for the link. There is some good information there. I have also have a LFS that specializes in cichlids nearby. I imagine they would have a good selection of mbuna kibble. I would just go there and ask for advice, but the owner has a REALLY thick accent and I get embarassed that I can't understand him!

Thanks again!

sirdarksol

You could make some food for your mbuna.

Spirulina (a type of blue-green algae, which is the high-vitamin portion of the mbuna's diet), nori (the sheets of seaweed that is used in making sushi), some zucchini, lettuce, or other green veggie, mix in a Magic Bullet or food processor, and add a bit of water and some gelatin (to bind it together). You can refrigerate or freeze it, as you want.

MousePotato

sirdarksol, that's a great idea, but I suspect there is a point at which my husband will start to think I am taking better care of my fish than I am of him. I am inclined to think that point may be when he gets the Hormel instant entree for dinner while I'm homecooking for the hooligans!

That could be a dangerous line to cross. After all, I need both of our incomes to support my fish habit.

COBettaCouple

We use the New Life Spectrum cichlid food too, it's excellent food for them.

Allie

We get coloring Nutra Fin Max color enhancing flakes(meat) and spirulina flakes mix them in a big container. Or we order KensFish.com 1/4 to 1/2 lb bags of their CH & spirulina flakes.
You can feed them what you have, just mix in a type of spirulina/algae flake.