Best cheap food found at walmart or petco for large cichlids

So I need to buy some new fish food bc the hikarI staple minI floating pellets are too small for the cichlids I have. I have a severum, blood parrot, kirin parrot, and jack dempsey. They are all over 4in. The largest is the severum at 6in (measured from head to the beginning of the tail). It needs to be pretty cheap and preferably from walmart but petco is ok too.

 

The Walmart by me sells a HikarI cichlid pellet that is on the bigger side. Maybe they don't all carry the same types. I don't do Petco so I don't know what kinds they sell, but the NLS pellets and Omega One pellets are also good.

 

if all you have locally is a wallyworld I might consider buying online. There is a lot to be said for the quality of the food.

About a year ago I would have said just get some tetra flakes and you'll be fine. After being around here and listening a bit I decided to try some of these "awesome foods" and well...my fish showed me they appreciated the better foods with better colors and being more active. The tanks were also cleaner water wise and less uneaten food.

Currently I feed my fish a mix of Repashy and NLS thera A pellets as their main foods (usually the repashy 4-5 times a week, the pellets once or twice a week) I also try to give them a day off from feeding or only offer a very small amount. I also give them some frozen foods once or twice a week. Yeah this all costs a little more but my fish are a lot more enjoyable to look at and watch with the little extra spent.

 

I need something local for right now. I feed most of my fish nls or omega one with shrimp pellets for bottom dwellers. I just need something bigger for my cichlids.

 

NLS makes some BIG pellets as well.

 

Yea I just looked and they are way to expensive for me right now.

 

There really isn't food that is too small for your fish. Within reason. The larger food is just going to make more of a mess when they eat. My large fish eat the 2 mm thera A.

I've caught many of my largest fish on small baits. The old adage - big baits for big fish - is only a half truth. Yes, only a large fish will take a large bait, but large fish take small baits too....

If you clear your PM boxes, I might be able to help you.

 

There is nothing wrong with feeding larger fish small pellets. Even the largest cichlids I have had (18") have never been fed anything but small pellets, 3.5mm. Feeding them smaller pellets helps to make sure they are not over eating. Plus you tend to not feed as much with smaller pellets.

I would stick with the HikarI minI pellets if I were you. But if you want to something larger, and is sold at the big box stores, HikarI Chiclid Gold small pellets is what I would do.

 

There really isn't food that is too small for your fish. Within reason. The larger food is just going to make more of a mess when they eat. My large fish eat the 2 mm thera A.

I've caught many of my largest fish on small baits. The old adage - big baits for big fish - is only a half truth. Yes, only a large fish will take a large bait, but large fish take small baits too....

If you clear your PM boxes, I might be able to help you.

Just cleared em

 

Personally, I avoid the Cichlid Gold. It has corn as a main ingredient. HikarI Koi Staple, in the green bag is better IMO. 40% protein and I think the ingredient are a bit better than the Cichlid Gold.

 

Would nls 2mm pellets be better I have those and nls Thera plus a .5mm.

 

Personally, I avoid the Cichlid Gold. It has corn as a main ingredient. HikarI Koi Staple, in the green bag is better IMO. 40% protein and I think the ingredient are a bit better than the Cichlid Gold.

Koi?

 

What does nls stand for ??

 

What does nls stand for ??

New Life Spectrum.

 

New Life Spectrum.

LOl...thanks...I should have figured that one out !!! ....must be my bedtime

 

Petco has bloodworms really cheap since u have carniverous fish. They're called fish gum drops you get 480 gumdrops for 10 bucks. They have big cans of cichlid pellets in large size for them too. I feed mine the tetra color granules. They come in larger sizes too.

 

I got some nls but thanks!