Hikari Cichlid Gold for Mbunas?

[jeffro426]

Ive used it forever with my convicts and they love it...Was just wondering if its ok for Mbunas? And if not, what do you recomend?

[riftlake_kid77]

no, it has far too much protein. too much protein causes bloat with mbuna. they are herbivorous and omnivorous. mbunas are also much more succesptable to bloat than many other cichlids when given too much protein. hikari's cichlid exel is what i feed mine along with algae and spirulnia tablets and the occasional brine shrimp

[valerie]

I feed my mbuna(rusties, Lab.perlmutts) hakari cichlid gold. I have been feeding them this for over a year. Its not the only thign i feed them though. I also feed hakari cichlid excel, omega one color pellets and veggie flakes, HBH graze flakes, NLS all porpose pellets, and the occasional brine shrimp or mysis shrimp.

What type of mbuna do you keep? some can handle more protien then others. Labidochromis and Melanochromis species feed on insects and snails in the wild...picking up alittle algae as they graze. The Pseudotroheus, Petrotilapia, Labeotropheus, Cynotilpia lean more towards being herbivorous but can still have some protein foods.

[JSchmidt]

I have a large tank with mixed mbuna and haps, and I feed Cichlid gold as one of the foods. Never caused any problems.

I think as a solo food it might be a bit high in protein, but if you alternated it with something like Hikari Cichlid Excel (excellent for mbuna, IMO), you'd be OK.

Jim

[fishlips]

I feed the gold to my mbuna on occaision. So far, so good.