Breed Feeders for Cichlids--which, how???

rosita

rosita

Here
Jan 11, 2006
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Cape Fear River Basin
Hey, I am seriously thinking about raising little feeder fry for my 2 getting-big cichlids and ghost knife. However, I'm not big into breeding (all my dogs and cats have always been neutered, and so will my stud colt) and know little. I've read about it, but I'd like some advice/recommendations.
I decided to post here since the post focuses on breeding something like guppies, rather than in cichlids; if it's reckoned to be more appropriate in the other forum, please move.

I have been successfully feeding my Severum (5") and BGK (6") frozen bloodworms and a variety of cichlid pellets and large sinking granules. The Marakely won't eat the frozen bloodworms, just granules. The tiny Brichardi couple also eat small granules and bloodworms. Peacocks eat bloodworms, flakes, and a bit of granules. I would like to provide them with the best diet I can for their health and development (I'm saving for a BIG tank, at least 125, for the big 3 as they get larger).

I"ve read differing opinions as to whether live food is necessary or not for the bigger fish. I'm also curious as to whether the smaller cichlids also benefit from such. Although I'm not into watching the hunt and kill thing, if raising fry for them is a really good thing to do for them then I will. (I"m still trying to reconcile with snakes and live mice, as I want a Ball Python!!)

If it is a viable endeavor, what should I get, and what size tank? I have a 5g hospital/qt hex I could convert if it is ok. Hope this is enough info--please let me know if you need more (if anyone responds!!!) Thanks so much in advance. . .
 
Not really sure if what I have to say will get you to one side of the fence or the other, or just prolong sitting on it, Rosita.

I'll admit when first getting into fish early on in the 70's, I did my share of watching the hunt and kill aspect of feeding live food, mainly guppies, goldies and reds, to the larger fish (mainly cichlids). A lot of that came from just following the LFS direction and what appeared to be the norm.

A lot of years have passed since then, more than I should like to recall. :p: Without getting into the nutritional arguements of live feeders, I feel if you decide that is the path you want to go, the home raised feeders, is the only way to go. I mainly draw this from the issue of disease and parasites that could be inflicted from store bought ones. It is heartbreaking to watch years of care trying to get a fish to thrive go down the drain because of something you could not see or control.

I personally believe that with the variety of foods out there today, all the nutritional requirements can be met with what is on the market. From dried to frozen, we now have more selection than ever to meet our friends needs without the risks involved of store bought feeders.

If you have the time and energy to raise your own, I don't think it would hurt to feed them as a treat. I still feed live brine shrimp that I have hatched or the occasional blackworm. I also give up extra fry routinely to the big boys and do not believe it casuses agression. I do feel there may be trace elements in live food that we do not put in processed food that helps develop full coloration. Nothing to back this up, just my opinion.

HTH, sorry if it wasn't as conclusive as you would have liked.
 
I concur with rbishop that between quality flake, pellet, frozen, freeze-dried and cultured (brine, daphnia, worms, etc), its really quite easy to keep the vast majority of fish healthy, breeding and growing. I feed live only when I'm culling substandard fry. If you wanted to breed specifically for feeding, livebearers and convicts are some of the more common choices used. But remember, they too will only be as good as what you feed them!
 
Thanks for the responses, guys. Rbishop and Yo, you gave me the information I needed. As I already feed my fish the highest quality foods I can, with plenty of variety, then happily they will continue their years with this fare. They readily eat it, have grown very well so far on it, so why have to deal with "the hunt"? Plus, I'd have to get another bigger tank for convicts or anything else bigger than guppies, altho I'm hesitant to even put a few guppies in the 5 gallon hex: that thing is pretty useless except as hospital for smaller fish, or qt for newcomers!! And WHEN I get the new tank, it needs to be a 100 plus for the ghost and Marakely!!!

Thank you again--you were both very helpful.;)
 
I concur with Rbishop also. I have fed occassional fry ..but ultimately..it's too much of a pain to raise live food. (tho I believe you can control the quality of live food).
 
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