Withhold food?

I

ianheyian

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Dec 4, 2006
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I just was reading an article about P. Acei and the author noted that it was important with Malawi Cichlids to routinely withhold all food one day a week every week.

Can anyone shed any light on this?

Thanks.
 
it makes more of a natural enviroment and causes them to act more natural search the tank and do things they would normally do i actually feed mine every other day
fish really only digest and use like 15 percent of what we give them the rest comes out brown but still eddible.
 
fish really only digest and use like 15 percent of what we give them the rest comes out brown but still eddible
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got a reference for that or have you taken poetic license? :confused:

as for withholding food, i've known hobbyists who have kept African cichlids for thirty years and didn't withhold food a single day of their lives. what is important is the composition of their diet, which should be primarily spirulina based.
 
I've heard before that fish in the wild will often not have food during certain times of the year due to a low supply. But it seems that the lake situation might be different. My understanding of lake Malawi is that it is "fairly" stable all year round. There are some minor fluctuations in temperatures and day length but nothing drastic. It seems to me, therefore, that the food supply would be fairly stable.

I have used Aquatrol Spirulina 20 for the last seven years or so. It's all I use and I usually feed them a little twice a day ... morning and evening. I don't think I've had any problems related to diet thus far.
 
I believe withholding food also allows their long digestive track to clear and prevent blockages. I'm not sure about Haps or Peacocks but Mbuna have particularly long intestines.
 
i feed my guys every third day and have no problems!
 
I doubt that a diet high in fibre will be the cause of many backups in the digestive track. A high protein diet on the otherhand may.

I often don't feed my fish every day of the week but it isn't a strict regeime thing.
 
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