Food change causing Malawi Bloat? PLEASE HELP!

A

ajbassmaster

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Nov 1, 2008
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Erie, PA
I have several small africans in a 35 gal that are starting to die off all of a sudden. I have not introduced new fish since December 9th so i know that it wasnt caused by disease on new fish. I have dead tropheus duboisi and another unknown malawi sp. dead. There is a tropheus duboisi upside down at the top, all the dead/dying fish have bloated stomaches (Malawi Bloat) but also have like an ich infection. They are all fed pellets, frozen blood worms, frozen brine shrimp, frozen veggie cube, and fresh algae from a planted tank that hasn't been changed in any way (fish, food). Recently got some HBH African Cichlid Attack. They were periodically on different pellets and it seems that every time I go back to Cichlid Attack my fish start to die off. I dont believe that im over feeding them, I understand that the pellets expand so I might just have to presoak the pellets before feeding them. Anyone else with similar experiences or advice.??? Thanks for the help. -AJ
 
Too much protein, For most Mbuna and Tropheus species they need a very low protein diet and as much veggies as possible more than likely bloat was the issue.. Stay away from the meaty foods via frozen varieties on an regular basis if you must feed these high protein foods only do so as a treat once a week..

The frozen veggies should be fine, just check on your food cans and see what the proteins are percentage wise, try to stick around 30% mark..

Also a good feeding rule of thumb is to let your fish have a day or two in a week for fasting you will not starve your fish to death this way and will let their digestion tract recuperate.. good luck..
 
Follow Pittbull's advice. Blood worms and brine shrimps are not good foods for Mbuna and Tropheus species.
 
Thanks Pittbull, I was wondering what percentage of protein would be good, the cichlid attack is 45% crude protein and they have been getting a lot of algae lately, and I already only treat them to a frozen (bloodworms or Brine shrimp) once a week. The veggie cubes are from the petstore and its just a big mix of greens.
What veggies would you suggest for africans???
 
Pittbull said:
Too much protein, For most Mbuna and Tropheus species they need a very low protein diet and as much veggies as possible more than likely bloat was the issue.. Stay away from the meaty foods via frozen varieties on an regular basis if you must feed these high protein foods only do so as a treat once a week..

The frozen veggies should be fine, just check on your food cans and see what the proteins are percentage wise, try to stick around 30% mark..

Also a good feeding rule of thumb is to let your fish have a day or two in a week for fasting you will not starve your fish to death this way and will let their digestion tract recuperate.. good luck..
Click to expand...


It is so hard to find quality foods that have enough veggies....they make it confusing for the average consumer by labeling it for "cichlids".. but there are 3 different types of cichlids...and even more locations )CA/SA/Lakes of africa)...
 
I wouldn't feed bloodworms or brine shrimp at all, not even once a week. Baby brine shrimp are good for fry, but apparently adult brine shrimp have little to no nutritional value. I would seriously look into getting high quality cichlid foods and stick with them. I know they are a little more money, and some don't agree with their marketing strategies, but NLS and Dainichi are supposed to be 2 of the best for Africans(and other species as well). They were recommended to me by the breeder/importer that I got all of my fish from, and honestly, it's hard to argue with success when you look at all of the positive feedback and results when you search for info on those poducts.
 
I've used african attack with my mbuna without much problem. Though once I learned more about bloat I switched to veggie flakes and NLS. I would also skip the blood worms and brine hrimp all together. If you want to give a treat give then some blanched veggies. Mine love zucchinni, cucumber and romaine lettuce.

Also tropheus are very prone to bloat I would switch the foods ASAP.
 
I already switched to flakes, the bigger fish in the tank seem like they could hold their cichlid attack, I fed them flakes and I have some veggie flakes so that will be a good start until I get some veggies for them.
Thanks for the help everyone.

RDTigger your right, many people (just starting or dont care) don't understand the difference between the types of cichlids and how they can even be broken into more lakes and rivers. They look at the food and it says cichlid so it must be good for the fish.
 
What worked for me before my Tropheus started to murder each other was NLS and HBH supper veggie 8 and HBH veggie soft pellets, be careful with flakes because you can cause float in cichlids and to add as a treat you can go with Blue's suggestion blanched peas, zucchini, romaine leaf..

The frozen meaty foods as long as not a staple food could be given just in very very small quantities and every once in a while but i recommend not to feed them this, one very small feeding once every two weeks or a month will not harm them..

As for the frozen veggie foods as long as there isn't any meat parts you should be good to go, and not as a staple..

RDtigger is right it is a multiplex of cichlids threw-out the world so many diversities it would take more than this forum to comprehend, but your on the right track my friend.. enjoy..
 
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