Thoughts on feeding

[Smokefire1]

Just curious about feeding. I have a 65 gallon tank with live plants 2 peacocks 1 female auratus 1 venustus 1 pictus cat and 1 johannii there is also a yoyo loach and a grey bichir in there (temporary until I can get them in a new tank) I've been feeding twice a day morning and night tetra cichlid flakes occasionally I'll switch it up with some tropical crisps I had leftover from a community tank a couple times a week they get frozen blood worms fish are all growing and I have little to no aggression problems. is that the right schedule and am I feeding with the correct foods?

 

[tanker]

I think the Auratus and the Johannii are vegetarians, and do not do good with high protein (animal product) foods.

 

[Smokefire1]

Makes sense I see them grazing on algae quite often I'll have to take a trip into the city when I get a day off or try to order something online any suggestions on brand or type

 

[Tifftastic]

Supplementing with an algae wafer type food or a saltwater veggie food. My preferred brands are Hikari, Omega-1, and New Life Spectrum (NLS).

If it were me I would also skip the evening feed for the cichlids. Just feed in the morning and after you turn the lights out at night feed a sinking protein based pellet for the catfish and poly. Also, flakes aren't that high in nutritional value, something like floating pellets would be a better option.

 

[Smokefire1]

I have some mini pellets but the fish won't eat them they'll spit them back out I'm thinking the pellets are too big my fish are all in the 2-3inch range and the pellets are about the size of a bb

 

[tanker]

Look for a food low in Proteins. Spiralina flakes, or veggy flakes.

 

[OrionGirl]

Try putting the pellets in a bit of water before putting them in the tank. Dry pellets are often spit out and re-eaten, if the fish find them. Getting them a bit wet in advance makes the fish more likely to eat them right away.

 

[Smokefire1]

I picked up some veggie pellets with spiralina the pellets are a little smaller and they cleaned them right up