Can African Cichlids Eat Feeder Fish?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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In comparison with certain other common aquarium fishes, many people find cichlids to be rather aggressive fish.

Often one cichlid will chase other fish and possibly even kill other fish

.

Will African cichlids eat other fish?

In comparison with certain other common aquarium fishes, many people find cichlids to be rather aggressive fish.

Often one cichlid will chase other fish and possibly even kill other fish

.

Can cichlids eat bottom feeder food?

Additionally,

bottom feeders for Cichlid tanks will work great even with other freshwater fish as long as they're socially compatible

.

What kind of fish do cichlids eat?

Many African cichlids, like

Tropheus and Mbuna

, primarily eat algae, biofilm and aquatic plants. These fish are meant to graze all day and have a really long intestinal tract so they can absorb as many nutrients as possible from food that has a lower fat and protein content.

Will cichlids eat minnows?


They'll readily take worms, crickets, grass shrimp, minnows

and all the other typical panfish baits, but I say, why even bother with bait. They are such aggressive feeders that lures work just as good, if not better.

Do African cichlids eat goldfish?

You should make sure you are using food that is specially formulated for cichlids;

avoid feeding food or tropical fish food

. Since cichlids are omnivorous, you can occasionally supplement their diets with fresh vegetables, blood worms or a little raw hamburger meat as treats.

What other fish can cichlids be with?

  • Plecos. Minimum Tank Size: 150 gallons. …
  • Other African Cichlids. …
  • Zebra Loach (Botia striata) …
  • Red Tail Shark (Epalzeorhynchos bicolor) …
  • Paratilapia (Paratilapia polleni) …
  • Jewel Cichlids (Hemichromis bimaculatus) …
  • Giant Danios (Devario aequipinnatus) …
  • Rainbows (Melanotaeniidae)

Can cichlids live with Oscars?

Can African cichlids and Oscars live together?

No, mixing African cichlids and Oscars is not recommended

because of multiple reasons. They are from different continents and require different water parameters. Also, depending on the cichlids, they will fight to the death.

What fish can live with African cichlids?

  • Botia Loaches (Clown Loach)
  • Red Tail Shark.
  • Giant Danios.
  • African Red-eyed Tetra.
  • Pleco.
  • Scavenger (Upside-down catfish)
  • Leopard Bush-fish.

Can you put an algae eater with cichlids?


They are compatible with most fish and inverts, whether they be African cichlids or regular freshwater fish

. They are not compatible with most freshwater plants as they will uproot them.

Are African cichlids bottom feeders?


They're bottom feeders

who love algae, so they shouldn't be too much trouble. But, to ensure the Cichlid doesn't bully a Siamese Algae Eater, they should be in a school of at least five.

How do you feed African cichlids?

How do I make my cichlids more colorful?

How often should African cichlids be fed?

Adult cichlids should be fed

3-4 times a day

– an amount they can consume within 30 seconds every time. This feeding style helps to curb a cichlid's aggression over resources. And cichlids are avaricious (borderline obnoxious) eaters – which means they can consume a sizable amount of food within half a minute or so.

How big do African cichlids get?

An African cichlid can grow to

4 to 10 inches

at maturity, depending on the species. Adequate nutrition is obviously important to the fish's growth, but environmental quality also determine's a cichlid's growth rate and his health over a lifetime.

Can African cichlids eat ghost shrimp?


They will eventually be eaten by the cichlids as they grow bigger and more agile to hunt down the shrimps

. I used to feed my cichlids ghost shrimps as a treat on a monthly basis before when I had ghost shrimps. As long as the cichlids' diet consist of mainly flakes, pellets, or frozen food.

Can minnows live with cichlids?


The common Pleco will live with Cichlids in harmony

, as well as with Angelfish, Barbs, Bettas, Danios, Minnows, Fancy Goldfish, Killifish, Hatchets, Gouramis, Rainbow fish, Guppies, Loaches, Mollies, Platies, and Rasboras.

Can cichlids live with guppies?

While many cichlids are notorious for their aggression,

several small dwarf cichlids make good companions for guppies

. The ram and krib are small riverine cichlids that have a much more peaceful demeanor than their larger relatives. Additionally, rams can benefit from guppy companions.

Do cichlids eat flakes?


Cichlids feed very enthusiastically on flakes

, while pellets sink to the bottom where any other inhabitants (like catfish) can also get to them. The best option for you will depend on your tank setup and personal preference. You might even opt to use both pellets and flakes.

Can cichlids live with Mollies?


Molly and cichlids can live together

. However, you need to consider that there are more than 1000 species of cichlids and display quite different personalities. Therefore, mollies are compatible with specific species of cichlids.

Can parrot fish live with African cichlids?

Specifically

African river cichlids do well with blood parrots

. As long as the African cichlids are roughly the same size and aggression level as the blood parrots the fish should be compatible.

What is the most colorful cichlid?


African Rift Lake Cichlids

are among the most colorful, active and hardy freshwater fish in the aquarium hobby. Their colors rival those of many saltwater fish, and their elaborate mating and brood care behavior are fascinating to watch.

Can all African cichlids live together?

Can all cichlids live together?

No, not all cichlids can live together

. Cichlids that usually get along are the ones of the same type. For example, African cichlids go well together.

Can you put African cichlids with Oscars?

To sum it up,

no, keeping oscar with African cichlids is a bad idea

. These fish come from entirely different corners of the world and need significantly different water parameters to thrive. While African cichlids need hard and alkaline water, oscars prefer soft and acidic water.

What kind of cichlid is an Oscar?

The oscar (Astronotus ocellatus) is a species of fish from the cichlid family known under a variety of common names, including

tiger oscar, velvet cichlid, and marble cichlid

.

Are cichlids more aggressive than Oscars?

While Oscars can get enormous and be quite aggressive themselves,

the quick moving nature of African Cichlids mean that they are sometimes able to swoop in, attack an Oscar, and get away before the Oscar is able to retaliate

. With multiple African Cichlids in a tank they could even take turns attacking the Oscar!

Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.