CichlidFish.com - Fish That Think.

I just got 3 yellow labs and I LOVE them. Anyway, I bought small pellet food and after a few days i reealized it doesnt fit in their mouths. (only 1 of 4 or so do). Since I have an Oscar I have frozen beefheart.(storebought) I have read from many sources that these are vegetarians, so I was wary but I was not able to go to the store then so I diced one up. Well folks they ENGORGED and DEVOURED the beef. I gave it a few more times and the same behavior. Great, love happy fish.
Now I have the mini pellets and am trying to feed them these. They watch them drop and just stare at them (laughing im sure). I went through 3 tries before trying the beef and watching them eat like ...well you know, piggies. They are small, around 1 and a half inches and I want them to grow fast. Do I give up the pellets or try my hand at the BeefHeart Recipe. (Which will be aboiut 3 years of food at this size. LOL.

Any Opinions?

I am now assuming they are omnivores. Or just blood thirsty maniacs LOL:amohawkg:

Yellow labs are omnivores requiring a predominantly vegaterian diet (they are not strict veggie eaters and are mostly insectivores in the wild).

I'd be hestitant to put them on a beef heart diet. Mammal meat will most likely lead to the Malawi bloat in these fish (which can be fatal).

You can try crushing the pellets a bit (what brand are you using?).

You can fast them for a day or two (recommended after that beef diet), then they'll pretty much eat anything...including the pellets.

I'm using tetra cichilid sinking mini pellets. Do I stop the beefheart all together? Any other food ideas? Thanks

I feed my adult 7 adult yellow labs New Life Spectrum pellets, spirulina flakes and low protein veggie flakes.

I feed my 3 dozen smaller yellow labs high protein flakes and also New Life Spectrum pellets.

African cichlids in general are voracious eaters and will eat anything. They're probably a little stressed from being purchased and moved to your tank. Once they get comfortable their appetites should return.

How big are the tetra cichlid sinking mini pellets? Are your labs really small? (I figure they'd have no problem with mini pellets in general).

One of the best foods I've found for Africans was Hikari excel mini pellets. It is low in protien and has spirulina in it. I found that it produced the best colors in my A's, and with frozen blood worms for treats my fish grew quite quickly.

Kay-bee has the right idea with fasting them for a day or two just so they aren't being picky.

1 day and they are happily eating the mini's! I added 3 more so I have 2 males and 4 females.

What size of tank do you have them in?