HBLiquidPulse Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 I've recently set up a tank for African cichlids and I'm really interested in creating a setup to grow live food for them. So I'm interested in hearing about your experiences with different methods and species used for live food production for African Cichlids. :bounce: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
si_sphinx Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 Convict or guppy fry have worked well for me. how ever... live food can only be a treat. i feed live food once a week. if feed too much, they may end up refusing dried or frozen foods. Also white worms work well too and are easy to grow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smidey Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 i feed mozzie larvae & water boatmen, pretty easy to breed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 all of the above convict fry can survive and grow in the rockwork fresh and saltwater shrimp can be collected and fed as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 ...fresh and saltwater shrimp can be collected and fed as well Yeah, tell me about it. This last week I thought I would go try to collect some mysis shrimp at the estuary... ended up barefoot and up to my thighs in mud..........but at least I left with a bucket of live food for my fishes! :roll: Note to self: perfect skills before attempting such a task again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 you need some snowshoes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zev Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 You can get the freshwater shrimp at Eskdale Park - just take a net and swish it around under plants on the water's edge. Mind you, after the floods of late, the weeds may not be there anymore :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 Wow those shrimp are huge! The ones I got were the size of mozzie larvae, which is just as well since I was feeding tiny fish....btw, is that a baby eel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwiplymouth Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 I feed mine a few snails almost every day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 what is that worm thing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 You can get the freshwater shrimp at Eskdale Park - just take a net and swish it around under plants on the water's edge. Mind you, after the floods of late, the weeds may not be there anymore :-? I'm after some in Auckland, not as fish food though. No luck so far How big do these guys get? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zev Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 It's an eel - didn't get to check if it was a long or short fin, damn thing wriggled around heaps. The biggest ones were about 30 - 40mm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted March 25, 2010 Report Share Posted March 25, 2010 arent african cichlids mostly vegetarian? maybe a garden patch would be more suited 8) haha no really, i thought they were vege eaters? thats what david attenborough said on EARTH BLUE RAY:D man thats an awesome documentary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smidey Posted March 25, 2010 Report Share Posted March 25, 2010 arent african cichlids mostly vegetarian? maybe a garden patch would be more suited 8) haha no really, i thought they were vege eaters? thats what david attenborough said on EARTH BLUE RAY:D man thats an awesome documentary some are & some aren't, we tend to feed mostly vege as the vege eaters can easily get bloat with meaty foods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted March 25, 2010 Report Share Posted March 25, 2010 Yeah alot of them are but you can guarantee that all africans regardless of what they normally eat will munch down any fish that will fit in their mouths and they can catch I feed mine white worms occasionally and used to go and catch those shrimp when I lived in Auckland and knew where to get them from.. But live/meaty foods are fed to mine in moderation most of the time they get standard commercial fish food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firenzenz Posted March 26, 2010 Report Share Posted March 26, 2010 My bigger haps having been chowing down on live crickets of late. They also get slaters regularly. I tend to feed them only as treats to my africans as it is mixed tank, but a few at a time and the eyebiters, copas and nimbo get them before the peacocks, labs etc even know whats happening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquaplod Posted March 26, 2010 Report Share Posted March 26, 2010 I have guppies in my african tank, they breed and supply live food the odd one does manage to grow out, mostly the females cos they get bigger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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