Feeding Malawi's

[chrisrutter]

Hi all

Just to see how everyone else does it.

I have 18 Malawi's in my tank now, and I usually feed them at night (around 11pm). But is this enough. I've noticed that some of them have hollow stomachs though.
This morning i decided to feed them again (about 8am) and they made quick work of any food i put in.

Does anyone else feed twice a day, and is it advisable?

Thanks

Chris

 

[Ace Of Spades]

Hiya , This belongs in the African and Old World Cichlid section mate, but ill answer your question anyway as a mod should move it.

I feed my malawi around 3 times a day, only small amounts but they seem to be benefitting from it more then just one big feed a day. I cant remember if it is africans, that because they have long intestines they benefit from small feeds but more frequent rather then large feeds just once

 

[chrisrutter]

Ah cool

Sorry i though i did put it in the African and Old World Cichlid oh well.

Cool thanks for the helpful answer as well.

 

[kj23502]

They'll almost always make quick work of any food you put in, unless something is wrong. I feed mine 2 times a day. Morning and evening...i'm thinking i may be feeding to much at each feeding but that'll be alright b/c I'm getting some synos in a little while and they'll eat leftover food that sinks to the bottom.

Only herbivores have long intestines...carnivores don't. Don't feed the herbs meaty protein food b/c it can make them sick (malawi bloat) due to the meaty food breaking down sooner in the digestive tract than the vegetable matter does and gases are formed and not expelled and it litterally will kill the fish. Imagine not being able to fart. (kinda blunt but you get my drift, eh?)

It depends on what fish you have on wether your feeding them right or not.

If you have any more questions feel free to ask. I think malawi mbuna are my specialty though. Have a 125 gallon w/them and have been reading about them since last winter as well have ad konings books on them. I'm not too good w/lake tang species although I can look up info quick for ya and i'm not as fluent w/peacocks and haps of malawi.

 

[kj23502]

you can ask a moderator to move this to african cichlids for you and if you have more questions continue them in this topic

I usually don't venture here b/c I don't know anything about new worlds except covicts can be mean.... I don't know if any of the african people venture here or not, but i'd guess that quite a few don't

 

[kj23502]

btw, what the heck is that thing in your avatar? does look kinda cool.

 

[Ace Of Spades]

Wow, Spam Korren!!!!,

Looks like a Pokemon in his Avatar , and you'd be suprised us african people are quite diverse, even you venture down to SW

 

[Mr. Convict]

Just to sort of clear it up.. Malawi usually do better with little feedings throughout the day rather than one large feeding because in their natural environment they're eating habit is that they graze on algae throughout the entire day, which is also why slightly overfeeding them isn't much of a problem (looks at kj )

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that's why.

 

[chrisrutter]

haha cheers for all the replies people!

Some top quality advice!

Yeah I've started feeding twice a day and both times i dont have to worry about anything sinking to the bottom. Seam ravenous!

My profile picture is something i found of the net. I still don't know wether to be scared or laugh at it.

What food you using KJ? Im feeding them an Aqua one pellet food

Guaranteed Analysis
Protein Min 38%
Fat Min 3%
Fibre Max 5%
Moisture Max 10%
Ash Max 15%

Only reason is that the man at my LFS used it with all of his.

Not sure what they should be on

Cheers all

 

[Ace Of Spades]

haha cheers for all the replies people!

Some top quality advice!

Yeah I've started feeding twice a day and both times i dont have to worry about anything sinking to the bottom. Seam ravenous!

My profile picture is something i found of the net. I still don't know wether to be scared or laugh at it.

What food you using KJ? Im feeding them an Aqua one pellet food

Guaranteed Analysis
Protein Min 38%
Fat Min 3%
Fibre Max 5%
Moisture Max 10%
Ash Max 15%

Only reason is that the man at my LFS used it with all of his.

Not sure what they should be on

Cheers all

It depends where the trace of protein comes from me thinks, If it is from a vegetable extract, rather then meat then it should be fine. Whole point is the meat one breaks down too quick in the fishes long digestive systems and can cause malawi bloat. Get yourself some cichlid Excel pellets, they are designed for africans and some Spirunla flake. You can also feed prawns now and then.

 

[kj23502]

Just to sort of clear it up.. Malawi usually do better with little feedings throughout the day rather than one large feeding because in their natural environment they're eating habit is that they graze on algae throughout the entire day, which is also why slightly overfeeding them isn't much of a problem (looks at kj )

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that's why.

If they are feed a tad too much they'll do less grazing and more fighting. I don't have to worry about mine getting the bloat(which can also happen from feeding to much) b/c mine are carnivores. They don't graze as much and that leaves more room for fighting.

But yea, 2 times a day is good. Feed what they'll eat in 30-45 seconds.

 

[kj23502]

This is what I feed mine...Read post #64 (it's my malawi journal)

http/www.fishforums.net/content-page/228...nation/page/60/

The green bag is supposed to be white and it talks about that down a little further. The ONLY reason I feed mine the purple lid w/yellow container is b/c mine are carnivores. If you feed certain species meaty protein it'll possibly kill them w/the bloat.

One staple of the diet is spirulina flakes. That should be regular and arrange other foods around that one.
It should say on the food container somewhere about veggie based or protein based food. It might not come right out and say it, you have to read in between the lines sometimes. If your confused type it in here and we can help w/that too



LFS aren't always feeding them the right stuff since they have so many fish to feed. Most likely they'll feed something that could possibly broadly work for most fish to tide them over until a good fishkeeper comes along.