It’s worrying when fish don’t grow as big as they’re supposed to. That probably means they’re malnourished. Food for growth and healthiness in cichlids is the solution. I list the best cichlid food for growth.
I reviewed, fact checked and updated this post on July 6, 2023.
Table Of Contents
Top Best Foods For Cichlid Growth For Feeding Your Fish
Tetra Cichlid Balanced Diet Flakes
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Promoting a balanced diet with protein-based food and natural color enhancers. It supports their immune system, helping them live a long life. Great fish food for tetras and other cichlid fish. They float in the middle of the fish tank level.
Feeding Directions – Feed 2-3 times daily only as much as your fish consume within a few minutes.
Ingredients
- Proteins: Fish meal, Shrimp meal, and Algae meal.
- Carbohydrates: Ground brown rice, Dehulled soybean meal, Wheat gluten, Gelatin, Torula dried yeast, Corn flour, and Dried potato products.
- Fat: Fish oil, and Soybean oil.
- Supplements: L-lysine monohydrochloride, Sorbitol, Lecithin, Inositol, and Vitamin C.
Pros
- Doesn’t cloud the tank water.
- Designed for top and middle feeding cichlids.
- Contains biotin for a healthy metabolism.
- Great for African cichlids, especially those from Lake Malawi.
- Affordable.
- Hold together in the water.
- Great value for the price.
- Promotes growth.
Cons
- You’ll need to cut the flakes up if you have smaller cichlids
- Messy for larger cichlids
- It’s not supposed to, but some found it clouds the water
Hikari Bio-Gold Plus Pellets: Nutrient Rich Cichlid Foods
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Hikari Bio-Gold Plus Pellets are a solid choice for feeding your fish. The floating pellets are made for carnivorous cichlids and have helpful microorganisms in them. The Bio-Gold+ version even has probiotics.
Feeding Directions – A small amount twice daily, adjust the amount to fish’ needs, sprinkle on the top of the water as they’re floating pellets.
Ingredients: Fish Meal, Wheat Flour, Flaked Corn, Wheat Germ Meal, Spirulina, Krill, Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, ans Brewers Dried Yeast.
Pros
- Less waste because of the formula.
- Natural ingredients so it’s a a preferred choice for your pet fish.
- Easy to monitor how much was eaten.
- Contains stabilized vitamin C and other parts to support a healthy immune system.
- Has color enhancing ingredients and high protein levels.
- Many found their fish grow fast with these pellets.
Cons
- Makes the water cloudy.
- Pellets are quite large. If your cichlids are smaller, you’ll need to make them smaller.
- Some found they didn’t get the amount they paid for.
Northfin Food Veggie Formula: For A Healthy Enhanced Grow Rate
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A vegetable-based formula of slow sinking pellet food for fish, made with certified organic kelp and other ingredients to promote a healthy diet and immune system. They’re some of the best food for cichlids.
Feeding Directions – 1-2 times daily, only as much as fish consume in 5 minutes or less.
Ingredients
- Whole Fish Meals: Whole Antarctic Krill Meal, Whole Sardine Meal, and Heming Meal.
- Plants: Kelp, Spirulina, Wheat Flour, and Garlic.
- Vitamins, Minerals, & Additives: Calcium, Montmorillonite Clay, Vitamin A Acetate, L-Ascorbyl 2 Polyphosphate, Activated Animal Sterol, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, Thiamine, Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride 86, Folic Acid, Biotin, Choline Chloride, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Selenium, Astaxanthin, and Cobalt Sulfate.
Pros
- Veggie based, and lots of vitamins for a nutrient-rich diet.
- No artificial ingredients.
- Suitable for many cichlids and great quality.
- Doesn’t cloud the water.
- Some of the best pellets food for fish like cichlids.
Cons
- Expensive, but worth it.
Fluval Bug Bites Pellets for Cichlids: Natural Nutrients & Protein
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Protein-rich cichlid pellets contain mostly insects and other nutritional ingredients. This is a formula perfect for smaller and medium cichlids. Added to these are vitamins, minerals, and amino acids for healthy, happy fish, particularly Malawi cichlids. These granules are made sustainably from ethically sourced ingredients in small batches, perfect for any aquarium backgrounds.
Feeding Directions – 2-3 times daily, as much as the fish eat in 2 minutes and no more.
Ingredients
- Protein Sources: Dried Black Soldier Fly Larvae, Salmon, and Fish Protein Concentrate.
- Carbohydrates: Green Peas, Potato, and Wheat.
- Minerals & Additives: Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Dl-methionine, Lecithin, Choline Chloride, L-lysine, Biotin, Niacin, Calcium L-ascorbyl-2 Monophosphate, Zinc Oxide, Manganous Oxide, D-calcium Pantothenate, Beta-carotene, Copper Sulfate, Calendula, and Rosemary Extract.
- Vitamins: Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine, Mononitrate, Inositol, Folic Acid, and Vitamin A Supplement.
Pros
- Suitable for small-medium fish with natural, sustainably sourced ingredients.
- No artificial colors, all-natural products make up this formula.
Cons
- More of a treat food for some species, check to see if it’s right for your cichlids
- The size of the granules can vary somewhat
- Sometimes won’t satisfy picky eaters
Northfin Cichlid Formula Pellet: Great Premium Choice For Omnivores
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This is the sinking pellets more meat and insect-based formula available from Northfin. Great for omnivores. Designed to enhance their size, color, and wellbeing with the best natural ingredients, this food is easy to digest and full of nutrients — some of the best cichlid foods for a balanced cichlid diet.
Feeding Directions – 1-2 times daily, only as much as fish consume in 5 minutes or less.
Ingredients
- Protein Sources: Antarctic Krill, High Omega-3 (DHA), Herring Meal, and Whole Sardine Meal.
- Grain: Wheat Flour.
- Veggies: Kelp, Spirulina, and Garlic.
- Color Enhancer: Astaxanthin.
- Minerals: Calcium Montmorillonite Clay, Cobalt Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Selenium, and Zinc.
- Vitamins: Vitamin A Acetate, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate, D-Activated Animal-Sterol, DL Alphatocopherol, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid
- Thiamine, Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Biotin, and Choline Chloride.
Pros
- No artificial ingredients, all things included are of the highest quality.
- Great for African cichlids.
- Doesn’t cloud up the water and satisfies even picky eaters.
- Excellent size for a variety of different cichlids.
Cons
- Expensive, but worth the investment.
- Can get stuck in the rocks or substrate at the bottom of the tank.
- Sinks a little too fast.
TetraCichlid Cichlid Crisps Advanced Clear Water Formula
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These floating flakes are created explicitly for clearer water, less waste, and more nutrition in a smaller, easily digestible flake. These float and don’t clog up the tank, and keep fish happy and healthy.
Feeding Directions – 1-2 daily in small batches, this food is concentrated.
Ingredients: Fishes Meal, and Shrimp Meal.
Pros
- Designed to keep the water clear.
- Helps produce vibrant colors in fish, as well as promoting growing.
- Designed for top and mid feeding cichlids.
Cons
- Messy if you feed it to larger fish.
- Careful not to overfeed, otherwise the uneaten food could clog up the filtering system.
- Expensive.
- Some found it wasn’t very good value for the price.
FAQs About Foods For Cichlid Growth
What Type Of Food Should I Feed My Cichlids?
Here is a list of cichlid foods: what you should feed your cichlids. However, it’s best to look for specific guidelines depending on your cichlids.
- Manufactured fish foods such as wafers, granules, and sinking or floating pellets.
- Live foods
- Frozen foods
- Peas – (Slightly Blanched)
- Zucchini – (Cut into small slices and lightly blanched)
- Lettuce Leaves
- Cucumber Slices
- Spinach
- Roasted Seaweed
- Frozen and freeze-dried bloodworms
- Brine shrimp
- Daphnia
Can Tropical Fish Eat Cichlid Food?
Tropical fish can eat cichlid food, and cichlids can eat tropical fish food. Still it’s preferable if you feed them food specifically made for them.
How Often Should I Feed My Cichlids?
Two to three times daily. Of course, it depends on how much you feed them, how big they are and how many of them there are, and what type of cichlid. Refer to the food directions as a helpful guideline, and make your judgment.
What Vegetables Are Good For Cichlids?
Here’s a list of what vegetables are suitable for cichlids. Remember, it varies for different cichlid species, and a variety of options is important for herbivores. Any additional items you introduce into their diet outside of what they’d normally eat in the wild need to be researched first!
- Peas – (Slightly Blanched)
- Zucchini – (Cut into small slices and lightly blanched)
- Lettuce Leaves
- Cucumber Slices
- Spinach
- Roasted Seaweed
What Do You Feed South American Cichlids?
Here is a list of recommended foods to feed south American cichlids.
- Fish foods such as wafers, granules, and sinking pellets.
- Peas – (Slightly Blanched)
- Zucchini – (Cut into small slices and lightly blanched)
- Lettuce Leaves
- Cucumber Slices
- Spinach
- Roasted Seaweed
- Frozen and freeze-dried bloodworms
- Brine shrimp
- Daphnia
How Much Food Should I Feed My Cichlids?
Start with little amounts of food for your cichlids diet and work upwards as needed; don’t do the opposite. Use the directions on the packaging of the food as a guide, but adjust it as needed to the fish themselves.
Conclusion
All products listed in this review encourage your cichlids to maintain a healthy size. Hopefully, you found one to suit your tank. Another benefit is your fish have the nutrients and vitamins for them to stay healthy and happy.
