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	Feeding Bloodworms
Megan Fingerling Posts: 19 Kudos: 12 Votes: 0 Registered: 15-Aug-2004	I often feed my chiclids live worms, but have heard that they may not be a good food choice. Can anyone tell me if this is true, and if so what the issues would be? Thanks!
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:20
just beginning Moderator Literature Nerd Posts: 1879 Kudos: 1380 Votes: 198 Registered: 17-Dec-2000	I'm assuming you mean malawi cichlids since it's in this forum! If you have haps or peacocks, blood worms are fine. If you have mbuna, they're not good. Mbuna are largely herbivorous and are not capable of processing the high amount of protein in meaty foods such as bloodworms. It can lead to bloat and death. The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. - Oscar Wilde
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:20
Megan Fingerling Posts: 19 Kudos: 12 Votes: 0 Registered: 15-Aug-2004	I have a johanni and an electric yellow. The johanni is exremely aggressive and eats the worms right away, and I've never noticed an issue. I have several other fish that eat the worms as well, are you saying I shouldnt feed worms at all?
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:20
Week End Big Fish Posts: 414 Kudos: 436 Votes: 1 Registered: 16-May-2004	No,,pick other type of food, there are many choices around. So why need to put them into risk of a bloat when you can find even better food for them. Such as Mysis Shrime.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:20
Megan Fingerling Posts: 19 Kudos: 12 Votes: 0 Registered: 15-Aug-2004	Will my puffers eat that as well? By the way they (the Mbunas) also eat crabs when I put them in there...
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:20
RSCutiePie96 Fish Addict Posts: 826 Kudos: 514 Votes: 49 Registered: 13-Aug-2001	I feed my Mbuna either cichlid flakes, pellets, or sticks to give you some new feeding ideas. They need foods that are NOT high in protein. I don't think it hurts the Electric Yellows to have the worms, but they definately aren't good for your Johanni.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:20
openwater Fish Addict Posts: 565 Kudos: 551 Votes: 0 Registered: 24-Jul-2004	You can also try zucchini. Just microwave a piece to make it softer. Let it cool completely before feeding. Put it in the morning before work and it can be left in all day. Or I will cut up small pieces and drop them in.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:20
nano reefer Fish Addict Posts: 716 Kudos: 570 Votes: 3 Registered: 29-Feb-2004	Do you have puffers in with your mbuna ? How big is your tank?
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:20
Megan Fingerling Posts: 19 Kudos: 12 Votes: 0 Registered: 15-Aug-2004	Yes they are in the same tank for now (50 gallon). My figure eight is still little, and my red eye is about 3-4 inches but stays on the ground in one spot most of the time. I haven't noticed any problem between them, the Johanni has plenty of other chiclids to chase after. Thanks for the feeding ideas, but my concern is what to feed them that the puffers will eat as well.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:20
just beginning Moderator Literature Nerd Posts: 1879 Kudos: 1380 Votes: 198 Registered: 17-Dec-2000	Get a good spirulina or vegie-based flake and use that as a staple food. I use HBH Marine Green 40 for my mbuna. I'm not sure if the puffers would like it, but that's one of the reasons why mbuna really need to be kept in a specific tank only with other mbuna. Is there another tank you can house the puffers in? The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. - Oscar Wilde
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:20
nano reefer Fish Addict Posts: 716 Kudos: 570 Votes: 3 Registered: 29-Feb-2004	Puffers need completlay diferant food from mbuna! And should not be in with them . Your puffers will need alot of brine shrimp and mysis shrimp not alot of bloodworm. figure 8's need week brakish water .
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:20


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