Proper diet is essential in a fishes growth. If a good and varied diet is not provided when they are young, they will survive, but not thrive!!!
Aquarian flake food is a very good food. I used to use it. I use a number of different foods......a basic cichlid flake, earthworm flake, brine shrimp flake, vita-boost flake. I buy my foods in 5 and 25 pound bulk containers. It's way more economical this way.
I also feed fresh veggies and fruits as well as freeze dried krill, frozen brine shrimp and bloodworms.
At times, I think my fishes monthly food bill is more than the food bill for my wife and I combined!!!
CM