Live/Frozen Foods And Dwarf Cichlids?

[fry_forever!]

Hey guys! I really want to have a tank of just dwarf cichlids, but I have read on many sites that they will only eat live and frozen foods. That's a huge problem for me though, because I have a life-threatening allergy to bloodworms, and any other food really that's in the freezer and what not. I can't even be around it when the molecules are in the air, or else I'll need to use my epipen. SO, what do you smart people suggest I do? Because I really want to keep dwarf cichlids, but it seems to me they need live and or frozen foods.

Thanks in advance!

-f_f!

 

[mr130gallon]

bolivian rams are dwarfish cichlids, and they eat flakes and pellets just fine for me

 

[dthoffsett]

What dwarf cichlids are you thinking of keeping? Unless you're looking at wild caught species I can't think of any tank bred that need live/frozen foods.

 

[fry_forever!]

Well, I was thinking along the lines of dwarf cockatoo cichlids or kribs or something. Well, I guess I should rephrase that - they wouldn't NEED live/frozen food, but if I wanted to breed them, I would have to condition them with that.

 

[fry_forever!]

bump?

 

[ashemely]

So, this seems probably an obvious/dumb statement, but why not try live brine shrimp? I did read that you were allergic to blood worms, and most frozen fish food. I have read before of people being allergic to blood worms, and I have also, recently, read people being allergic to the larvae or egg residuals found in frozen or freeze dried foods. If this is you, then probably your only option for a high protein diet would be some other type of live food other than blood worms. I know my local maidenhead and non chain store fish shop sell brine shrimp in those little baggies, along with daphnia as well sometimes. Hopefully, you'll be able to survive one of those live foods!

 

[fry_forever!]

So, this seems probably an obvious/dumb statement, but why not try live brine shrimp? I did read that you were allergic to blood worms, and most frozen fish food. I have read before of people being allergic to blood worms, and I have also, recently, read people being allergic to the larvae or egg residuals found in frozen or freeze dried foods. If this is you, then probably your only option for a high protein diet would be some other type of live food other than blood worms. I know my local maidenhead and non chain store fish shop sell brine shrimp in those little baggies, along with daphnia as well sometimes. Hopefully, you'll be able to survive one of those live foods!

Thank you! Yes, I was thinking live brine shrimp, but I don't know if any pet stores in Canada sell them. lol I'll look into it. But say if I were to not feed them any live or frozen food at all, would they still have any chance at all of breeding? Thanks!

Oh yeah, and is that brine shrimp expensive? Thanks again!

-f_f!

 

[ashemely]

From what I understand the main requirement to promote breeding is a diet high in protein. So, if you aren't able to source live brine shrimp around where you live and don't want to go through the hassle of hatching/raising them yourself, I would just find the best pellet or flake that has a high protein level, and I guess just wait and see if that works. I'm so not an expert in to rearing fry so it's possible someone else might come along and say I'm misinformed

The shops around here I think we're selling the brine shrimp for a couple of pounds for a bag of em, the bag wasn't very big, maybe 8 oz or so? (Taking a look at my soda can next to me and guesstimating.) But there were a lot of small shrimp in there. Or you could try and hatch and raise the brine shrimp yourself, there are some set up guides on this forum and pretty easy to find around the net as well. I know you can buy brine shrimp eggs online, I can't remember how much they cost, though. If you are serious about raising whichever cichlid you choose, then hatching your own wouldn't be a bad idea if you can't find any ready to sell near you.

Good luck!

 

[fry_forever!]

From what I understand the main requirement to promote breeding is a diet high in protein. So, if you aren't able to source live brine shrimp around where you live and don't want to go through the hassle of hatching/raising them yourself, I would just find the best pellet or flake that has a high protein level, and I guess just wait and see if that works. I'm so not an expert in to rearing fry so it's possible someone else might come along and say I'm misinformed

The shops around here I think we're selling the brine shrimp for a couple of pounds for a bag of em, the bag wasn't very big, maybe 8 oz or so? (Taking a look at my soda can next to me and guesstimating.) But there were a lot of small shrimp in there. Or you could try and hatch and raise the brine shrimp yourself, there are some set up guides on this forum and pretty easy to find around the net as well. I know you can buy brine shrimp eggs online, I can't remember how much they cost, though. If you are serious about raising whichever cichlid you choose, then hatching your own wouldn't be a bad idea if you can't find any ready to sell near you.

Good luck!

Thank you very much. I have baby brine shrimp eggs, but I am not good at hatching them. lol
I will try though, if it comes to it.

I think you can also soak the foods in vitamins, but I'm not sure what kind of vitamins.... lol
Anyhow, thanks for all the help so far!