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Care library / Food

Cichlid pellets

Dry foods

Cichlid pellets

Pellets in several sizes for cichlids. Hikari Cichlid Gold (floating range, sizes baby to large): fish meal, wheat flour, flaked corn first; protein min 40% (mini–large). New Life Spectrum Cichlid: mostly sinking 1–1.5 mm pellets based on whole fish, krill and Ulva seaweed, protein min 34%.

For: All types of cichlids and larger tropical fish (Hikari names oscars). Angelfish are not named by the labels checked.

How to feed: Hikari: 2–3 times daily, only what is eaten in a few minutes; remove uneaten food. NLS: twice daily, eaten within a minute. Herbivorous (e.g. many African) cichlids: a spirulina/vegetable-rich pellet such as Hikari's herbivore formula. Pellets come in sizes from baby to large; no source gives a sizing rule.

Careful: Avoid overfeeding and remove uneaten food to prevent water-quality problems.

Examples you may see in shops: Hikari Cichlid Gold, New Life Spectrum Cichlid Formula. Not endorsements.

Facts checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026. See sources

Who eats it

159 species

AngelfishPterophyllum scalare

Easy15 cm24–30 °C

DiscusSymphysodon aequifasciatus

Moderate13.7 cm26–30 °C

OscarAstronotus ocellatus

Moderate45.7 cm22–27 °C

German blue ramMikrogeophagus ramirezi

Moderate4.2 cm27–30 °C

Bolivian ramMikrogeophagus altispinosus

Moderate8 cm24–28 °C

Cockatoo dwarf cichlidApistogramma cacatuoides

Moderate7.5 cm24–28 °C

KribensisPelvicachromis pulcher

Easy10 cm24–27 °C

Convict cichlidAmatitlania nigrofasciata

Moderate10 cm24–28 °C

Jack DempseyRocio octofasciata

Moderate25 cm22–28 °C

Firemouth cichlidThorichthys meeki

Moderate17 cm24–28 °C

SeverumHeros efasciatus

Moderate20 cm22–29 °C

Green terrorAndinoacara rivulatus

Moderate20 cm20–24 °C

Electric blue acaraAndinoacara pulcher

Easy15 cm22–28 °C

Electric yellow cichlidLabidochromis caeruleus

Easy10 cm24–28 °C

Peacock cichlidAulonocara stuartgranti

Moderate13 cm24–28 °C

FrontosaCyphotilapia frontosa

Hard33 cm24–27 °C

Cobalt blue zebraMaylandia callainos

Moderate12 cm24–28 °C

Red zebraMaylandia estherae

Moderate12 cm24–28 °C

Kenyi cichlidMaylandia lombardoi

Moderate12 cm24–28 °C

Rusty cichlidIodotropheus sprengerae

Easy10 cm25–29 °C

Demasoni cichlidChindongo demasoni

Moderate8 cm24–28 °C

Powder blueChindongo socolofi

Easy12 cm24–28 °C

Yellow-tail aceiPseudotropheus sp. 'acei'

Easy15 cm24–28 °C

Saulosi cichlidChindongo saulosi

Moderate8.6 cm23–27 °C

Elongatus mbunaChindongo elongatus

Moderate12 cm24–28 °C

Johanni cichlidPseudotropheus johannii

Moderate10 cm23–27 °C

Auratus cichlidMelanochromis auratus

Moderate11 cm24–28 °C

Maingano cichlidPseudotropheus cyaneorhabdos

Moderate7.5 cm24–28 °C

Hongi cichlidLabidochromis sp. 'Hongi'

Moderate12 cm24–28 °C

CobueCynotilapia afra

Moderate10 cm25–29 °C

Red cheek mbunaTropheops sp. 'red cheek'

Trewavas' mbunaLabeotropheus trewavasae

Moderate11.7 cm24–28 °C

Fuelleborn's mbunaLabeotropheus fuelleborni

Moderate17 cm24–28 °C

Greshake's zebraMaylandia greshakei

Moderate13.4 cm24–28 °C

Zebra mbunaMaylandia zebra

Moderate13 cm24–28 °C

Sunshine peacockAulonocara baenschi

Moderate13 cm25–29 °C

Freiberg's peacockAulonocara jacobfreibergi

Moderate15 cm25–29 °C

Emperor peacockAulonocara nyassae

Sulphur-head peacockAulonocara maylandi

Moderate15 cm25–29 °C

Kadango red-finCopadichromis borleyi

Moderate15 cm25–29 °C

Jackson's hapCopadichromis jacksoni

Moderate18 cm24–28 °C

Red empressProtomelas taeniolatus

Moderate17 cm24–28 °C

Livingstoni cichlidNimbochromis livingstonii

Moderate25 cm24–28 °C

Venustus cichlidNimbochromis venustus

Moderate25 cm24–28 °C

Polystigma hapNimbochromis polystigma

Moderate23 cm24–28 °C

Malawi eye-biterDimidiochromis compressiceps

Moderate25 cm24–28 °C

Electric blue hapSciaenochromis fryeri

Moderate17 cm24–28 °C

Hap mdoka white lipsPlacidochromis phenochilus

Moderate16 cm24–28 °C

Deepwater hapPlacidochromis electra

Moderate12 cm24–28 °C

Pelican cichlidFossorochromis rostratus

Moderate24.4 cm25–29 °C

Blue dolphin cichlidCyrtocara moorii

Moderate20 cm25–29 °C

Tropheus mooriiTropheus moorii

Hard14.5 cm24–27 °C

Duboisi cichlidTropheus duboisi

Hard12 cm24–27 °C

Princess of BurundiNeolamprologus brichardi

Easy9 cm23–26 °C

Multi shell dwellerNeolamprologus multifasciatus

Easy4 cm24–27 °C

Similis shell dwellerNeolamprologus similis

Moderate5 cm24–27 °C

Brevis shell dwellerNeolamprologus brevis

Easy5.5 cm24–27 °C

Lemon cichlidNeolamprologus leleupi

Moderate10 cm24–27 °C

Five-bar cichlidNeolamprologus tretocephalus

Moderate15 cm24–27 °C

Black pearlAltolamprologus calvus

Moderate14 cm24–27 °C

And 99 more in the encyclopedia.

Sources

5 facts checked with sources

What it iscorrectedHikari USA: Cichlid Gold · Marine Aquatics (Czech retailer): NLSpectrum Cichlid formula (1mm/250g)
Who it's forHikari USA: Cichlid Gold (page description)
How to feedcorrectedHikari USA: Cichlid Gold · Marine Aquatics (Czech retailer): NLSpectrum Cichlid formula (1mm/250g) · Hikari USA: Cichlid Excel · UF/IFAS Circular 54 (Hill & Yanong): Freshwater Ornamental Fish Commonly Cultured in Florida
ProductsHikari USA: Cichlid Diets (product list) · Marine Aquatics (Czech retailer): NLSpectrum Cichlid formula (1mm/250g)
SafetycorrectedHikari USA: Cichlid Gold