Feeding mbuna

[Beeman]

I just lost one of my cynotilapia Jalo reef to ?. Perfectly healthy and active 3 days ago, then noticed it was spending most of the time at the bottom, sort of being pushed by the water current(essentially, weaker than normal). Colors were muted, and would not feed. No outward signs of anything otherwise, and he was never picked on either. I'm wondering if bloat was to blame, but he never appeared bloated, yet never thinned out before expiring either. As all of the fish in the tank are juvies(under 2"), I've been feeding 3 times a day, as they always appear famished. Spirulina 20 is my staple, Omega One color flakes once every other day, and frozen mysis thrown in every few days. Also Repashy every few days as well. They clean up all food within about 30sec, except for the Repashy. Don't expect a definitive answer on why he died, but my question is, am I over-feeding IYO? I've read one feeding every other day as being enough, but that was in reference to adults. Sorry for the long wind:blush:

 

[fischfan13]

Tank size?
Other fish in tank?

You end your post with "reference to adults", so are your fish NOT adults.

So far it seems like too much food, which could lead to poor water quality.
Three times a day, you say, but how much?

You to give A LOT more info before you get any telling answers or opinions.

 

[Beeman]

Tank size?
Other fish in tank?

You end your post with "reference to adults", so are your fish NOT adults.

So far it seems like too much food, which could lead to poor water quality.
Three times a day, you say, but how much?

You to give A LOT more info before you get any telling answers or opinions.

55g. 2 more cyno.(1 3/4"), 4 otopharynx lithobates(1 3/4"), 7 yellow labs(1"), and 8 rusties(1"), and all these are doing great. So as I stated previously, NOT adults! I know as they get bigger this will be WAY over-stocked. But this tank will be either knocked down at summers end, or transitioned to a bigger one. 50% water change every 3 days, so I rule out water quality. Aquaclear 110 running wide open, and a large sponge with power-head. A healthy pinch of flake food, but as I stated, all food gone within 30sec.
I guess my real question is more about feeding than about what this fish died from. I know all is relative, depending on how much is fed per serving. If these were SA cichlids, I'd be feeding less than half as much. But these guys clean up anything that hits the water RIGHT NOW! Is this just how africans are, ravenous?

 

[fischfan13]

3 Cyno's?
Could be aggression.
I would add more Cynotilapia as, for the most part, they do not do well in trio's or pairs. You might have had three males.

As for the food...at the size of your Malawi I would not be worried about high protein, but once they get some more size on them then there would be a concern.
The Spirulina you are using is an excellent flake for Mbuna. Feeding that and NLS 1mm would be a great choice for an overall diet. Hopefully you can get some algae growth so you could feed even less and watch them graze.

 

[hollyfish2000]

IMHO, you're not overstocked. The labs and rusties are low aggression mbuna, so you're find there. The four haps might be OK, too. But for them, the gender ratios are more important. Can you start to figure out if they're boys or girls? I've not kept the cynotilapia, so can't say about them.

Usually, if one fish starts to lose color and look poorly, I'd first suspect aggression.

I second the NLS small pellets in addition to the Spirulina flake.

Have you checked your water parameters? Know what your nitrates are might help you figure out if there's a water quality issue.

Btw, I feed only once a day, even in my peacock tanks with a variety of sizes from fully mature to 2" babies.