Cichlid food: what to actually look for
Cichlids cover a huge range of feeding styles within one popular fishkeeping group, from large, meat-hungry African species to smaller, more plant-grazing types, so cichlid food isn't really one single thing. What matters is matching the food to which kind of cichlid you're actually keeping.
Why one cichlid food doesn't fit all
Some cichlids are largely carnivorous and thrive on a higher-protein diet, while others, particularly some of the algae-grazing species from the African rift lakes, do much better on a food with a higher plant content. Feeding a high-protein diet to a species built to graze on plant matter can lead to digestive problems over time.
This isn't a minor detail. Bloat, a genuinely serious condition in some cichlid species, has been linked to feeding an unsuitable, overly rich diet to fish whose digestion isn't built for it, which is exactly why matching the food to the species matters more here than in a lot of other community tanks.
Reading a cichlid food label
Check what the primary protein source actually is, and whether the food is aimed at carnivorous or more herbivorous cichlid species, since this is usually stated fairly clearly on cichlid-specific foods rather than general tropical flake.
Pellet or flake size relative to your fish's mouth also matters, and whether a food sinks or floats can matter too depending on where in the tank your particular cichlids naturally feed, which varies more between species than a lot of owners expect.
Feeding routine that keeps water quality in check
Offering smaller amounts a few times a day generally works better than one large feed, since food left uneaten in the tank breaks down and affects water quality, which matters more in a heavily stocked cichlid tank than a lightly stocked one.
Only offering as much as can be eaten within a few minutes is a simple, practical habit that helps keep both fish and water healthier over time, regardless of which specific food you're using.
What to look for on the shelf
Our fish food range includes options suited to different feeding styles, and our aquarium accessories range covers the wider equipment side of keeping a cichlid tank healthy, from filtration through to the basics of water testing and maintenance.
Checking a food's stated protein level and intended species group against what you're actually keeping is worth the extra couple of minutes it takes before adding anything new to a cichlid tank, especially if you're mixing species with different feeding styles in one tank.
What we stock
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Tetra Goldfish Flakes
Complete goldfish flakes in several pack sizes, with a shared formula across the family
From£3.02
Tetra Goldfish Granules
Complete granules for goldfish, with a shared formula across both pack options
From£3.98
Tetra Prima Mini Granules
Slow-sinking granules for mid-water and bottom-feeding fish, blending herbivore and omnivore diets
£6.10
Tetra Aquasafe
A water conditioner that neutralises chlorine and heavy metals, with an added vitamin B mix
From£6.41
Tetra Pond Fish Food Variety Sticks
Complete Tetra Pond Variety Sticks in three colours, across four pack sizes
From£6.41
Tetra Koi Pond Fish Food Sticks
Complete fast-soaking Tetra Pond Koi Sticks, available in four pack sizes
From£6.41
Tetramin
Complete TetraMin flake food for ornamental fish, offered across several pack sizes
From£2.39
Tetra Temperate Flakes
Complete flakes for subtropical fish kept at 18–23°C, with vegetable ingredients
£6.99
Tetra Pond Fish Food Sticks
Complete fast-soaking Tetra Pond Sticks for pond fish, in seven pack sizes
From£4.77
Tetra Japan
Sinking dry pellets for fancy goldfish, with pack-specific label information shown clearly
From£4.56
Common questions
- Can I feed tropical flake food to cichlids?
- Standard tropical flake can work for some cichlids, but a food formulated specifically for cichlids often matches their size and feeding style better, and this matters more the larger or more specialised the species.
- Do all cichlids eat the same food?
- No, some are largely meat-eating and do well on higher protein, while others graze mainly on algae and plant matter. A poor match between the two can lead to digestive problems over time.
- Should cichlid pellets float or sink?
- It depends on the species and where they naturally feed in the water column, so it's worth checking what suits the specific cichlids in your tank rather than assuming one type suits every fish.
- How often should I feed cichlids?
- Small amounts a few times a day generally work better than one large feed, since uneaten food left in the tank can affect water quality, particularly in a well-stocked cichlid setup.
- Can I feed a mix of carnivorous and herbivorous cichlids in one tank?
- It's possible but takes more care, since neither food type is ideal for the other group. Offering a mix of foods at different times, or choosing a middle-ground diet, is often more practical than picking one extreme.
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Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.