{"product_id":"frozen-cichlid-mix-100g","title":"Frozen Cichlid Mix 100g","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFive animal proteins in one cube, at the highest protein figure in the frozen single range.\u003c\/strong\u003e Ocean Nutrition Frozen Cichlid Mix is a 100 g blister whose declared composition is mysis, fish meat, bloodworms, krill superba and artemia. At 8.0% crude protein as fed it runs well above plain bloodworm or daphnia, which is exactly why it suits carnivorous and micropredatory cichlids - and exactly why it is the wrong food for the herbivorous ones. Read the second list below before buying.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eKey features\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e8.0% crude protein as fed\u003c\/strong\u003e - roughly 60% more than plain frozen bloodworm, which is what a growing carnivorous cichlid actually needs.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFive named ingredients\u003c\/strong\u003e - mysis, fish meat, bloodworms, krill superba and artemia, with no unnamed fillers or derivatives in the declaration.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eKrill superba in the mix\u003c\/strong\u003e - Antarctic krill is the trade's standard carotenoid source for reds and oranges.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMixed particle sizes\u003c\/strong\u003e - mysis and krill give bulk for a large cichlid, artemia and bloodworm give something for smaller tankmates.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWhole-prey base\u003c\/strong\u003e - closer to what a predatory cichlid hunts than a pressed pellet.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBlister cubes\u003c\/strong\u003e - portions to a single fish, which matters when one Oscar eats and three tankmates do not.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e88% moisture\u003c\/strong\u003e - a wet food, so compare the protein figure against other frozen foods and never against a dry pellet.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eForm\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFrozen cubes in a blister pack\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePack size\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e100 g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWater type\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFreshwater\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eCrude protein\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8.0%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eCrude fat\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.0%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAsh\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.5%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eMoisture\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e88.0%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eFeeding frequency\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTwo to five small feeds a day\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eThawing\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10 to 15 minutes minimum, without water, at room temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eStorage\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eKeep frozen until fed. Do not refreeze once thawed\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eFreight\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCold chain - frozen product\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhere it sits against the other frozen singles\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eFood\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eCrude protein\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eMoisture\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRole in the diet\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCichlid Mix\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8.0%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e88.0%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrowth and conditioning food for carnivores\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBloodworm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4.9%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e91.0%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTreat and appetite-starter\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDaphnia\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2.3%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e96.0%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRoughage and variety\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll three are as-fed figures on Ocean Nutrition's own published analyses, so they are directly comparable with each other. None of them is comparable with the percentage on a dry pellet tub.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIngredients and nutrition\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eFull ingredient declaration\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReproduced exactly as Ocean Nutrition publishes it: Mysis, fish meat, bloodworms, krill superba, artemia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery component is a named whole organism or whole fish meat - there are no derivatives, binders, colours or preservatives in the declaration, and no ethoxyquin, BHA or BHT. Krill superba is \u003cem\u003eEuphausia superba\u003c\/em\u003e, the Antarctic krill; artemia is brine shrimp; mysis is a small shrimp-like crustacean; bloodworms are midge larvae.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe declaration contains fish, crustacean and insect material. Ocean Nutrition does not add vitamins or minerals to this blend, which is why it belongs in a rotation rather than on its own.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eGuaranteed analysis\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eCrude protein\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8.0%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eCrude fat\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.0%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAsh\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.5%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eMoisture\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e88.0%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOcean Nutrition does not publish a crude fibre figure for Cichlid Mix, so none is shown here rather than estimated. The absence is consistent with an all-animal blend - there is very little plant matter in it to produce fibre.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eThawing and feeding\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePush out the cubes you need into a small container and let them defrost without water, at room temperature, for at least 10 to 15 minutes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFeed two to five times a day, offering only the amount the fish clear within five minutes. Large cichlids will happily eat well past that point, which is how most of them end up overweight.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReturn the blister to the freezer straight away and never refreeze a thawed cube.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStraining the thawed cube through a fine net before feeding keeps the pack liquid out of the water. Cichlid tanks are usually heavily stocked already, so there is little reason to add dissolved nutrients on top.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eSuitable for, and not suitable for\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eSuitable for\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCentral and South American cichlids - Oscars, severums, firemouths, convicts, Jack Dempseys and green terrors\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAngelfish, discus and \u003cem\u003eApistogramma\u003c\/em\u003e and other dwarf cichlids\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTanganyikan carnivores and micropredators - \u003cem\u003eNeolamprologus\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eJulidochromis\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eAltolamprologus\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eLamprologus\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePeacocks (\u003cem\u003eAulonocara\u003c\/em\u003e) and other Malawi haps, which hunt invertebrates rather than graze algae\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConditioning breeding pairs of carnivorous cichlids\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLarge predatory community fish sharing the tank, such as datnoids and larger catfish\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eNot suitable for\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMbuna and other Malawi algae grazers\u003c\/strong\u003e - \u003cem\u003ePseudotropheus\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eLabidochromis\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eMetriaclima\u003c\/em\u003e and similar have a long gut adapted to aufwuchs, the algae film on rock. Keepers of these fish generally avoid animal-protein-heavy foods, and digestive problems in mbuna are commonly attributed to exactly this kind of diet\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eTropheus\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e - the same reasoning applies more strictly again; these are specialist grazers and a spirulina-based diet is the standard approach\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOther strict herbivores - plecos, silver dollars and marine tangs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMarine aquariums - this is a freshwater blend; Ocean Nutrition's marine formulas are the right fit there\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUse as a sole diet - no vitamins or minerals are added, so rotate it with a fortified staple\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFry, which cannot handle the mysis and krill particle sizes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you keep a mixed Malawi tank with both haps and mbuna, feed to the mbuna's requirements rather than the haps'. The grazers are the ones a rich diet causes problems for, and they will not politely decline it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eGoes well with\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/frozen-whole-krill-superba-100g\"\u003eFrozen Whole Krill Superba 100g\u003c\/a\u003e - whole krill for larger cichlids that want something to bite into.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/frozen-mysis-flat-454g\"\u003eFrozen Mysis Flat 454g\u003c\/a\u003e - bulk mysis if the cichlid tank is the main tank in the house.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/frozen-bloodworm-spirulina-garlic-100g\"\u003eFrozen Bloodworm Spirulina Garlic 100g\u003c\/a\u003e - a lighter frozen feed for the days between protein meals.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/ocean-nutrition-formula-two-flakes-34g\"\u003eOcean Nutrition Formula Two Flakes 34g\u003c\/a\u003e - a herbivore flake, and the food to lead with if the tank holds mbuna.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/frozen-spinach-100g\"\u003eFrozen Spinach 100g\u003c\/a\u003e - plant matter for a mixed African tank.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWarranty and delivery\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAquarium foods carry no manufacturer warranty period. Your rights under the Australian Consumer Law apply in full and sit in addition to anything a manufacturer offers, including the right to a remedy where a product is not of acceptable quality on arrival.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a frozen product and must stay frozen until it is fed, so it is handled as a cold-chain item rather than a standard ambient parcel. Frozen stock cannot travel by ordinary parcel post; check the delivery options available for frozen goods at checkout before ordering.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is in Ocean Nutrition Frozen Cichlid Mix?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe declared composition is mysis, fish meat, bloodworms, krill superba and artemia - five named whole ingredients with no derivatives, binders or preservatives. The published analysis is 8.0% crude protein, 1.0% crude fat, 1.5% ash and 88.0% moisture as fed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eCan I feed this to mbuna?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is not the right food for them. Mbuna are algae grazers with a digestive tract built for aufwuchs, and an all-animal blend at 8% protein as fed runs against that. Digestive problems in mbuna are widely attributed to protein-rich diets, so a spirulina-based flake or pellet is the safer staple and this blend is better kept for haps, peacocks and American cichlids.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eIs 8% protein high or low?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHigh, for a frozen food. It is the strongest of Ocean Nutrition's frozen singles - well above bloodworm at 4.9% and daphnia at 2.3% - because frozen foods are mostly water. It is not comparable with the 40%-plus figure on a dry cichlid pellet, which is measured without that water.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill it colour up my cichlids?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKrill superba is the ingredient to look at. Antarctic krill carries astaxanthin, the carotenoid used across the trade to support reds and oranges, and it is a named component of this blend. How much difference it makes depends on the species and the rest of the diet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes it need to be thawed?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Ten to fifteen minutes without water at room temperature lets the cube separate so the different particle sizes spread through the tank. A frozen cube dropped in whole is usually claimed by the largest fish before anything else gets near it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eCan this be the only food I feed?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Ocean Nutrition adds no vitamins or minerals to this blend, so it is a component of a diet rather than a complete one. Feed it two or three times a week alongside a fortified flake or pellet appropriate to the species you keep.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ocean Nutrition","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55293354475811,"sku":"ON1500016","price":11.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/CICHLID_MIX_4f64224dda492.jpg?v=1786055742","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/frozen-cichlid-mix-100g","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}