{"product_id":"hikari-cichlid-staple-pellet-250g","title":"Hikari Cichlid Staple Pellet-250g","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAn affordable everyday staple pellet for cichlids and other larger tropical fish.\u003c\/strong\u003e Hikari Cichlid Staple is a daily diet from Hikari of Japan, sold in three pellet sizes — Mini, Medium and Large — built as an economical base diet rather than a conditioning food. It floats and holds its shape, giving cichlids time to take it before it breaks down in the water.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eKey features\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThree sizes, one everyday formula\u003c\/strong\u003e — Mini, Medium and Large all run to a 35% minimum protein recipe suited to daily feeding rather than colour-conditioning.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBuilt around whole food ingredients\u003c\/strong\u003e — wheat flour, fish meal, soybean meal, rice bran and dried seaweed meal form the bulk of the mix, with alfalfa nutrient concentrate added for fibre.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHolds its shape in the water\u003c\/strong\u003e — floats initially and resists breaking apart before fish reach it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStabilised vitamin C\u003c\/strong\u003e — L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate is used so vitamin content survives normal pack storage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGarlic included\u003c\/strong\u003e — added as a natural feeding stimulant.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhich pellet size do I need?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStaple is sold from Mini upward — there is no Baby size in this range, unlike Cichlid Gold. Match the size to the fish's mouth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSize\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eApprox. pellet diameter\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eBest suited to\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMini\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3.0–3.4 mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSmall to medium adult cichlids\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMedium\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5.0–5.5 mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMedium to large cichlids\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLarge\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7.2–8.2 mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLarge cichlids and other big tropical fish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGuaranteed analysis\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eMini \/ Medium \/ Large\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCrude protein\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003emin. 35.0%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCrude fat\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003emin. 3.0%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCrude fibre\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003emax. 5.0%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMoisture\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003emax. 10.0%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAsh\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003emax. 13.0%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePhosphorus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003emin. 1.0%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePack weight 250 g for every size. Country of manufacture is not stated by Hikari on the product specification page checked for this listing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIngredients\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMini, Medium and Large pellets:\u003c\/strong\u003e Wheat flour, fish meal, soybean meal, rice bran, corn gluten meal, brewers dried yeast, alfalfa nutrient concentrate dehydrated, dried seaweed meal, garlic, choline chloride, vitamin E supplement, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (stabilised vitamin C), d-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin, vitamin A supplement, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, niacin, folic acid, vitamin D3 supplement, biotin, salt, disodium phosphate, ferrous sulphate, magnesium sulphate, zinc sulphate, manganese sulphate, copper sulphate, calcium iodate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo artificial colours appear in this ingredient declaration. No allergen statement is published by Hikari; the declaration itself names fish meal, soybean meal and wheat as ingredients worth noting for anyone managing a specific sensitivity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eSuitable for, and not suitable for\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSuitable for:\u003c\/strong\u003e all common cichlid species and other large, semi-aggressive tropical fish, as an everyday staple diet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNot suitable for:\u003c\/strong\u003e nano and small community fish that cannot manage the Mini pellet, and fish needing a colour-conditioning diet — Hikari Cichlid Gold is the higher-protein option for that purpose.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eFeeding directions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFeed two to three times daily, offering only the amount fish will completely consume within a few minutes. Avoid over-feeding and remove any uneaten pellets after the feeding period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eStorage\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReseal the pack tightly after each use and store in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight to protect the stabilised vitamin C and reduce spoilage over the life of the pack.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eGoes well with\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA fine aquarium net makes short work of retrieving any uneaten pellets, and a basic freshwater test kit is worth keeping on hand to check ammonia after a feeding increase. Many cichlid keepers run Cichlid Staple as the everyday base and bring in Cichlid Gold for occasional colour-conditioning.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWarranty and delivery\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShipped as an ambient dry good with no cold-chain or special handling requirement. Covered by the consumer guarantees available under Australian Consumer Law in addition to any manufacturer undertaking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Hikari Cichlid Staple float or sink?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt floats initially and holds its shape, giving cichlids time to take it before it breaks down.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eIs Cichlid Staple a complete diet on its own?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, it is formulated as a complete everyday diet for cichlids and other large tropical fish, rather than a supplement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is the difference between Cichlid Staple and Cichlid Gold?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStaple runs a lower minimum protein level (35% versus 40% in Gold's Mini\/Medium\/Large formula) and does not include astaxanthin or spirulina, making it the more affordable everyday choice rather than a colour-conditioning food.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhy is there no Baby size in the Staple range?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHikari sells Staple from Mini upward only; Cichlid Gold is the size-ladder option that includes a dedicated Baby pellet for fry and newly-settled juveniles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eCan Cichlid Staple be fed to fish other than cichlids?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — it suits other large, semi-aggressive tropical fish able to manage the pellet size.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hikari","offers":[{"title":"Mini","offer_id":55242276864291,"sku":"AA2490","price":22.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Medium","offer_id":55335326777635,"sku":"AA2491","price":22.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Large","offer_id":55335326810403,"sku":"AA2492","price":22.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/hikari-cichlid-staple-pellet-43160381423907.webp?v=1790237816","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/hikari-cichlid-staple-pellet-250g","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}