{"product_id":"hikari-sinking-cichlid-excel-mini-pellet-342g","title":"Hikari Sinking Cichlid Excel Mini Pellet-342g","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA daily pellet for cichlids that need vegetable matter, not just protein.\u003c\/strong\u003e Hikari Sinking Cichlid Excel Mini Pellet is a sinking mini pellet formulated for herbivorous cichlids and other larger tropical fish that do well on a plant-rich diet, with added colour enhancers for vivid reds and blues.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eKey features\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e2.5–2.8 mm mini pellet\u003c\/strong\u003e — sized between the small and standard Cichlid Excel pellets, for mid-size cichlids.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVegetable-forward recipe\u003c\/strong\u003e — flaked corn, wheat germ meal and spirulina give herbivorous cichlids the plant matter their gut is built for.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAstaxanthin included\u003c\/strong\u003e — supports vivid natural red and blue colouration.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e37% minimum crude protein\u003c\/strong\u003e — formulated to Hikari's published guaranteed analysis for herbivorous cichlids, lower than Hikari's carnivore-focused pellets by design.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSinking, holds together\u003c\/strong\u003e — reaches mid-water and bottom-feeding cichlids before it breaks apart.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSpec\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDetail\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eForm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSinking mini pellet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePellet size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eApprox. 2.5–2.8 mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSKU\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAA2497\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBarcode\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e042055146333\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater type\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFreshwater\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCountry of manufacture\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eJapan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePack size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e342 g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIngredients\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFull ingredient declaration, reproduced verbatim from Hikari USA's published statement for Sinking Cichlid Excel:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFish meal, wheat flour, flaked corn, wheat germ meal, spirulina, krill meal, dehydrated alfalfa meal, fish oil, brewers dried yeast, DL-methionine, garlic, astaxanthin, choline chloride, vitamin E supplement, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (stabilised vitamin C), inositol, d-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin, vitamin A supplement, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, niacin, folic acid, vitamin D3 supplement, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, salt, ferrous sulphate, magnesium sulphate, zinc sulphate, manganese sulphate, copper sulphate, calcium iodate, blue 2 (artificial colour).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eGuaranteed analysis\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eNutrient\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGuarantee\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. 37.0%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCrude fat\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003emin. 6.0%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCrude fibre\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003emax. 3.0%\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. 15.0%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePhosphorus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003emin. 0.8%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eVitamin A\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003emin. 18,000 IU\/kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eVitamin D3\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003emin. 2,700 IU\/kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eVitamin E\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003emin. 570 IU\/kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAscorbic acid (vitamin C)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003emin. 410 mg\/kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArtificial colour:\u003c\/strong\u003e contains Blue 2. No formal allergen statement is published by Hikari for this product; the recipe is built on fish, shellfish (krill) and wheat\/corn ingredients.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFeeding directions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFeed two to three times daily, an amount your fish will completely consume in a few minutes. Remove any uneaten pellets after feeding to keep water quality up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSuitable for, and not suitable for\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSuitable for:\u003c\/strong\u003e herbivorous cichlids and larger tropical fish that do well on a diet rich in vegetable matter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNot suitable for:\u003c\/strong\u003e as a primary diet for strictly carnivorous fish — the protein level and plant-based recipe are built for herbivores, not predators. Not a fry food; the 2.5–2.8 mm pellet suits established juveniles and adults.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow is this different from the standard Cichlid Excel pellet?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the mini pellet in the range, at approximately 2.5–2.8 mm, aimed at mid-size cichlids. Hikari's larger Cichlid Excel pellet suits bigger fish that would otherwise need several mini pellets per mouthful.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill this suit my carnivorous cichlid, like a large predatory Central American species?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt's built for herbivorous cichlids rather than predatory ones. A carnivore-formulated Hikari pellet, with higher protein, is the better match for fish like large predatory Central Americans.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhy does it contain an artificial colour?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBlue 2 is included in Hikari's published ingredient statement for this product, alongside the astaxanthin used for colour enhancement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGoes well with\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePairs well with a spirulina-rich flake for surface feeding in the same tank, and with an occasional feed of Hikari's algae wafers for grazing variety.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWarranty and delivery\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA shelf-stable dry good, not a perishable or livestock item, so no cold-chain handling is required and standard shipping applies. Check the use-by date on the pack on arrival — contact us if anything looks wrong and we'll sort it under your rights as an Australian consumer, in addition to any manufacturer guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hikari","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55242276733219,"sku":"AA2497","price":54.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/53579f9414f9dc96d6a794a06748f285710effc3.jpg?v=1782710995","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/hikari-sinking-cichlid-excel-mini-pellet-342g","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}