{"product_id":"hikari-sinking-cichlid-gold-pellet-342g","title":"Hikari Sinking Cichlid Gold Pellet-342g","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA colour-enhancing sinking pellet built for cichlids and other mid-to-bottom feeders.\u003c\/strong\u003e Hikari Sinking Cichlid Gold combines a high-protein recipe with astaxanthin to support vibrant colour and steady growth, and it comes in two pellet sizes so smaller and larger cichlids can both be fed the correct size.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBoth the Mini and Medium pellet are sold in the same 342 g pouch — the difference is pellet diameter, not formula.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eKey features\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e40% minimum crude protein\u003c\/strong\u003e — supports muscle and colour development in actively growing and breeding cichlids.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAstaxanthin included\u003c\/strong\u003e — a natural carotenoid that supports the red and orange tones cichlid keepers feed for.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSinks steadily\u003c\/strong\u003e — reaches mid-water and bottom-feeding cichlids rather than sitting on the surface.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTwo pellet sizes in one line\u003c\/strong\u003e — Mini (about 3.0–3.4 mm) and Medium (about 5.0–5.5 mm), so pellet size can match mouth size.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGarlic included\u003c\/strong\u003e — added as a feeding stimulant for fish slow to start on a new food.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eVariant\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePellet diameter\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePack size\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eForm\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMini\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eapprox. 3.0–3.4 mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e342 g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSinking pellet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMedium\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eapprox. 5.0–5.5 mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e342 g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSinking pellet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhich pellet size do I need?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eMatch the pellet to the fish's mouth, not its overall length. Mini suits smaller and juvenile cichlids — dwarf cichlids, young Central and South Americans, and smaller African species. Medium suits adult mid-sized to large cichlids, including most full-grown Central American and African cichlids and juvenile oscars. Where a tank holds a mixed-size group, Mini is the safer default; larger fish will still take a mini pellet, but a medium pellet can be difficult for a small mouth to manage.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eNutrition information\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ch4\u003eIngredients\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eFish meal, wheat bran, brewers dried yeast, flaked corn, wheat flour, corn gluten meal, fish oil, rice bran, garlic, DL-methionine, 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, disodium phosphate, ferrous sulphate, magnesium sulphate, zinc sulphate, manganese sulphate, copper sulphate, calcium iodate, red 3, yellow 5 (artificial colours).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHikari does not publish a separate allergen statement or country-of-manufacture declaration for this product; the ingredient list above is the complete declaration as published by the manufacturer.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eGuaranteed analysis\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eComponent\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eLevel\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. 40.0%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCrude fat\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003emin. 7.0%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCrude fibre\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003emax. 4.0%\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. 1.0%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eVitamin A\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003emin. 15,000 IU\/kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eVitamin D3\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003emin. 2,300 IU\/kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eVitamin E\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003emin. 500 IU\/kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAscorbic acid (vitamin C)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003emin. 340 mg\/kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch3\u003eFeeding directions\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eFeed two to three times a day, an amount your fish will fully clear in a few minutes. This pellet sinks, so watch the substrate rather than the surface to judge how much is being eaten. Remove any uneaten food after each feed — cichlids are messy eaters and leftover pellets foul water quickly.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSuitable for, and not suitable for\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSuitable for:\u003c\/strong\u003e cichlids of all types, and larger tropical fish including oscars.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNot suitable for:\u003c\/strong\u003e fry and very small nano fish, which should start on a smaller food such as Hikari Vibra Bites Baby; and species kept on a strictly herbivorous diet, since this is a general cichlid formula rather than a spirulina-based green diet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eStorage\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eKeep the pouch sealed and stored in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight. Reseal firmly after each feed to keep moisture out and preserve the colour-enhancing pigments.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWarranty and delivery\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis product carries the consumer guarantees available under Australian Consumer Law. It ships as a standard parcel item — no special freight handling applies.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ch4\u003eDoes this pellet cloud the water?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo more than any high-protein sinking pellet. Feeding an amount your fish clear in a few minutes, and removing anything left over, keeps water clarity and quality stable.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eWill the colour-enhancing effect work on all cichlids?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eAstaxanthin supports the expression of red, orange and yellow pigments, which shows most clearly on cichlids that already carry those colours genetically. It will not turn a naturally silver or blue-based species red.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eCan I mix Mini and Medium in the same tank?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes. Many keepers run both sizes where a tank holds cichlids of different sizes, so every fish gets a pellet it can take comfortably.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eIs this food suitable for a planted cichlid tank?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes — it is not medicated and carries no ingredients known to harm aquarium plants.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eGoes well with\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eOther Hikari cichlid diets, such as Sinking Cichlid Excel or Massivore Delite for larger predatory tankmates, for dietary variety; and a feeding ring or feeding tube for tanks with strong filtration flow that can scatter sinking pellets before fish reach them.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hikari","offers":[{"title":"Mini","offer_id":55242277028131,"sku":"AA2494","price":39.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Medium","offer_id":55335327007011,"sku":"AA2493","price":39.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/hikari-sinking-cichlid-gold-43160382046499.webp?v=1790237816","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/hikari-sinking-cichlid-gold-pellet-342g","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}