Live foods such as brine shrimp, mosquito lava and occasional blood worms are the best options for feeding your Apistogramma. If live foods are not available frozen foods or high quality pallets are the next best option.
What Do Apistogramma Eat?
In the wild Apistogrammas feed on a variety of small organisms such as insects, larvae, crustaceans, and even smaller fish. This diverse diet ensures they receive the essential nutrients required for their overall health and vibrant coloration.
In captivity, Apistogrammas thrive on a diet that replicates their natural preferences. High-quality flake or pellet food designed for carnivorous cichlids can be fed regularly this will provide a balanced mix of proteins and other nutrients. Additionally, live or frozen foods such as brine shrimp, bloodworms, daphnia, and small insect larvae are excellent supplements that mimic the variety in their natural diet.
Best Live Foods For Apistogrammas
Apistogrammas, being primarily carnivorous, thrive on a diet rich in live foods that mimic their natural prey in the wild.
The best live foods for Apistogrammas include:
Brine Shrimp (Artemia): These tiny crustaceans are like a gourmet treat for Apistogrammas, offering a protein rich and nutrient packed delight.
Small Worms: Bloodworms and tubifex worms add a touch of variety to their diet, offering a protein boost that Apistogrammas find irresistible.
Daphnia: Often referred to as water fleas, these small crustaceans provide a nutritious and enticing meal for Apistogrammas, whether freshly harvested or bought frozen.
Insect Larvae: Apistogrammas love the chase of live mosquito larvae and other insect larvae.
It's crucial to ensure that live foods are from reliable sources to prevent the introduction of diseases into the aquarium.
Best Frozen Foods For Apistogrammas
Here are some of the best frozen foods for Apistogrammas:
Frozen Brine Shrimp (Artemia): Brine shrimp are a nutritious and protein-rich option that can be easily found in frozen form.
Frozen Daphnia: Similar to their live counterparts, frozen daphnia are a convenient option, providing essential nutrients for the health of Apistogrammas.
Frozen Bloodworms: Bloodworms are a favorite among many freshwater fish, including Apistogrammas. They are rich in protein and can be offered as a tasty treat.
When offering frozen foods, it's essential to thaw them properly before feeding to ensure that the fish can consume them easily.
Best Pellet Foods For Apistogrammas
Consider specially formulated cichlid pellets, I find small slow sinking pallets 1.5mm or smaller in size work well.
I regularly feed Hikari Micro Pellets and find these work well with Apistogrammas.
Stick to quality brands such as Hikari and Xtreme, I’d recommend pellets such as:
- Hikari Micro Pellets
- Xtreme Nano Pellets
How Often Do You Feed Apistogrammas?
I feed my Apistogramma twice a day and feed them the amount of food that they can eat with 2 or 3 minutes.
I feed live baby brine shrimp once or twice a week the rest of the days I feed and good pellet such as Hikari Micro Pellets. I use frozen brine shrimp when I don’t have live brine shrimp ready.
What Is The Best Food For Apistogramma Fry?
Feeding fry (baby fish) requires special consideration, due to their size many foods are not suitable. Initially they will also most likely not accept dry foods and small live foods will be required.
For more information on what to feed Apistogramma fry, see this dedicated article on Best foods for raising fish fry (baby fish).
