Making sure your fishes get enough food

[lilcam]

I currently have 6 cichlids in my 55g and I'm looking to add another 5 or 6. How do I make sure they all have enough food? I'm starting to notice that a lot of my new life spectrum pellets sink to the bottom, only to have 1 or 2 of my cichlid eat them while the others watch due to the aggressiveness from the other two fishes. Should I feed in different places?

 

[Kuroshio]

Well, when I feed my tank I take a moment to drop them in, not all at one time. That way when the larger or more aggressive feeders mouth's are full, the others have a chance. I usually drop 4-5 pellets at a time as quickly as they eat them, over about a minutes time, or until they stop eating. Then I come back and do it again in the afternoon, only 5 days a week though. afternoon feedings they don't eat as much. just my two cents

 

[lilcam]

you dont feed them on the weekend?

 

[Kuroshio]

nope. Not only does the bacteria do better with a little catch-up on the weekends, but I have always given my fish (1-2 days a week, usually 2) a fasting weekend. They all do well. Good for their digestive tracts and as I said above, for the bacteria in the tank to catch up on the tank waste.

 

[NoDeltaH2O]

Check this out on feeding fish too little or too much:
http://www.myfishtank.net/forum/showthread.php?t=26516