A club for owners of Parrot Cichlids

Hi, I used to own 2 tinfoil barbs with my 2 bps. They ate cichlid food. They will eat anything to be honest! Even your smaller fish! They ate 2 of my oto catfish. I had to surgically remove one from one of the barbs mouth with a tweezer. They're bigger piggies than the bp's. They grew super big in the matter of 6 months. I had to get rid of them because they were getting too big for the tank. They went from 1 1/2 inches to 5 inches in that 6 month time. Every time I fed the fish they would hog up all the food and barely leave any for the cichlids. That's why I started to hand feed my bp's because I wasn't sure if they were getting enough food. Every time it was feeding time.. I'd end up getting a shower of fish water.. lol It was getting out of control! I had to fling the food in and quickly close the lid not to get soaked. But I did love them very much. They were a lot of fun to watch and feed (when I didn't get fish water on me) If I ever were to get them again I would just get a tank with just them in it. They were fine with my bp's as well. But, they will grow to a foot long just so you know. Also, you should really have at least 2 tinfoils since they are schooling fish.

Good luck!

the only difference I have noticed between tropical foods and cichlid foods are that cichlid foods a little more fatty so I don't think it would matter as long as you don't overfeed.

Anyone? if anyone can answer me on this that would be great.