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NLS also makes flake food, and even though I've never been a big fan of flake food (even NLS flakes) they will resolve the issue of holding female trophs.
As far as triggering breeding, I've bred a fair number of fish, and in my experience feeding the higher protein/fat TherA formula will bring females into spawning condition just as quickly, and in many cases far quicker, than any fresh or frozen food that I have tried over the years.

Lastly, and you'll just have to trust me on this one (or not), when feeding NLS, do not pre-soak the pellets or flakes in any type of vitamin mix. Excessive amounts of fat soluble vitamins can cause serious long term health issues in fish, and if one's main staple diet is NLS there is no need to add additional vitamins and/or minerals. To do so could actually cause harm to your fish.

HTH

JCnflies, rather that baby brine shrimp try culturing daphnia. For small fry, I still like microworms. Blackworms are hard to raise in quantity without a supply of constant fresh water to keep them clean. Mosquito larvae are easy to culture in the summer time. To condition fish for breeding purposes, nothing works better than earthworms (whole or cut up for large fish, chopped for small fish). One old fish breeder I know, swears by crushed dried krill for all sizes of fish.

Joe, thx for the tips. I used LBBS for my fry and would give the leftover to the cyps:) I have never tried microworms, but I did feed frozen daphnia all the time. I understand it helps the digestive system a lot. And I will definitely try earthworms! Now I just need a cichlid set up............. looking at February! A nice xeno, featherfin and cyp tank..........

RD, thx, too. Out of appreciation for your efforts, I will get a jar of the TherA and give that a try when the time comes:) I never soak the pellets in selcon - only frozen food about every two or three days. Thx.

PS. I'll have to learn about microworms - never even heard of them.

That could mean that the female likes the NLS so much that she couldn't resist not to take a bite even when holding. If a female is a "bad mother" doesn't matter what type/brand of pellets or live food you give her, she's gonna go for it sacrificing some eggs/fry. The answer like mentioned before is flake food. I wouldn't consider this a drawback for NLS, but drawback of pellets vs flakes for example...



What's the difference btwn having 2-3 types of NLS or 2-3 types of food? Still have to remember which tank gets which.

Nahhhh:)

Tropheus eat while holding. Vegie flake was never a problem, but yes, every fish I havce ever had - sw or fw, attacked NLS pellets:) I am one who swears by NLS - just not completely unto itself.

The difference with the food is easy:) Frozen doesn't come in similar looking jars:)

With the exception of trophs, I feed the same foods to pretty much everything .... I just change the proportion a bit:) Even then, I still give trophs some mysis and regular fish get shrimp mix.

I sure hope my wife doesn't resist too much when I start explaining about the 5 ft, 150 with 100 gallons of grow outs in the basement. If you don't hear from me after March 1st or so, send the police:)

Bob use your charming personality on her!! I'm that will get you a basement full of tanks again !!

Do you need some glasses? Labels are pretty distinguishable

Luck with lots of tanks!