Hikari 2.2-Pound Sinking Cichlid Gold Pellets for Pets, Medi

We have several Blood Parrot fish tanks with about 12 Cichlids total. Due to the sensitivity of the Blood Parrots and how susceptible they are to swim bladder issues, we searched for a sinking pellet that the fish could/would eat and would help them maintain their beautiful orange color. Attached are pics of the color of the babies (almost yellowish at first) when we first bought them and after a few months of feeding them the Hikari Sinking Gold Cichlid Pellets (vibrant orange color). What a difference! I also attached a video of the first Blood Parrot fish we ever bought about six years ago that we have been feeding the Hikari Sinking Gold Cichlid Pellets to for years! She loses some of her color every time she lays eggs and she seems to lay eggs often nowadays or at least tries to. More about the food! We tried the smaller size Hikari sinking pellets but it seemed the smaller pellets would get overlooked by the babies and they couldn't seem to find the small pellets, so we went ahead and bought the bigger size to try them. The babies were able to see the larger size sinking pellets and it negated the risk of the Blood Parrots sucking in air while trying to feed off the top of the fish tank with either floating pellets or flakes. The pellet size was a little big for the babies at first so we would soak the pellets in a cup of fish tank water for a few minutes to soften the pellets up before feeding the babies the pellets. The babies will literally suck the softened pellets off the tank bottom with a small amount of food waste being expelled from their mouth as they swallow the pellet. The small amount of food waste from the softened pellets often gets sucked into the fish filter which helps keep the tank clean as a whole too! The food quality and nutrition is definitely top notch as seen by the color difference in our fish pictures! The Functionality of the sinking pellets works flawlessly, especially after soaking the pellets for a few minutes in a cup of tank water. The bag lasts us about two months as we don't overfeed our fish as we want them to avoid any gut issues. We also feed them Hikari Jumbo Bloodworms on occasion and shelled peas just to be safe. Blood parrots are picky eaters sometimes, but these Hikari sinking pellets seem to be a food they will eat daily for us!

I’ve been using Hikari sinking pellets for a while and they’re great for my fish. They seem to love them, and the water stays pretty clean. However, this time my order had a lot of crumbs in the bag, which was kind of disapointing. Usually, the pellets are in great shape, but this batch was messier than usual. Still a solid product, just hoping for better quality control next time!

Good product. Fresh materials properly shipped. Manufacturer provides a high quality food

After two years of buying the 2.2 lb bags of Hikari Sinking Cichlid Gold (Medium), I can say with confidence—this is the smart buy for serious fishkeepers. I switched to the sinking version when I noticed some of my cichlids preferred feeding lower in the tank, and it’s been a total win. 🟢 Why it’s a game-changer: Sinks quickly and evenly, ideal for bottom-feeding cichlids or more timid ones that avoid the surface. Same legendary color-enhancing formula as the floating pellets—bright reds and oranges, even on older fish. Buying in bulk saves me money and trips. One bag lasts a long time, even with multiple tanks. Despite the size, the pellets don’t break apart or cloud the water, which is rare for sinking foods. 🔴 Things to know: The medium pellets are a bit too large for smaller fish, so not ideal for juveniles—go for the mini size in that case. Store it in an airtight container once opened to keep it fresh longer (it’s a big bag!). 💡 Pro Tip: This is especially great for species like Oscars, Jack Dempseys, and Severums—all of mine thrive on this as a daily staple. After two solid years, my fish still rush to the bottom the moment these hit the water. If you’ve got mid- to large-sized cichlids and want a cleaner, more natural feeding method—this is it.

I’ve had really good luck with these Hikari Cichlid Gold pellets. The pellets sink like they’re supposed to, which works way better for my fish than floating food. They seem more active during feeding time, and I’ve noticed less wasted food sitting around compared to some cheaper brands I’ve tried. The medium size works well for my cichlids, and the container lasts a pretty decent amount of time for a 2.2-pound bag. Water quality hasn’t seemed to get nasty fast with this food either, which is a huge plus. Definitely one of those “you get what you pay for” fish foods. My fish are picky little jerks and they still go after this stuff fast.