CICHLID DIET

Cichlids are astonishingly diverse in terms of diet. Many are primarily herbivores feeding on algae (e.g. Petrochromis) and plants (e.g. Etroplus suratensis) and small animals, particularly invertebrates, are only a small part of their diet. Some cichlids are detritvores and eat all types of organic materia; among these species are the tilapias of the genera Oreochromis, Sarotherodon, and Tilapia.
Other cichlids are predatory and eat little if any plant matter. These include generalists that catch a variety of small animals including other fishes and insect larvae (e.g. Pterophyllum), as well as variety of specialists. Trematocranus is a specialised snail-eater, while Pungu maclareni feeds on sponges. A number of cichlids feed on other fish, either whole or in part. Crenicichla are stealth-predators that lunge at small fish that pass by their hiding places, while Cichla are open water pursuit predators that chase down their prey. Paedophagous cichlids such as Caprichromis species eat other species' eggs or young (in some cases ramming the heads of mouthbrooding species to force them to disgorge their young). Among the more unusual predators are Plecodus straeleni feeds on scales and fins ripped from other fishes, and Nimbochromis livingstonii, which lies on its side and plays dead, hoping to lure smaller fish close enough for it to snap them up.
Scientists believe it is this wide adaptability of feeding styles that has helped cichlids to inhabit such a wide range of habitats. It is largely the pharyngeal teeth (teeth in the throat) that allows the cichlid so many 'niche' feeding behaviors, i.e. the jaws may be used to hold or pick food, while the pharyngeal teeth are used to crush what was harvested.