I have my cichlids indoors. Outside we have a small pond. With those outside fish I really feel I am doing the right thing. I went through the whole koi thing, but we live in a forested area not far from the ocean, so as soon as they get big they are targets for the herons and egrets. So, what I started doing was buying feeder fish from the local pet store. I get small, ugly goldfish and minnows. Since they are condemned to death as food for other captive fish, I buy lots of them every spring and toss them in the pond. They are very inexpensive. The fittest survive for three or four years, until they are big enough to serve as a meal for one of the predatory birds in the area.