You are here: The Cichlids Site » aquarium enthusiasts

African Cichlids In All Their Glory

 

African Cichlids In All Their Glory

Current researchers break them down into two different categories, New Cichlids and African Cichlids. The first being split further and referred to as Central and South American Cichlids. All of these categories break down into different types and sub types with many variations pertaining to color, patterns and size. This on top of the fact that they are pretty easy to maintain and breed is what makes them so popular amongst aquarium enthusiasts today.

In Africa there are three very well known lakes being Lake Victoria, Lake Malawi and Lake Tanginika. These are where the Cichlid fish come from. Lake Malawi is home to more than one thousand different cichlid species and are amongst the most beautiful in the world. Freshwater fish are generally plain in color but not African cichlids. They are well known for their beauty all around the world. They are extremely intelligent as far as fish go and their unique mannerisms and behavior will amaze you.

Some interesting behaviors noticed in African Cichlids are maternal mouth brooding fish, meaning the female carries the eggs and young lings in her mouth. Depending on the type will keep them in there for three weeks to a month. They have even been known to give their young protection in the mouth after their born.

African Cichlids Are A Hardy Fish

Cichlids are a very tough fish, which makes them easy to maintain. They have been placed in new environments and geographic locations around the world and their survival is a testament to their hardy stature. This is what makes them readily available at your local pet store. Lake Malawi cichlids in particular, are among some of the easiest aquarium fish to breed.

African cichlids are very territorial type fish. They are extremely aggressive and predatory. In their natural environment, they will live together in schools. It seems that the older the cichlid the more aggro the fish and will be aggressive to all types of fish.

Cichlids express themselves through their amazing colors, a pale fish could be sick or stressed fish, and a bright fish is a good sign of health or a sign of dominance. Male African Cichlids have been known to change color if they lose their space in the tank. It is also noted that their bright colors are used to attract potential mates.

Usually in aquarium setups there is always a dominant fish. This will be the largest cichlid in the tank. These cichlids have been known to attack and kill smaller, weaker fish. Funnily enough a good way to deal with this is to overstock the area giving the smaller types a chance to hide.

Many African cichlids have become popular amongst aquarium enthusiasts around the world. As an aquarium fish they unmatched in color and beauty. Another reason is they are very easy even for learners to look after.

 

 

Yes! I Would Really Like To Learn The Secrets That

Most Cichlid Fish Owners Will Never Know !!

Send Me My Free “Cichlid Care Guide”
Email Course Today!

 

You are here: The Cichlids Site » aquarium enthusiasts

Common Cichlid Species

 

Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare)- Originating from the Amazon, Orinoco, and Essequibo rivers in South America, the angelfish has become one of the more popular cichlids because of its unique, elegant appearance, inquisitive nature, and mild-mannered disposition.

 

Oscar fish (Astronotus ocellatus)- Also called Oscar, tiger oscar, velvet cichlid, or marble cichlid, the oscar fish comes from South Americaand have even been considered food fish. Hardy and tough, they can tolerate a wide range of water conditions and high toxin levels. This fast-growing fish (it can grow beyond 18 inches) will eat a range of food, including pellets, live food, and flakes. Make sure you feed themenough live food so they stay healthy and their colors stay bright.

 

 

Convict cichlid (Archocentrus nigrofasciatus) - This type of cichlid is a good fish for beginners because of its small size and its ease in keeping and breeding. They are not fussy about food or water conditions. When keeping convict cichlids, one needs to recreate their original habitat, putting in rocks and artificial caves-they’ll eventually use these for breeding-into the aquarium. They tend to burrow intothe substrate, so external filtration is best for this type of cichlid.

 

 

Discus fish (Symphysodon sppi) – Another favorite among aquarium enthusiasts, the discus fish is probably one of the more socialized cichlids. They are probably one of the few schooling cichlids and, in their original habitat, live in large groups. They require much social interaction for them to enhance their character, so when getting discus fish, it is wise to get more than two of them. Their breeding tanks are simple at best-no substrate needed, simple filtration system, and a lot of spawning sites. The aquarium water should be soft enough to let the eggs develop properly.

 

 

Jack Dempsey – Named after a boxing heavyweight, Jack Dempsey cichlids are easy to breed and feed and can live up to 10 years. It is their stunning coloration that piques people’s interest. When they are young, Jack Dempsey cichlids show a tan or light gray color with some turquoise specks. As they mature, their colors turns purple gray with some blue and green highlights while its specks turn gold.

 

 

Lately I have been asked a lot about Cichlid species, so I thought I would put together a bit of a list including their common names as well as their scientific names.

Cichlid ( sik-a-lid ) fish stem from what’s known as the Cichlidae (sik-li-day) family. The Cichlidae family is an extremely large & diverse family having nearly 2000 specimens described and it’s believed the still many more to be described scientifically.They would have to be the largest family of vertebrates.The exact number of existing cichlid species is an extremely hard thing to estimate because of the constantly found new specimens.These fish come in some of the strangest looking shapes to the most breath taking colors and throw in some peculiar mannerisms and it makes for quite the character.

Cichlids are found all across the globe ranging from Africa throughout Asia to North and South America.Cichlid fish which tend to be kept in captivation can come from the African waters as well as the Amazon basin area and also from some the famous lakes like Lake Malawi, Great African Rift Lake and Lake Tanganyi.Presently there is a massive diversity in the behavior and eating habits of these fish because of the greater number of types.

The majority of cichlids are herbivorous fishes and feed on vegetation or even algae. The other cichlid varieties are generally omnivorous, will eat anything or they are carnivorous fishes that live on other fish & insects.The broad range of eating habits has really allowed cichlid fish to occupy numerous habitats. Cichlid fish do not survive in salt water although funnily enough their ancestors did.

A Few  cichlid kinds are fairly meaty in size and many among them tend to be referred to as game types. Consequently a multitude of cichlid types are farmed for food. On the flip side, we can’t deny the amount of fish tank enthusiasts that enjoy cichlid species because of their eye-catching colorings and tendencies.Angelfish, Oscar fish, Discus fish and Convict cichlid are among the most popular with aquarium enthusiasts.

African Cichlid Species

Most of the Cichlid types that we see in captivity today come from the African Amazonian regions. Sowith that said, on with the listings:

Lake Malawi

Lake Malawi is one of the largest lakes known to man and is home to over 300 varieties of cichlid fish. Here are some of the better known of the cichlid species.

 

Profiled Cichlids with Scientific names

Cichlids
Common	Scientific
Auratus	Melanochromis auratus
Angelfish	Pterophyllum scalare
Blue Acara	Aequidens pulcher
Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid	Apistogramma cacatuoides
Convict	Amatitlania (Archocentrus) nigrofasciata
Discus	Symphysodon aequifasciata
Eartheater	Satanoperca jurupari
Electric Yellow Labidochromis	Labidochromis caeruleus
Fairy Cichlid	Neolamprologus brichardi
Festivum	Mesonauta festivus
Firemouth	Thorichthys (Cichlasoma) meeki
Flower Horn Fish	Hybrid species
Frontosa	Cyphotilapia frontosa
Giraffe Cichlid	Nimbochromis venustus
Green Terror	Aequidens rivulatus
Jack Dempsey	Rocio octofasciata,(Cichlasoma octofasciatum)
Keyhole Cichlid	Cleithracara maronii
Kribensis	Pelvicachromis pulcher
Oscar	Astronotus ocellatus
Pseudotropheus ornatus	Pseudotropheus elongatus-ornatus
Rainbow Cichlid	Herotilapia Multispinosa
Ram	Mikrogeophagus ramirezi
Red devil	Amphilophus labiatum
Redfin kandango	Copadichromis borleyi
Red Striped Eartheater	Geophagus surinamensis
Severum	Heros efasciatus
Uaru	Uaru amphiacanthoides
Zebra cichlid	Maylandia zebra (Pseudotropheus)

Livebearers
Common	Scientific
Black Molly (and other mollies)	Poecilia latipinna, Poecilia sphenops
Guppy	Poecilia reticulata
Platy	Xiphophorus maculatus
Swordtail	Xiphophorus hellerii
Wrestling halfbeak	Dermogenys pusilla

Tetras (Characoidei)
Common	Scientific
Anostomus	Anostomus anostomus
Banded Leporinus	Leporinus fasciatus
Black-finned Pacu	Colossoma macropomum
Black Neon Tetra	Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
Blackskirt (Goldskirt) Tetra	Gymnocorymbus ternetzi
Bleeding Heart Tetra	Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma
Cardinal Tetra	Paracheirodon axelrodi
Congo Tetra	Phenacogrammus interruptus
Glass Bloodfin Tetra	Prionobrama filigera
Glowlight Tetra	Hemigrammus erthrozonus
Lemon Tetra	Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis
Marbled Hatchet	Carnegiella strigata
Neon Tetra	Paracheirodon innesi
Penguin Fish	Thayeria boehlkei
Pinktail Chalceus	Chalceus macrolepidotus
Red-Bellied Piranha	Pygocentrus nattereri
Rummy Nose Tetra	Hemigrammus rhodostomus
Serpae Tetra	Hyphessobrycon serpae
Silver Dollar	Metynnis argenteus
Silver Hatchet	Gasteropelecus sternicla
Slender Tetra	Iguanodectes spilurus

Barbs, Danios and Rasbora (Cyprinids)
Common	Scientific
American Flag Fish	Jordanella floridae
Arulius Barb	Puntius arulius
Bala Shark	Balantiocheilos melanopterus
Chinese Algae Eater	Gyrinocheilus aymonieri
Denison Barb, Red Line Torpedo Barb	Puntius denisoni
Dwarf Rasbora	Boraras maculatus
Harlequin Rasbora	Trigonostigma heteromorpha
Red-Finned Shark (Rainbow Shark)	Epalzeorhynchos frenatum
Red-Tailed Black Shark	Epalzeorhynchos bicolor
Rosy Barb	Barbus conchonius
Siamese Algae Eater	Crossocheilus siamensis
Tee Barb	Barbus lateristriga
Tiger Barb	Puntius tetrazona
White Cloud	Tanichthys albonubes
Zebra Danio	Danio rerio

Anabantids
Common	Scientific
Betta	Betta splendens
Dwarf Gourami	Colisa lalia
Honey Gourami	Colisa chuna, Colisa sota
Kissing Gourami	Helostoma temmincki
Opaline Gourami	Trichogaster trichopterus
Paradise Fish	Macropodus opercularis
Pearl Gourami	Trichogaster leeri
Sparkling Gourami	Trichopsis pumila
Spotted Climbing Perch	Ctenopoma acutirostre

Loach
Common	Scientific
Angelicus Botia Loach	Botia kubotai
Blue Loach	Botia modesta
Burmese Border Loach	Schistura Mahnerti
Chain Loach	Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki
Cheni Loach	Psuedogastromyzon cheni
Clown loach	Chromobotia macracanthus
Dojo, Weather loach	Misgurnus anguillicaudatus
Horsefaced loach	Acanthopsis choirorhynchus
Kuhli Loach	Pangio kuhlii
Yo yo loach	Botia almorhae
Zebra Loach	Botia striata

Catfish- common terms
Common	Scientific
Adolph’s Cory	Corydoras Adolfoi
Adonis – L155 Pleco	Acanthicus Adonis
Bristlenose Pleco	Ancistrus temminckii
Bronze Catfish	Corydoras aeneus
Channel Catfish	Ictalurus punctatus
Chinese Algae Eater	Gyrinocheilus aymonieri
Clown Pleco	Panaque maccus
Columbian Shark	Sciades seemanni (Arius seemani)
Common Pleco	Hypostomus plecostomus
Electric Catfish	Malapterurus electricus
Farlowella Cats	Farlowella acus (SP)
Giant Black Upside Down Asian Catfish	Mystus leucophasis
Oto Cat	Otocinclus sp.
Panda Cory	Corydoras panda
Pictus Cat	Pimelodus pictus
Pygmy Cory	Corydoras Pygmaeus
Skunk cory	Corydoras arcuatus
Sudan squeaker	Synodontis Frontosus

Miscellaneous species
Common	Scientific
African Clawed frog	Xenopus laevis, etc.
African Dwarf Frog	Hymenochirus Sp.
Amano algae eating shrimp	Caridina multidentata (Caridina japonica)
American Flag Fish	Jordanella floridae
Apple Snail	Pomacea bridgesii
Archer fish	Toxotes jaculatrix
Arowana	Osteoglossum bicirrhosum
Black crappie	Pomoxis nigromaculatus
Black Ghost Knife	Apteronotus albifrons
Boesemani Rainbowfish	Melanotaenia Boesemani
Bumble Bee Goby	Brachygobius Xanthozona
Butterfly Fish	Pantodon buchholzi
Celebes rainbow	Marosatherina ladigesi
Cherry Red shrimp	Neocaridina denticulata sinensis?
Clown-Knife Fish	Chitala chitala
Dragon Goby, Dragon Fish	Gobioides broussonnetii
Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish	Melanotaenia Praecox
Dwarf Puffer	Carinotetraodon travancoricus
Dwarf Rainbow	Melanotaenia maccullochi
Elephantnose	Gnathonemus petersi
Fahaka Puffer	Tetraodon lineatus
Ghost Shrimp	Palaeomonetes species
Green Puffer	Tetraodon nigroviridis
Knight Goby	Stigmatogobius sadanundio
Lake Kutubu Rainbowfish (Turquoise Rainbow)	Melanotaenia Lacustris
Limpit fish	Humanicus fishicus strangeicus
Mbu Puffer	Tetraodon mbu
Mudskipper	Periophthalmus argentilineatus
Peacock Gudgeon	Tateurndina ocellicauda
Red claw crab	Perisesarma bidens
Reedfish / Ropefish	Erpetoichthys calabaricus
Scat	Scatophagus argus
Senegal (Cuvier) bichir	Polypterus senegalus
Tire-Track Eel	Mastacembelus armatus

 

 

Yes! I Would Really Like To Learn The Secrets That

Most Cichlid Fish Owners Will Never Know !!

Send Me My Free “Cichlid Care Guide”
Email Course Today!

 

You are here: The Cichlids Site » aquarium enthusiasts

Peculiar Cichlid Behavior

Their amazing colors and unique mannerisms are why cichlids have become one of the more domesticated and favored fish with aquarium enthusiasts.

Cichlid behavior is one of the most interesting subjects i have studied and here i will share with you some of the things i found out. Cichlids display color schemes that enhance the aesthetics of any ones aquarium and brings life and wonder to one’s humble abode. This being said, it is no wonder Cichlids are by far the most popular freshwater fish for people to start aquariums with.

So you may have made the decision to get your own, it is then up to you to understand cichlid behavior. This will certainly make it easier for both you and the fish for the first few weeks you have them.

Raising cichlids is by no means an easy feat, but if you follow the guidelines i set out for you find on my website, you will get great satisfaction and enjoyment out of raising and breeding them.

Once you have adjusted to your cichlids, you will discover more unique behavior in them. Find pleasure in getting to know your cichlids, and you will find that they will reciprocate your positive behavior.

Once you have added your new fish to your tank , you will find as they settle they will each claim a different area of the environment as their own.Then generally before long you will find one will dominate the whole tank and these are usually the biggest fish. So it is important to start with a small group of the same sort of fish of roughly the same size which will make the settling process not only quicker but literally less painful.

There is several reasons as to why cichlids can get aggressive. It can be jealousy over an enemy trying to steal a potential mate, defending ones food and even defending their little bit of your aquarium.

Cichlid’s will show aggression by flaring their gills and spreading their fins to make itself look as large as possible whilst either standing at the ready or darting about like a crazy fish.

This can progress to tail beating where a cichlid attempts to show off its power by pushing water at its enemy.This can and often does escalate into to a combat situation, which includes mouth locked wrestling and then a lot of chasing one another in attempt to bite.If this behavior persists they may have to be separated for it will surely go on till one dies.

Put a couple of cichlids into a tank and one of them is bound to dominate, while the rest of the bullied population will retreat to their caves. Any way just below are two proven methods to prevent tank aggression amongst your cichlids.

Shelter and “hiding” spots are vital for cichlids to live in any sort of peace. The more areas of cover present, the more chance each fish will have to claim a spot for itself.

If there just isn’t enough rock or wood, your fish will be open game for the aggressive dominant male in the tank. And on the other hand having to much of these materials just makes cleaning your tank a real headache and can lead to possible health problems. You will have to find the equilibrium that’s just right depending on your tank size.

Another very important tip is to know your male to female cichlid ratio. Males tend to chase females when they want to breed, and if there is too many males chasing the one female she stands no chance to rest .

This will certainly lead to the death of your female fish.This can also lead to much more males fighting with each other in turn stressing the whole tank environment out.

The best female to male ratio I have used is about three girls to every one boy!

Breeding behavior among cichlids vary. Some lay their eggs on open surfaces such as rocks, leaves, logs, and substrate—this type of cichlid is an open brooder. Others, on the other hand, need to retreat into caves or crevices to lay their eggs. For this type of cave brooders, it is important that the aquarium has many caves and other hiding places.

Still another form of cichlid breeding is mouth brooding, in which the mother fish carries her eggs in her mouth until they hatch.

Breeding cichlids are a joy to watch. In some open-brooding cichlids, both the male and female parents are involved in caring for their brood, with the male guarding the territory against predators and the female fanning the eggs to increase oxygen supply. There have been some cases of female cichlids eating their young. This is often seen in mouth brooders.

Because mouth-brooding cichlids carry their fry in their mouth, they often go hungry during the entire breeding process and end up eating their fry once hatched. This is why when you suspect that you parent cichlid could be eating its young, it is important to put it in a separate tank to preserve your baby cichlids.

Cichlids are well known for changing their colors to suit the current mood of fish. Most male cichlids will turn much darker in there natural color when breeding time comes around. When some cichlids are stressed or timid, they look pale, but they turn dark or show off brilliant colors when they get angry and aggressive .

Some cichlids simply change color when they are stressed, which can quite often be seen when they have been moved to a new environment. ie. A new aquarium. Not to worry though this will pass as they adjust and get used to their new surroundings. It wont be long before you have adjusted to your cichlids and them to you, will discover more unique behavior in them.

One particular cichlid, the rift lake species, shows shyness and dominance through color.

When rift lake cichlids are stressed or timid, they look pale, but they turn dark or show off vibrant colors when they display their aggressive streak. Some cichlids, like the Maylandia crabro, for example, change coloration when they are stressed, such as when they have recently been moved to a new tank.

 

 

Yes! I Would Really Like To Learn The Secrets That

Most Cichlid Fish Owners Will Never Know !!

Send Me My Free “Cichlid Care Guide”
Email Course Today!