Daffodil Cichlids Mating Dance Video
Lets Boogie
Here we have a pair of daffodil cichlids going through their breeding dance. The subdued female hangs behind as the cheeky male does his best to impress her by dancing and showing off out front.
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Texas Cichlids
The Texas cichlid (Herichthys cyanoguttatus, formerly Cichlasoma cyanoguttatum) is a freshwater fish that belongs to the cichlid family. Also known as Rio Grande cichlid, this species is originated from the lower Rio Grande drainage in Texas and Northeastern Mexico, particular on the sandy bottom of deep rivers.
This is the only cichlid species native to the United States, and has been introduced by man as far North as Central Texas where they live in various lakes and rivers.
The Texas cichild has a large greyish high-backed body with bright blue scales and two dark spots, one at the center of the body and another and the end of its tail. Adult males have a large hump on their heads. This species can grow up to 30 cm. They prefer a water temperature range of 20–33°C, a pH range of 6.5-7.5, and a water hardness of 5-12 dH.
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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.
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Cichlid Care – The Easy Way
Cichlid Care Made Easy
Cichlid Locations..
Just before we get onto the topic of cichlid care here is some info about their locality. All the cichlid fish variants you see in pet shops come from only one scientific family: Cichlidae. This family of fish come from large marine areas around the continent of Africa and the United States. Some species, notably the tilapia has found its way to several parts of Asia.
Cichlid species now exist in continents where they did not originally thrive, either through accidental introduction or intentionally, through aquaculture practices. To date, there are two thousand identified species of cichlids and many more are being discovered, year by year.
The Oscar fish, discus fish and the marbled angelfish come from one family. Many fish keepers take care of these species without realizing that they are in fact, scientifically related to each other.
There’s also a chance that you may have already met a species belonging to the Cichlidae family in a restaurant or even at home. The larger species in this family of fishes are caught or even bred for food.
Caring For Cichlids Is Easy..
Like other animals kept in captivity, there is a minimum amount of care that must be given to cichlids. This section of the article will cover the basics of taking care of cichlids. First, the aquarium or tank should have the right amount of water and the right, consistent temperature.
The goal is to produce an aquatic environment that is close to what the cichlids may find in nature. Many of the commonly available pet cichlids are warm-water fish and prefer a consistent temperature of eighty-two degrees Fahrenheit.
The temperature of the tank has a direct bearing on the activity and metabolism of cichlids, especially the fries. If you have cichlid fries in a warm tank, expect the little fishes to grow twice as fast and be twice as hungry for fry food.
Ideal Temperature..
Inversely, a low temperature tank produces less active and less aggressive cichlids. As a cichlid keeper, it’s your job to keep the tank’s temperature ideal – not too hot or not too cold. Do not place the tank outdoors or in a spot in the house where hot sunlight is streaming in unabated throughout the day. An electronic or digital heater would be ideal for a cichlid tank.
As for the pH level of the tank, cichlids love alkaline water (unlike goldfish and other fish species who prefer neutral to slighly acidic water). Use a pH kit to measure the alkalinity of the water (8.5 is a good pH level for cichlids). If you are going to do any adjustments, take some water from the tank and keep the cichlids in a separate tank before you add any chemicals to the water.
Do not add any chemicals to the tank while the fish are still in it, as this may cause shock or even death. Any sudden changes to the immediate environment of the fish should be considered a bad move. If you’re having trouble with acidic water, then you can use soda to adjust the alkalinity of the water easily (and cheaply, too!)
Installing A Filter System..
Water filtration is also important for healthy cichlids. Between sponge filters and under-gravel filters, we highly recommend that you use sponge filters. If a sponge filter is installed correctly in a tank and cleaned regularly, it can be used for your cichlid tank for years. How about under-gravel filters? Under-gravel filters are not as effective and cichlids have a tendency of digging out the tank substrate (which is necessary for effective filtration).
Feeding Your Cichlids..
Cichlids must be fed a variety of fresh, frozen and dry foods. The first step is to identify whether the cichlid is herbivore, carnivore or omnivore. If it’s a meat-eater, then pellets and flakes made with fish meal should be given.
If the cichlid is a herbivore, then avoid giving fishmeal-based foods as this can lead to bloating and eventually, death. Omnivores can be given a combination of plant-based and fishmeal-based commercial foods. Live or frozen food can also be given; just make sure that the live prey/food is disease-free.
Did you know that you can provide cichlids with a natural food source in their tank? All you have to do is to place some rocks in the tank and allow algae to grow on the tanks. Cichlids (even the carnivores) will feed on the algae.
This will ensure that even if you fail to feed them regularly enough, they will not starve. Ideal care always begins in the tank – so avoid overcrowding the aquarium with too many cichlids and always check whether the heater and filter is working.
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