Keeping Oscar Fish
Keeping Oscars..
An aggressive species that’s known for its tantrums, the Oscar fish are a popular fish among aquarium enthusiasts. Oscar fish belong to the cichlid family which is usually seen in regions of South America. Oscar fish appear in a multitude of patterns and colours and are also referred to as marble, velvet or tiger cichlid.
The scientific name for these fish is Astronotus ocellatus and they can grow up to 16 inch in length or (40 cm) and weigh more than 3 lbs or (1.5kg). These fish can be very aggressive and require the proper attention should you decide to get them in your fish tank.
Peculiar Behavior..
Oscar fish have quite a character and like to re-arrange the tank the way they like, they will move any item which is not secured including tiny plants ,stones and substrate (they do not care if they’re artificial or normal) and attempt to toss them outside the aquarium if they do not want them. A sandy bottom and some big stones should help you to stay hassle free.
Oscars have large appetites and need to be placed with fish of the same size or bigger, a little fish becomes an easy meal for an Oscar. Some South American cichlids as well as a big catfish are the ideal tank mates if you want to mix it up.
These guys can really put on a performance and can be very entertaining, i have seen them over the period of a few days completely rearrange the setup i had made in the tank for them.
Oscars will dig holes, move tiny rocks around the tank and love to pull up plants. So make sure every thing is secure so they do not hurt themselves. Like other creatures they will run and play with one another, make some courtship dance, and fight amongst themselves. You will also notice the gradual color changes in their skin.
Oscars will occasionally pretend they are about to die and lay on their side at the bottom of the aquarium (don’t be alarmed by this behavior, Oscars are marvelous actors), he will stay on his side and watch for little fish to get closer, and then he pounce and eat them.
Feeding Your Oscars..
People have suggested serving them with live goldfish and guppies, but it isn’t recommended , since you’ll have the potential for diseases to develop. It is a much better idea to nourish them with vegetable pieces, mixed beef, shrimps, bee, bugs and earthworms.
If you are breeding them, you must realize there will be occasions when the males may hurt the females through rough play , this is pretty normal for Oscars. The propagation of Oscar fish is pretty easy to instigate, the trick is to raise the temperature of the water. So if you increase the temperature from what normally should be 25 degrees Celsius to a warmer 28 degrees Celsius it will get them to reproduce.
The female will choose a smooth stone or rock to lay her eggs (approximately 1, 000 eggs) and male Oscars will come along and fertilize them. The thick eggs will become more visible within 24 hours and will produce young after two or three days. Observing the breeding cycle of Oscars can be very interesting to observe due to their erratic behavior.
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Oscar Cichlids
Origins…
Oscar Cichlids, also known by their scientific identification (Astronotus Ocellatus), located in South America and they’re native to Brazil, French Guiana, Peru and Columbia. Many other names include Marble Cichlid, Velvet Cichlid, and Tiger Cichild. These fishes are rapid growers. Achieving almost 12 inches for their length, many have been measured up to 18 inches and weighing 3.5 lbs.
Generally dark in color, orange-ringed dots also referred to as ocelli, located around the dorsal fin, gill area. These fishes are found in many different colors. Oscar Cichlids can vary from being mottled, black or red, albino, or marbled. When becoming territorial or combative, they’re seen to change color rapidly.
Teen Oscars have some spotted heads and they’re stripped with wavy, white and orange bands. These Cichlids are considered to be aggressive in comparison with many other members in their family. Pacus, Jack Dempsey as well as many other relatively aggressive cichlids will be effective and work nicely as aquarium mates. Before going out to buy one as a pet, there are some things you need to be familiar with when it comes to Oscar cichlids that you should take into consideration.
Oscar Cichlids are carnivores, their food should include things like fish and insects. Brine shrimp, feeder fish, cricket and krill are all tolerable food types. Good quality food items such as flakes and pellets can also be provided with the food choices mentioned above.
Keeping Oscar Cichlids…
Enthusiasts intending to keep Oscar Cichlids should make a large aquarium, spacious enough to match the the needed environment of this sort of fish. Oscars usually have a growth spurt of an inch or so soon after their eighth to tenth month.
They will grow to about 10 to 12 inches during their first year. 75 gallon aquarium per Oscar would be the ideal sizing with a temp range of 70 to 80 degrees (F). PH must be retained between 6. 5 to 7. 0. However Oscars are somewhat hardy fish, water must be kept fresh and maintained. Poor maintenance of aquarium water can result in certain disorders that Oscars are vunerable to.
Tiny rocks are the most popular substrate for the aquarium since they’re what is in the fish’s natural area. Ensure that you implement the curved type, since most of these fish are keen to dig and pointed tiny rocks might damage them. In addition, there are some observations that these fishes don’t like bright lights.So, this also needs to be considered while setting up their aquariums.
Enthusiasts who are passionate with ornamented tanks, should think carefully before buying Oscar Cichlids because they are normally troublesome pets, often rearranging all the aquarium, moving stones and decors. Feeding them can be very interesting as Oscars interact every time when they are fed with their food. They show exhilaration, swimming excitedly around the aquarium when they fully understand they’re going to be fed.
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Electric Cichlids
All About Electric Cichlids..
If you are looking for a type of cichlid that is very easy to look after then you cannot go past electric cichlids. Electric cichlids are easy to breed and take care of. Not to mention that their beautiful, vibrant colours are a delight for anyone’s eyes. You will find that these fishes are really not picky in choosing their food. Of course, you will need to provide them with good, clean water and suitable decorations for their aquarium.
It is really not that hard to set up an environment for the electric cichlid, although you might need to research the matter a bit. The most important thing to consider is replicating their natural environment as best you can. Electric cichlids can be found mostly in the lakes of Africa. While in their natural habitats, they hide behind rocks and blend in with the environment. They search the waters for smaller fish that they can eat.
Keep It Natural..
Whilst in an artificial environment, your aquarium, the electric cichlid will totally depend upon you, his owner, to survive. If you supply your cichlid with an environment that closely resembles the one in his natural habitat, you will manage to greatly increase your cichlid’s lifespan. This is also a good way for you to contain the cichlid’s aggressive behaviour. Cichlids can easily be trained to eat other foods, such as prepared food, and not smaller fish. These larger ones will surely be out of your cichlid’s harmful bite. Otherwise, you will be forced to keep the cichlids only with other fishes that are bigger than it. Assuming you want to keep your smaller fish alive of course.
Some electric cichlids can grow in size up to six inches in length, so you had better get him a bigger than usual aquarium. For a normal electric cichlid, you would probably need a tank of about 55 gallons, for starters. That is the absolute minimum that he is going to need. These fishes can definitely survive in murky waters, but if you like most aquarists you are going to want to have clear waters in your tank. The cichlids will not care about the water being murky or clear so do not worry.
The water in the tank should be something around 75 degrees Fahrenheit. You should remember this fact, as the cichlids tend to become more and more aggressive when the temperature of the water is not right. Cichlids are sturdy fish, but be careful of any sudden changes in water temperature. You should be alright though, just remember to keep the tank away from direct sunlight and keep them far from any heat sources.
So, you should provide your electric cichlid with plenty of places to hide, but leave him enough room to swim as well. Rocks or pieces of wood will suffice. They like to run around in the substrate of the tank so make sure you provide one similar to that in from the African lakes. Having an incorrect substrate might harm them.
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Keeping Kribensis Cichlids
A Guide To Kribensis Cichlids
Kribensis Cichlids are a beautiful fish an have been popular for a long time now. Lots of aquarium enthusiasts love keeping them as pets. Hobbyists love these fish because of peculiar behavior and their beautiful colors.
As compared to other cichlid species they are smaller in size which is why it is easier to handle them. If the cleaning of their tank needs to be reasonably consistent but over all, the Kribensis Cichlid is easily managed. Due to their smaller size they can also be kept in smaller tanks. Breeding is also easier and does not take a lot of effort as they do not require special conditions for breeding.
In Appearance
The Kribensis Cichlid has a colorful stomach area and their appearance is different depending on where they come from. It is not easy to tell the difference so it is better to get these from a known seller.
They have violet patches on their skin so that they are sometimes also referred to as purple cichlids. It is a small and colorful fish. The female is most colorful when spawning as her belly turns red.They are a bit different from other common fish that have one nostril on each side, these have both nostrils to one side.
Kribensis Cichlids In General
Kribensis Cichlids are good pets and they can be kept at home or at your work place. Due to their calm nature they can also be kept in community tanks and aquariums.
They love in an aquarium full of plants and they do not touch or harm the plants in any way like other cichlid types The Kribensis Cichlid can live up to 5 years. They share a common feature to some saltwater fishes that they have a well-developed set of teeth that are in the throat as well as their regular teeth.
To scare off predators and for protection they have spines on their back. The Kribensis Cichlids also swim fast due to their soft fins and in a precise agility which also help them in movement. The Kribensis Cichlid is said to be closely related to the saltwater damel fish due to its smelling senses. It usually feeds on worms and insects.
Summary
This fish if also often kept as a pet as it is easy to care for. This fish is also easy to breed. When it comes to temperament these fishes are well known for being good at taking care of themselves and protecting their territory. The females can be sometimes more aggressive then the males but in general they have a pretty mellow temperament.
As many other fishes, the males guard the nest and that’s when the females are more active because breeding time has arrived. The male is also very colorful at the time of breeding so this is overall a beautiful fish to be kept in an aquarium.
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Convict Cichlids
Keeping Convict Cichlids
It has been called the Zebra Cichlid very often, although it is known as the convict cichlid. We must not confuse it with an African Zebra Cichlid, which is totally different though. You will find that the convict cichlid has black stripes set upon a gray background and a greenish hue upon its fins. You will also find that the convict cichlid is surely one of the most easy to keep fishes.
So, it is an ideal fish for beginners. Their name obviously comes from the beautiful colouring and stripes on their back.
The Gender Of Your Fish
The male will always be larger, he has a flatter forehead, his colours are less bright and it has longer fins. You can tell which one is the female by the orange colouring on the lower part of her body. With the passage of time, the male will grow a large lump on its forehead. You may also see an albino or pinkish type.
The albino variation of the colour has lead to the name of Ivory Cichlid and the pink variation has lead to the name Pink Convict. These other, rarer types are known to be more difficult to breed, but so long as you have plenty of patience, keep the fish well fed, their water clear and clean, you should succeed in making them breed eventually.
It is a wonderful addition for any aquarium, but you should be careful if you plan to put the convict cichlid in a crowded tank. It does have a tendency to be aggressive. You should get them a large tank, of at least 30 gallons, put some gravel on the bottom, some rocks, plants and lots of places for it to hide, perhaps some pots or cups.
Some floating plants might be a good choice as well. As said before, the convict cichlid is an aggressive type so you should house it only with similar aggressive fish that are about its size or larger.
Ideal Conditions
The convict cichlid will thrive in various conditions and is known to be a cave breeder. It’s adaptability to any conditions makes it the most suitable fish for beginner aquarists.
The temperature of the water should be kept a little above 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Some of the females have been seen to spawn between some caves and any open area. The convict cichlid forms a sort of family, each of the two parents having specific roles in the care of the young. Their fry will be sensitive to the calls of both the mother and the father.
Do not forget to decorate the aquarium you intend to use for keeping your convict cichlids with some plants and a rock or perhaps two.
Get used to the idea that most of the plants will definitely be destroyed by then eventually, but they are nice to have so you should get some that can endure more, like java ferns and Amazonian swords. As for food, the convict cichlid will eat most foods as it is omnivorous. Cichlid pellets, tubifex, plankton or even frozen blood worms.
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Bumblebee Cichlids and how to keep them at home
Bumblebee Cichlids
Bumblebee cichlids are a fish that live in fresh water and they belong to the cichlid family. They are mostly found in the Lake Malawi in large caves. Bumblebee cichlids are also called the Pseudotropheus Crabro. They are called Bumblebee Cichlids due to the color of their skin. They have yellow skin with black bars almost like that of a bumblebee. The baby fishes are brighter in color but their skin gets darker as they grow old.
These fish are used to living in hard water so it stands to reason that they should be kept in hard water whenever held in captivity. When they are in the wild, the Bumblebee Cichlids are choosy eaters but when they are kept in an aquarium they eat whatever fed to them on daily basis.
This fish is by no means placid and tend to be very aggressive just like the Mbuna cichlids. People who have kept Bumblebee cichlids as pets have realized that it is probably wisest to keep them either with Mbuna cichlids or in a tank all to their own. Breeding is a fair bit easier with the bumblebee cichlid. Mostly one male is kept with a lot of female Bumblebee cichlids. The larger number of females with one male fish helps with the breeding process.
The female fish keeps the eggs in her mouth after laying them and after a few weeks some of the eggs appear fry. The aquarium in which the bumblebee cichlids are kept should be sandy and have a lot of rocks caves and places for them to make their territories. The bumblebee cichlids make their territories and protect that area.
The sand is where the females lay eggs as they normally lay their eggs on flat surfaces, after this they take the eggs in their mouth to fry them. The sperms of the males fertilize the eggs which is why the females follow the males to catch the sperms when they are released by the male fishes.
They eat flake foods or brine shrimp as they cannot eat harder food. The Cichlid Bumblebee normally eats food that contains vegetable essence and sea weed is kept in their aquarium as they love eating sea weed. Another name used for the Bumblebee Cichlid is the hornet cichlid.
The male Cichlid Bumblebees also change their color very quickly when they are around female fishes or a bigger fish. The bumblebee cichlid does not needs high attention and they are easy to take care of. Their eating habits are also not too stingy and they will eat whatever fish food is available to them.
The growth of these fishes is also very fast and they can grow up to 4 inches within a year. The fishes get aggressive as they become older. Their fish tank needs to be cleaned thoroughly and regularly otherwise they may not be able to survive due to the algae. These fishes can tend to get aggressive when newer fishes are added to their tank as they get protective of their territories.
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Choosing Tankmates For Cichlids
Hostile Environment
If you want to take care of cichlids, you should not confuse keeping them in a tank with the way you see fish in the ocean or in lakes. It is extremely important for cichlid owners to carefully choose the tankmates for cichlids, considering the modest space available in a tank or in an aquarium. You will soon see that it is basically a phenomenon of trial and error, with more or less success on different trials. Here are some of the more important things to keep in mind when you want to choose some tank mates for them:
Are the tank mates you choose adaptable to the water that is in the tank? Cichlids usually come from various regions and they have different expectancies. Tolerance and durability of one type of cichlid may differ greatly from one species of cichlid to another. You should take into consideration whether the fish come from fresh water or from saltier types of waters like oceans or deltas. So remember, always take heed of where your cichlid comes from so you can better choose some tank mates for it.
Feeding Your Fish
What types of foods do they consume? This is a basic criteria obviously; you should do good research on what kinds of foods all the fish in your tank consume. Cichlids can be differentiated into three categories according to their eating preferences: carnivorous, herbivorous and omnivorous cichlids. The cichlids that are herbivores can live mainly on a diet made out of algae.
The carnivores of the cichlids usually feed on small insects and other smaller fish. Omnivorous ones have a diet consisting mostly of insects, algae and some invertebrates. You might have some trouble if you try to mix cichlids with different eating habits. For example, you should not put bigger, carnivorous cichlids with other smaller ones. But if you know their eating habits and provide what they need, it should not be an issue.
Are there any similarities between them regarding their appearance and shape? Some cichlids tend to become jealous of other fish with the same exterior appearance as them or that have other similarities. If you have any that belong to the same species, then they should require the same nutrients. And that is how they get into a competition for food sources, the search for a mate and territorial domination.
Therefore, it is recommended that you avoid placing cichlids of the same type, genre or appearance together. Try to observe the fishes that are more aggressive than the rest, it is often recommended that you isolate them.
Another issue to consider is the fact that if you place cichlids of different genres and subspecies in the same tank will definitely lead to cross breeding. This is a bad thing; it has been observed that cross breeding will lead to inferior physical specimens that have strange behavior.
Try to keep in mind these suggestions when you seek out the best tank mates for cichlids and everything will work out fine.
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Acei Cichlids – The Definite Guide
Acei Cichlids And How To Keep Them
Acei Cichlids were first discovered by Regan in the year 1922. Since then there have been some disputes regarding what they should be called and the name was often changed, but it has remained Pseudotropheus. This Cichlid prefers rocky sand and shorelines that are abundant in logs where they can hide. This particular species of Cichlid has evolved the ability to gather or harvest small pieces of algae from plants and submerged logs. Their secret is the evolution of special flat teeth with which they can take the small bits of algae off of logs and other rough surfaces. It is not unheard of that school of such Cichlids; with up to 30 to 50 members will surround logs in lakes. In rocky areas, do not expect to see schools larger than 3 to 10 individuals.
This species is very active and one might call them good natured, their behaviour rules out full fights with biting and all. Their tendency is to stick to mock fighting only. You will see the same individual becoming the bully of a school of fish or perhaps the victim of a bully, it all depends on the other fish that are around him. You will see that Acei Cichlids have very bright and vivid colours, blue, violet or deep purple hues. There are some darker ones with just a bright blue face, but not many. Their fins can vary greatly in coloring, but one thing is for sure; they make a great sight to behold in any aquarium.
Determening Gender
You will find very few differences between the females and males of this particular species, both of them having some fake eggs on their dorsal sides. Males have a slightly brighter coloring though and they reach their full length of six inches while the females are limited in growth to a maximum of four inches. It is not unheard for males to be smaller as well. The most common and easy way to differentiate males and females remains their behavior though. Males are more aggressive; they spread their fins at invaders and such.
You could also look for the fattest fish and you just might find a male. You will find that females are a bit more relaxed and calm, they follow the school in peace and quiet although you might see a male flaring himself at her. The mating ritual will usually take place on some flat surface, a rock or a log, the two fishes will chase each other and they will weave and bob to the sides.
After the female lays her eggs, they will be fertilized by the male and then typical mouth breeder behavior ensues. The up to 80 spawns will be kept in the female’s mouth for a few weeks until they hatch.
You should probably take the females away in a separate tank, as the males will have the tendency to bump into them, making them swallow the eggs. Keep their water clean, feed them well, give them plants to play with and you will have happy Acei Cichlids.
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Blue Acara Cichlids
Blue Acara Cichlids
The Blue Acara cichlid is one of the many breeds of cichlid which hobby aquarists prefer to put in their tanks. They are a hardy breed, who do not easily stress, and are great freshwater fish for beginners. The rest of this article will discuss Blue Acara cichlids in further depth, as well as some of the fish they are often mistaken for.
The Blue Acara can grow to be six inches in length, with a short thick body. It has a big forehead, along with rather long fins. There are many different color variations associated with this breed of fish, which is one of the main reasons this species is commonly mistaken for other species of cichlids.
One of the other species the Blue Acara cichlid is most commonly mistaken for is the Green Terror cichlid. For many years, both species were given the same name because people thought they were the same fish. In more recent years, the Green Terror cichlid has been given its own name, Aequidens rivalatus. The Green Terror cichlid, while similar in appearance, is much more aggressive than the more docile Blue Acara cichlid.
The Blue Acara cichlid is also often confused with younger Jack Dempsey’s breed. However, as time passes, distinct differences are developed by each species. Like the Green Terror, the Jack Dempsey is much more aggressive and violent than the Blue Acara cichlid.
Breeding
These cichlids can be breed in aquariums without much effort. Sometimes the most difficult thing to do is try to figure out which Blue Acara cichlid is the male and which is the female. The males usually have a hump, are larger and have larger fins than the females.
If you have a Blue Acara of each gender the female will be ready to breed after she grows to be 4 inches longer. These fish are open breeders and the female will lay her eggs on a flat rock. The female will tend to the eggs and the male will protect the area around them. The parents may even become quite aggressive towards other fish that come to close.
An insider secret for you: If you remove the eggs right after fertilization, the parents will probably mate again within two weeks. So if your goal is raise as many of these guys as possible then this is a tactic you can use.
The Blue Acara cichlid is a beautiful fish and is a breed that is fairly easy to care for. While often mistaken for other breeds of cichlids, they are the more docile species, and much less violent.
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Keeping Peacock Cichlids
Peacock cichlids
Peacock cichlids are among the most preferred cichlids to reproduce recently due to their ornamental appeal. Like the charm of peacock birds, the natural appearance and engaging colours of these types of cichlids, scientifically called aulonocara, have been admired by most hobbyists. Between the males and females, the previous are rather more colourful, that might at last be brighter when they reach sexual maturity.
The females are often subdued, colours beginning from silver to brownish gray. So why select Peacock Cichlids as your cichlid of choice? The Malawi Peacocks, since these cichlids spring from Lake Malawi, grow from 5-6 inches on maturity.
Feeding
They flourish on a range of food, from small crustaceans like shrimps and snails to insects like mosquitoes and insect larvae. They also eat lettuce and peas. They can be fed with either fresh foods and accept commonly available flakes or pellets.
It is recommended to serve them food only once to two times each day. In addition, be mistrusting of placing little fishes in the same aquarium with the them because they will be able to simply slot in their mouths and most sure to be eaten. Apart from the accessibility of their food, they regularly have a mild personality and often undemanding. They can conform well in community-type aquariums.
Although they’re possibly going to be territorial, they’re non-aggressive and calm. It is recommended that they be kept with other medium-sized non-aggressive cichlids.
Environment
Concerning their habitat need, the Peacock Cichlids are suggested to be kept in aquariums that are prepared like their natural environment. Be certain to provide open spaces for them to swim around as well as masses of caves and clefts where they can hide, rest and create territories.
Use sand as substrate since they are possibly going to dig thru the substrate after each feeding. Male cichlids also burrow through the sand before spawning. Using gravel or rocks, particularly the pointed rimmed ones, are doubtless going to hurt your Malawi Peacocks in doing this.
They will flourish and breed, so long as you have provided hiding places for them, your aquarium is clean and the water essentials are satisfactory, the Peacock Cichlids will do the rest themselves. They’re considered ovophile mouth brooders.
The females do not consume in the incubation period, so becoming puny and simply stressed. Such is the case that you ought to be ready to isolate the pregnant female 2 weeks after knowing she’s's pregnant. This can give time for the hatching of the eggs that might take four to 7 days. The female will release some eggs on the rocky bottom of the aquarium. Take away the ma from the tank inside a few days of the eggs hatching since she would eat the babies thinking it was her food.
Be certain to put to feed the mummy before bringing her back with other fish since she’d starve to death once the breeding process continue over again. Keep the babies in a little separate tank feeding them with fine-ground flakes until they’re large enough to be moved to a bigger tank.
The Peacock Cichlids are sometimes wonderful fish to raise and cultivate. Their beauty, straightforwardness of care, few nutritional concerns, flexibleness to their environment and undemanding demeanor has made them an engaging spread of cichlid to own. It is highly recommended that you try and experience the delight in watching these enticing fish in your aquarium and see the price this essay is chatting about.
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Jaguar Cichlids
Jaguar Cichlids
Native to South American freshwaters, the Jaguar Cichild is as aggressive as its name suggests. For this reason, one must be careful not to put them into a tank with smaller species; it will attack them. During the breeding period their aggression is heightened and they may even attack larger species. Providing a separate tank during breeding, or at the very least a tank partition, will be beneficial to your entire fish population.
The Jaguar Cichlid can live for 15 years and males can reach sizes over 12 inches. Females will rarely exceed 12 inches in size, but these fish will need a relatively large aquarium, not less than 180 gallons if breeding or kept with other fish. Water temperatures should be kept between 77F and 97F with a pH level between 7.0 and 8.7.
If you want a Jaguar cichlid and you want to reduce it’s aggressive behavior (which you can only do to a certain extent) then replicating their natural environment and water chemistry is a must. When I say natural environment, I mean the substrate of their habitat, the plants that are found in their favorite swimming areas, the types of rocks or driftwood and even the pace of the current. You can add a current to your aquarium by installing special jets with an adjustable flow-rate. Water chemistry includes pH, water temperature, water hardness and water clarity.
Feeding Your Fish
As a predatory fish, the Jaguar Cichlid prefers live food, but may be trained to consume pellets as well. These fish reach maturity when they are about 4 inches in size and at this point are ready to breed. Males will lose the stripes on their body when mature. In keeping with their aggressive nature, males may become violent even with the females when breeding, so it may be necessary to divide the tank in a way that the female may reach the male, but not vice versa. You can do this by installing a plastic divider in the aquarium. The divider needs to have one or two holes that are big enough for the female to swim through, but too small for the male to fit. This will allow the female to interact with the male when she wants to and swim away to protect herself when she needs to.
Jaguar Cichlids double in population every 1 to 4 years and are sought after for food and trade alike. Be sure you can accommodate the special needs of a Jaguar Cichlid before you make the decision to add them to your aquarium.
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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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Firemouth Cichlids
Firemouth Cichlids
One of the most popular of the cichlids, the Cichlid Firemouth has a distinctive shape and fiery red colors. It is an extremely beautiful fish and fun to keep! Do you want to learn the secrets to keeping and breeding bright and healthy Cichlid Firemouths? This article will show you how to make Cichlid Firemouth keeping easy for you.
The Cichlid Firemouth is so aptly named because of the fiery coloration on the under side of the fish’s mouth. It has a very bright redthroat and belly. This coloring generally starts at the base of the tail and will extend all the way to the mouth. The body of the Cichlid Firemouth is generally blue and gray with numerous black spots. Sometimes they even have brown fins streaked with blue. There are many different coloration differences, however, depending on each fishes exact place of origin.
The Cichlid Firemouth is usually peaceful with tankmates but the exception to that rule is when the fish is spawning. During breeding times, they can be aggressive towards other fish in their habitat as well as becoming aggressive towards smaller members of their own species. During spawning season, the male Cichlid Firemouth will display an impressive bluff. This usually pertains of an aggressive stance where the fish will inflates his fiery red throat sac and gill covers. It has been discovered by ethologists that the red coloring itself is intimidating to other fish. LOL!
During spawning 100-500 eggs can be produced, and both parents care for the fry. Firemouth Cichlids like a tank bottom of fine sand and sustrate that has plenty of hiding places among rocks, wood, and other substances. Plants are also very much appreciated by theCichlid Firemouth.You will want tp place hardy plants, such as Sagittaria, around the inside perimeter leaving an open area in the center for swimming. The plants should be potted to protect the roots as the firemouths may try to uproot them.
Many people say that “Keeping Cichlid Firemouths is too difficult”. Well they are WRONG. Or maybe you have heard other say “They are far too aggressive” – WRONG again. The most common misconception that I har of the most is “You cannot keep them with other fish” – Still WRONG.
Those type of people just did not have the right information to be successful. Like me and you, they probably ran into some big problems keeping Cichlid Firemouths, but did not take the time to learn how to keep Cichlid Firemouths the right way. I hope you enjoyed reading my article today ass well as have learned something to take with you about the Cichlid Firemouth.
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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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Breeding Dwarf Cichlids
Dwarf Cichlids: Keeping & Breeding Them in Captivity
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Cichlid Pictures
Send me some pictures of your favorite pet cichlid fish and I’ll post them on my site for all the world to see! Just email paul@cichlidssite.com with your cichlid pictures attached.
Here are some photos that have been sent in to The Cichlid Site already. Enjoy!
Click An Image To Enlarge:
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- Convict Cichlids – Cain
- Benga Peacock Cichlid — Cain
- Red Empress Cichlid – Cain
- Yellow Lab Cichlid — Cain
- Auratus Cichlid – Cain
- Demasoni Cichlid — Shannon Auer
- Yellow Morley Cichlid — Mick Reynolds
- Flower Horn Cichlid — Mick Reynolds
- Fontosa Cichlid — Sarah Watts
- Jack Dempsey Cichlid — Jackie Grace
- Jaguar Cichlid — The Big Kahuna
- Jewel Cichlid — The Big Kahuna
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- Convict Cichlids –Sam
- Red Tail Cichlid — Sarah
- Red Cichlid – Sarah
- Blue Cichlid — Sarah
- Tropical Cichlid – Peter
- Walteri African Cichlid — Andrew
- African Cichlid — Andrew
- Frontosa Cichlid — Andrew
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Parrot Cichlids
Typically speaking there are two kinds of cichlids that belong to the parrot cichlid family, the Hoplarchus psittacus (Green Parrot) and the Blood Parrot. The Green Parrot Cichlid is known to be the “original” parrot. It is a beautiful green cichlid that originates from the Amazon in South America. Not surprisingly its name came from its big parrot-like mouth. It is known to be less common within the aquarium industry but over the past few years it is slowly becoming more popular.
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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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Peculiar Cichlid Behavior
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.
Interaction
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.
Adjust The Amount Of Shelter Present!!
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.
Male to Female Ratio!!
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!!
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.
Coloration
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.
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Cichlid Diseases And Treatments
Cichlid Diseases
Just like most living creatures cichlid fish can get diseases too. It is just the way Mother Nature tends to run the show. Looking after sick cichlid fish is not that much fun, but it’s an individual’s responsibility as being a cichlid grower to bring about their good health.
If you neglect your cichlids should they be sick and tired it has the potential to cause their symptoms to become worse or worse yet even lead to their demise.
Cichlid fish can get sick for many number of reasons and one must tread carefully and do the proper research in order to avoid potential disaster.
The majority of these problems can generally be noticed pretty easily giving you plenty of time to act, where as others although pretty rare can strike quite suddenly with the need for instant action to avoid the worst.
A lot of these sorts of problems can be put down to infections from bacteria, fungi or parasites. Then you have environmental factors such as poor water quality or sudden raising or lowering of water temp (these guys tend to like a constant).
Below are a few typical Cichlid sicknesses that you need to be cautious about:
Hole-in-the-head disease
Also known as hexamita, this disease is typical among Cichlids and other freshwater fish. The fungus that causes cotton wool disease is found in many aquariums feeding on leftover food and fish carcass.
1. Its symptoms are appetite and weight loss and small depressions on the head (thus the name “hole in the head”). There are many reasons for this disease, among them poor water quality and poor diet.
2. Some studies have indicated that there could be a link between hole-in-the-head disease and the lack of vitamins C and D as well as phosphorous and calcium.
Most Cichlid diseases are caused by poor water quality and diet, so clean your aquarium regularly and feed your cichlids right. It’s always good to be ready for cichlid diseases. Keep yourself well informed by reading books, researching, and networking with others so you know how to raise your cichlids happy and healthy.
Malawi bloat
This sort of Cichlid problem is common amongst African Cichlid fish along with fish that are utilizing a generally organic eating routine. Signs and symptoms consist of lack of appetite, inflammation in the abdomen, whitened fecal material, super fast inhaling and exhaling, as well as sulking towards the bottom of the aquarium. In its advanced period, Malawi bloat can harm the fish’s hard working liver, kidney as well as swim bladder, and also the afflicted Cichlid may possibly die anywhere from 24 to 72 hours depending on severity.
**Treatment for Malawi bloat entails either one or all of the following suggestions:
1. Slowly adding Metronidazole and Clout to the water, make sure you obtain these from a reputable dealer or from a pet store u are familiar with and trust. Dont be afraid to ask them questions about your problem ….the chances are that they may have had to deal with the same thing before.
2. Changing about 50 percent of the water, and detaching the filtration systems. There seems to be of disagreement amongst experts as to the true causes of Malawi bloat, but the majority tend to believe that it is caused by a protozoan that naturally resides in fish intestines, proliferating when the cichlid is not fed properly or when the water is dirty(NEGLECT).
Fish Tuberculosis
An very dangerous Cichlid disease, fish tuberculosis is extremely infectious and may kill a whole fish tank populace in a short time. If you ever find yourself dealing with this then get in touch with an expert or where good rubber gloves as humans are susceptible through cracks in the skin or cuts when they are fixing Cichlid cleaning the tank. Among the symptoms of this cichlid disease are loss of appetite, sunken stomach, white exterior blotches, and frayed fins.
1. If you suspect that one of your cichlids may have this disease, remove your entire aquarium population and place them in a hospital tank, making sure to separate the sick cichlid.
2. Treat any of your new tanks by means of antibiotics like Melafix or Pimafix and make sure your old tanks are disinfected and the substrate bleached thoroughly or thrown out.
Cotton wool disease
The fungus that causes cotton wool disease is found in many aquariums. Feeding on leftover food and fish carcass , being a whitish gray coating on the skin, ulcer, damaged fins, patches on the gills, and erosion of head tissue on fish. It is extremely contagious.
1. Maintaining aquarium hygiene and preventing chilling, injury, and other forms of stress are some things you can do to prevent your cichlids from catching this disease.
2. The best way to treat cotton wool disease is by salt bath immersion, gentian violet application, or fungicidal medication.
Swim Bladder Disease
Whenever a Cichlid suffers from this ailment it effects the swim bladder, an epithelium-lined abdominal sac responsibility for fish buoyancy. You wil find that Cichlid fish affected by swim bladder disease float at the top of the water or find it difficult to stay on the bottom of the tank. If the pressure within the bladder gets to extreme the fish will end up belly up!
**Poor diet is one of the major causes of swim bladed disease. When a cichlid is not fed right, it can have intestinal gas or blockage, or parasites the chance to wreak havoc on the swim bladder.
1. You can minimize swim bladder disease by not feeding your cichlids too much protein or dried food.
2. Introducing lots of fiber-rich food such as zucchini, squash, peas, spinach, carrots, and lettuce.
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Cichlid Information
Cichlid Information
Cichlid History
If you are lookin for some general cichlid info then you have come to the right place, this page will cover some history and background of the cichlid fish. The family Cichlidae, that the cichlid fish come from is definitely a large fish family that live in a multitude of different conditions in all different parts of the world.
The information available on the different species has evolve to the point that you can now follow a particular type back to the point it originally developed and in doing so you can see how they differ considerably with regards to size, character, feeding methods, favored water conditions and so on.
Aquarium enthusiasts generally separate the cichlid varieties into 3 primary groups: African cichlids, North American cichlids, and South American cichlids.
The biggest known cichlid varieties may achieve the size of 50-100 centimeters. Then you have the smallest cichlids , the dwarf cichlid within the Apistrogramma group, which never grows any bigger than three centimeters.
These smaller cichlids can in fact benefit greatly from having a bigger aquarium, as it makes it much easier for the hobbyist to maintain the water quality inside a tank with lots of water, therefore the fish benefit from much more consistent water conditions.
Cichlids are a second division fresh water fish but the ancestors of the modern cichlid fish once upon a time used to be marine fish. In the course of history they have managed to adapt and migrate to fresh water.
Just about all cichlid fish are egg layers and can be put within 2 common categories regarding their reproduction methods. One type will brood their eggs within their mouths, generally this is practiced by the female species. The other type lay their eggs on some kind of substrate such as a rock, some timber and even on sand.
A few varieties will probably abandon their hatchlings on birth yet others may nurture their young for many months and then abandon them.
Cichlid Background
Cichlid fish are found in many exotic as well as subtropical locations around the globe. From the southern area of Texas southward throughout South and Central America towards the north areas of Argentina and the southern area of Uruguay.
They are often observed upon many of the Caribbean Islands. Next there’s Africa, Syria, Israel, The southern area of Iran , Madagascar, India as well as Sri Lanka.
Individual types continue to be identified at an increasing rate, with a minimum of 20 brand new varieties identified every year. Up to now there’s been some 2000 varieties recognized and identified to man, with many different researchers believing there might be equally as many still that need be identified.
Cichlid fish initially grew to become fashionable aquarium fish in 1945. Aquarium lovers discovered the group ideal for household fish tanks due to their sizing and because they ended up being simple to feed and also bred readily, taking care of their own brood even in captivity.
An additional fascinating fact is that cichlid fish possess the teeth both in the top and the lower jaw, as well as in the throat. Cichlid fish are a member of the order Perciformes that posses 2 pharyngeal bones in the form that connect by a row of teeth that run down into their throat.
Their popularity continues to grow especially with the many hybrid types that are now available and they are loved due to their spectacular physical appearance, robustness as an aquarium fish that are easy to maintain, feed, as well as reproduce.
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