Common Cichlid Species
Cichlid Species…
Here is a little info about the most common cichlid species and even the not so common. Cichlids first became popular aquarium fish in 1945. Aquarium enthusiasts found them suitable for home tanks because of their size and because they were easy to feed and bred readily, caring for their brood even in captivity.
Among the more than 1,900 species of cichlids, here are the most common cichlid species that have gained popularity among aquarium enthusiasts around the world. There are many reasons for their popularity. Some are well-loved because of their stunning appearance, while others for being hardy cichlid species that are easy to keep, feed, and breed.
The Five Most 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.
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Profiled Fish
| 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!
