VISITOR'S QUESTIONS
18... Beginner Cichlids
Keeping cichlids can be very rewarding, it can also
be quite challenging. Most, if not all cichlids are territorial, many
are predators and many are just downright aggressive. Some cichlids
are quite timid and some are too small to be kept safely in an aquarium
with larger species. You should also bear in mind that different cichlids
need different conditions, in general there are three areas of the Globe
that cichlids can be found, South America, Central America, and the
African Rift Lakes, you could also count the non-lake cichlids of Africa,
such as Kribensis and some killifishes, although they are not as popular
as the Great Lake species. Anyone serious about keeping cichlids should
realise from the start that cichlids from different areas should never
be mixed.
As you can see it is not possible to generalise about
keeping cichlids. You should first of all decide which species of cichlid
you want to keep, then try to recreate the kind of conditions that favour
that fish. Conditions can be very different, for instance, the Discus
and Angelfish dwell in the soft acidic waterways of South America and
would suffer terribly in the hard alkaline conditions that the Tanganyikan
cichlids are used to. The size and aggressive nature of the Central
American species suggests that a carefully selected aquarium set-up
is needed for them. And the rock-dwelling cichlids of Lake Malawi, the
Mbunas, may not be very large but they would dominate any aquarium due
of their fierce territorial nature.
To allow for the cichlids territorial behaviour only
larger tanks should be used, adequate shelter should also be provided
for fish to take cover. Rockwork with caves formed in them and some
planting can be used for shelter, this would fit in with your ideas
that you mentioned.
If it all sounds a little daunting, don't let it put
you off, once you've decided on your fish and achieved the right conditions
for them you'll feel it was all worth while, I've outlined a few basic
details below about the various species and their general requirements.
Regarding filtration, I think it is up to the individual
to decide whatever method they prefer best. I suppose there are advantages
and disadvantages all round, like undergravel needs regular vacuuming
of the substrate; otherwise it will clog up with debris. On the other
hand, external filters require "out of tank plumbing" and could therefore
spring a leak, all over that new carpet. Whatever you choose it will
require regular maintenance, as you know. I personally prefer, and use,
undergravel plates with two powerhead uplifts, one at each end of the
tank, as well as an internal filter.
South American Species Tank:
- Tank Size: 48x18x15inches (122x45x38cms)
- Temperature: 80º-82ºF (27-28ºC)
- pH : 5.5-6.0
This tank can be set up with an inert substrate (free
of calciferous materials, i.e. calcium salts, calcium carbonate, such
as limestone), plenty of live plants, you could use Amazon Swords here,
a few flat stones (make sure they are inert), bogwood, which besides
looking good will help keep the pH down and the water soft, half plant
pots could be used to provide shelter, fish may even spawn on their
surface or on the flat stones.
A suggestion of some South American Species such as:
- Keyhole cichlid (Aequidens maroni)
- Festives (Cichlasoma festivum)
- Eartheaters (Geophagus jurupari)
- Angels
- Curviceps Flag cichlid (Aequidens curviceps).
Don't keep more than three species in one tank, if
possible in pairs; males should be given plenty of space. One or two
catfish can be kept in the same tank; they will help keep the bottom
clear of uneaten food.
Larger South American Species:
The larger South American Species should be given more tank space:
- 48x18x18inches (122x45x45cms)
Otherwise conditions are similar to above.
For the given tank size only keep one pair, examples such as:
- Oscars (Astronotus ocellatus)
- Green Terror (Aequidens sp. "Gold Saum")
I've kept these, lovely fish, although they can be
quite aggressive.
- Severums Banded cichlid (Cichlasoma severum)
- Chocolate cichlid (Cichlasoma cory pH aenoides)
These bigger fish tend to be messy feeders and a nice
addition can be a larger catfish, something like
plecostomus,
he will clear away any uneaten food on the bottom as well as rasping
the algae from the aquarium glass.
Central American Species:
- Tank Size: 48x18x15inches (122x45x38cms) for the medium sized
species
- Temperature: 76º-80ºF (24.5-27ºC)
- pH : 7.0-8.0
Undergravel will work well for these smaller fishes.
Build rockwork up with plenty of little caves for refuge, maybe half
plant pots again here. Live or plastic plants, its up to you, but these
fishes do tend to be diggers.
These cichlids include:
- Firemouth cichlid (Cichlasoma meeki)
Probably my favourite cichlid, I've kept these myself,
beautiful, as an aggressive stance they will inflate their throat sac,
which opens up like a red curtain to threaten others of their species.
- Convict cichlid (Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum)
- Texas cichlid (Herichthys cyanoguttatus)
- Little Lake cichlid (Neetroplus nemaTopus)
Best to choose all of your fishes beforehand and bring
them up together, they will fight but should eventually find their own
niche, however if any one fish is being bullied all the time it is best
if you remove it. Once they are established it will be difficult to
introduce new fishes, the already established community will pick them
on.
Large Central American Species:
The larger Central American Species should be given more tank space
- 72x24x24inches (180x60x60cms);
Otherwise conditions are similar to above. However,
filtration must be very powerful here, a large external canister type
filter plus undergravel plates with powerhead uplifts at both ends.
Larger stone structures and pieces of slate with caves formed from in
the stone, or from large bore pipes. Live plants may not survive in
a tank with these larger species.
Examples of Large Central American Species:
- Quetzals Red Headed Cichlid (Cichlasoma synspilum)
- Jack Dempsey (Cichlasoma octofasciatum)
- Red Devils (Cichlasoma labiatum)
For the large Central American fish a smaller tank
of
- 48x18x18inches (122x45x45cms) could be used to house a single
pair.
When choosing a pair of any species it's best to start
with several young fish, then choose two of them when they have paired
off. However, this cannot be an option with many aquarists, it is therefore
necessary to choose a pair from your aquatic dealer or store, therefore
you have to be very selective and choose wisely.
- African Rift Lake Rock-Dwellers:
- Tank Size: 48x18x18inches (122x45x45cms)
- Temperature: 76º-80ºF (24.5-27ºC)
- pH : 7.5-8.0
- Internal or undergravel filtration but try to provide extra
aeration.
Build the back of the aquarium up with tufa rock and
slate making hide-holes in the rockscape; leave space at the front for
free-swimming.
Examples of African Rift Lake Rock-Dwellers:
- Various species of Julie (Julidochromis)
- Neolamprologus lelupi
- Neolamprologus sexfasciatus
- Telmatochromis bifreatus
Males can be very territorial especially when breeding,
therefore provide hiding places for the other fish.
African Rift Lake - Tanganyika Cichlids:
- 72x24x24inches (180x60x60cms)
- Temperature: 74º-78ºF (23.5-25.5ºC)
- pH : 8.0-8.5
Here I would use a powerhead driven undergravel plus
a large internal filter.
Most of these cichlids are not diggers so you can plant some hardy robust
plants that can tolerate hard water such as: Sagittaria, Vallisneria.
To control the waters hardness and keep the pH up in these, and other
hard water aquariums, use coral gavel either in the filter or on the
aquarium floor.
Examples of African Rift Lake - Tanganyika Cichlids:
- Frontosa (Cy pH otilapia frontosa)
- Gold-Striped Aulonocranus (Aulonocranus dewindti)
- Furcifer (Cyatho pH arynx furcifer)
- Featherfins
- Astatotilapia martini
In general Tanganyika cichlids are a fairly large fish,
usually very colourful, so don't over decorate the aquarium thus losing
the attractiveness of the fish. All they will need is some rock structure
with caves built in.
African Rift Lake - Malawi Cichlids:
- 60x24x18inches (150x60x45cms)
- Temperature: 76º-80ºF (24.5-27ºC)
- pH : 7.5-8.0
Undergravel with powerhead uplifts is fine for these
fish. Again rockscape with caves, and as with Tanganyikan cichlids these
are quite large colourful fish (at least 6inches 15cms).
The Fishes:
- Dol pH in cichlids
- Placid cichlids (Placidochromis)
- Peacock cichlid (Tilapia sparmanni)
- Mbunas Zebra cichlid (PseudoTropheus zebra) Kennyi (PseudoTropheus
lombardoi)
West African River Species that have a certain popularity:
- Tank Size: 48x18x18inches (122x45x45cms)
- Temperature: 78º-82ºF (24.5-27ºC)
- pH : 5.5-6.5
Undergravel and internal filtration. In this softwater
setup you can add bogwood and live plants, make sure to use inert gravel
and rocks. Again cave work or half plant pots will be useful.
The Fishes:
- Kribs (Kribensis) probably the best known from this area.
- Lamprologus species
- Nanochromis sp.
- Limbochromis sp.
- Humpheads
You will probably find these species to be quite territorial;
you can only introduce a few of these species safely into the aquarium.
All this is just a general idea and description on
the huge subject of cichlids, like I said, it is not possible really
to generalise about them as a whole. However, I hope I have given you
some inkling of what is possible, with a little aforethought and planning;
you can finish up a very attractive cichlid setup.
Cichlids Page
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