New World (South American )Īs with the African cichlids, the South American group is incredibly diverse, with a great variety of amazing fish that vary in care from beginner-friendly to pretty advanced.Īs you would expect with such a diverse group, habitat varies hugely between the species so doing your research and getting some solid advice is very important when setting up a New World cichlid tank. Instead, the fish keeper should always do their research into the specific needs of any fish species. African cichlids are not restricted to the alkaline waters of the rift valley lakes, however, and some West African species actually prefer more acidic conditions.Īfrican cichlid behaviors, tank requirements, water parameters, and care varies from species to species so unfortunately there is no one-size-fits-all approach to their care. This is also a safer bet since many African cichlids require water with a higher pH than most other tropical freshwater fish. In many cases, it is best to keep these fish in African cichlid only tanks, to avoid problems with aggression. This habit is one of the most important things that the aquarist needs to come to grips with. Male African cichlids tend to be very territorial, with their territories often focused around a feature on the lake bed. These are huge and beautiful lakes with all sorts of different biotopes/microhabitats that the different fish species occupy specifically. There is an incredible diversity of cichlid species that are endemic (found nowhere else) to the large rift lakes of East Africa like Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika, and Lake Malawi. This cichlid group is found more or less throughout the African continent, in lakes, rivers, and swamps. There are over 1600 officially named species of Cichlids, and many more that haven’t been named! In our hobby, Cichlid species can be generally broken down into two main types which are:Īfrican cichlids come in a huge variety of shapes, colors, and sizes. There is a cichlid for everyone! Let’s dive in. I’ll also go through a great list of 19 beautiful Cichlids that you could add to your fish tank. This diverse group of freshwater fish has been popular with aquarists for decades, and it comes as no surprise.Ĭichlids can be an intimidating group for beginner aquarists though, so in this article, we’ll cover all the basics of cichlid care to get you started in the right way. Chloroquine Phosphate Aquarium Dosing Calculatorĭid you know there are over 1600 types of cichlids? If you’re looking for fish with beautiful colors, fascinating behavior, and plenty of personality, look no further than the cichlids.
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