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Tropical Fish Families
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Cichlids
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Aquarium Tropical Fish Articles
- Betta Fish Care
Betta Fish Care Infographic, a handy cheat sheet that will benefit any keepers of Siamese Fighting Fish.
- Breeding Freshwater Fish
Basics on breeding some of the more commonly bred tropical fish
- Conversion Calculators for Aquariums
Unit conversion calculator for aquariums: How many gallons are in your aquarium, how many drops in a teaspoon, whats the difference between a US gallon and a UK gallon, not to mention liters?
- Cycling Your Aquarium
Aquarium Cycling Guide: starting up a new aquarium the right way
- Fish Care Guide
Fish tank care. Guide to fish care with a simple look at aquarium filtration, how to clean a fish tank, and a fish tank maintenance Schedule.
- Fish Disease and Treatment
Diagnose illness, chart symptoms, suggested medications
- Freshwater Aquarium Setup and Maintenance
How to set up an aquarium for the best results
- Freshwater Fish Compatibility Chart
Freshwater fish compatibility chart and characteristics of different types of fish.
- Live Fish Foods
What to feed tropical fish fry, livebearers and egglayers
- Online Dictionary of Aquatic Science Terms
Glossary of aquatic science terms used in ichthyology and aquarium circles for freshwater and marine animals, corals and plants
- Piranha
Piranhas, one of the most efficient predators with razor sharp teeth and a ferocious nature. Piranha Fish Species, description, information, habitat, and more!
- Saltwater Aquarium Guide
Setting up a Saltwater Aquarium. Guide to marine supplies, putting the aquarium together, cycling the aquarium water and adding fish!
LegendCare parametersSpecies Distribution MapsRead User CommentsWatch a VideoThumbnail IdentificationLink to more imagesCichlids Articles
- African Cichlid Facts
Fish Information for African Cichlids - Lake Malawi, Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, West African Cichlids, and Dwarf Cichlids including cichlid care, cichlid breeding, and fish diseases.
- Dwarf Cichlids Facts
Fish information and habitats for Dwarf Cichlid aquariums, includes types of cichlids like the Ram Cichlids, Kribensis and more.
- Lake Victoria Cichlid Facts
Fish information on habitats and keeping African cichlid tanks for Lake Victoria Cichlids, Mbipi rock-dwelling cichlids, East and West African Cichlids, and African Dwarf Cichlids.
- Large South American Cichlids
Fish information and habitats for large Cichlid aquariums, types of cichlids like the Parrot Cichlid, Firemouth cichlid, Green Terror, Oscar, Texas Cichlid and more.
- Malawi Cichlid Haps
Fish information on the Lake Malawi Cichlids known as the "Haps", Haplochromis group habitats and cichlids tanks for free-swimming types of cichlids, including the Utaka.
- Peacock Cichlids
Fish information on Peacock Cichlids, Aulonocara types of cichlids from Lake Malawi, their habitats and keeping African cichlids tanks.
- South American Cichlid Facts
Fish Information for South American Cichlids, Central American Cichlids, and Dwarf Cichlids including cichlid care, cichlid breeding, and fish diseases for South American cichlid aquariums.
- Tanganyika Cichlids Facts
Fish information on the types of cichlids from Lake Tanganyika, Tropheus Cichlids, Frontosa, Goby Cichlids, Shelldwellers and more, habitats and cichlids tanks for Tanganyika Cichlids.
- Zebra Cichlids
Lake Malawi Cichlids known as Zebra Cichlids. Fish information on the Mbuna Cichlids, habitats, and cichlids tanks for these rock-dwelling types of cichlids.
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Animal-World > Aquarium Tropical Fish > CichlidsCichlids ArticlesAquarium Tropical Fish ArticlesTypes of Cichlids
Fish Guides for African, South American, and Dwarf Cichlids
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'Electric Blue' Jack DempseyPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough Cichlids are one of the largest families of fishes with more than 2000 types of cichlids, and new species are being discovered every year!
Cichlid Information:Cichlids are attractive, active, are generally quite durable fish. The Cichlid family offers the widest variety of body shapes, a vast range of sizes, and some very beautiful coloration and patterning. These characteristics are further complimented by their remarkable behavior, highly complex yet ritualistic. They are very active, intriguing, and many cichlids can be very personable, readily greeting their keepers and begging for food. All these traits make cichlids a favorite aquarium fish.
Our list of cichlid types covers a wide array of species from all around the world. The cichlid family is so vast that there are many types of cichlids that make good aquarium inhabitants. Some South American Cichlid species are of a more amiable nature, such as the severum, angelfish, and dwarf cichlids. These can be kept in a group environment. But many others are quite aggressive and are best kept singly. The African cichlids from the Rift Lakes are highly prized for their color. Others for unique characteristics as seen in the popular Tropheus genus, featherfins, goby cichlids, and shelldwellers to name a few.
Some cichld species, both African Cichlids and South American Cichlids, reach an impressive size and are great specimens for a large show tank. However some are not really suitable for the home aquarium due to size. But most seen in the hobby have a mix of fascinating of characteristics and are a delight to keep.
Information on freshwater aquariums for cichlids:
Freshwater Aquarium Basics - Setting up a Freshwater Aquarium and Fish CareCichlids are found in Africa, Central and South America, and a few species from parts of Asia. Central and South America comprises a huge geographic area with greatly diverse habitats ranging from savannas to rain forests. Other types of cichlids are from the great rift lakes of Africa, as well as other lakes, rivers and streams. Consequently cichlids are found in a wide variety of conditions.
They are categorized as "secondary freshwater fish" - meaning their ancestors were marine fish. It is believed that cichlids moved to freshwaters from the marine environment, and they have features relating to a number of marine species including the wrasses, parrotfish, damsels, and surfperches.
The actual number of cichlid species is unknown but are generally estimated somewhere between 2000 to 5000, with at least 1300 species scientifically described. African Cichlids are conservatively estimated at about 1300 species, while South American Cichlids and Central American Cichlids are estimated at about 570 species.
The cichlid family is so vast that there many good aquarium inhabitants, but there are also many species that are not really suitable for the home aquarium due to size. For example, the Boulengerochromis microlepis from Africa, which reaches up to 36" (90 cm) is really too large for most hobbyists.Some large South American cichlids that are occasionally available in the hobby are the Peacock Bass Cichla ocellaris, which grows to a length of 30" (75 cm), and the Wolf Cichlid Parachromis dovii, which can reach a length of 24" (60 cm). Both of these will require at least 250 gallons (946 L) with larger being better.
These and other large cichlids are popular food fish for the native people where they are found. Many of the smaller sized cichlids species, vast in number, from the great African Lakes are also considered a tasty snack to those native peoples.
Perhaps the most popular cichlids are the African rift lake cichlids, which are some of the most colorful of all freshwater fishes. Besides the many colorful cichlids from the African lakes, there are others highly prized for patterning and other unique characteristics. These includeas seen in the popular Tropheus genus, featherfins, goby cichlids, sarding cichlids, and shelldwellers to name a few.
Like their South American counterparts, there are also some African Cichlids that reach an impressive size, making great specimens for a large show tank. Yet here too there are a few species are not really suitable for the home aquarium due to size. The Boulengerochromis microlepis, which reaches up to 36" (90 cm), is a good example of too big.
For more in-depth info see: African Cichlid Facts: Information and Cichlid Care for African Cichlids
Most African Cichlids available in the hobby have a mix of fascinating characteristics and are a delight to keep.
- Lake Malawi Cichlids
The Malawi Cichlids are some of the most brilliantly colored fishes. It is estimated there are over 800 species of Malawi cichlids but with only about 300 currently described by ichthyologists. They fall into two ecological groups, the Mbuna group and the Haplochromis group. Do not mix the two groups in the aquarium, as they are mostly incompatible. Only combining the Utaka from the Haplochromis group with Mbuna is possible if there is plenty of space.
- Mbuna group
The Mbuna group is endemic to Lake Malawi. They inhabit the rocky areas of the lake.- Zebra Cichlids - Mbuna Cichlids - This group contains 12 genera of rock dwelling Mbuna Cichlids, including the well-known Zebra Cichlids. This is a popular group of very active and aggressive personalities, often colored in blues with black bars, and yellows.
- Haplochromis group
The Haplochromis group is another popular African cichlid group that inhabit the more sandy areas and open waters.- Peacock Cichlids - Peacock Cichlids are some of the most intensely colored of all the cichlid varieties. These are generally somewhat larger and more peaceful than the Zebra (mbuna) cichlids.
- Other Malawi Cichlids - These include Utaka Cichlids which tend to live in open waters.
- Peacock Cichlids - Peacock Cichlids are some of the most intensely colored of all the cichlid varieties. These are generally somewhat larger and more peaceful than the Zebra (mbuna) cichlids.
- Mbuna group
- Lake Tanganyika Cichlids
Lake Tanganyika, the second deepest lake in the world, is inhabited with almost 250 different species of cichlids and over 150 species of other fish. It is renown for having two record-breaking inhabitants, the world's largest cichlid at 31” (80 cm) and the world's smallest cichlid at 1.4” (3.5 cm).
- Lake Tanganyika Cichlids
Many Tanganyika cichlids are unique in both body shape and in habitat. These include such varieties as the featherfins, gobies, julies, sardines, and shelldwellers.- Goby Cichlids - The Goby Cichlids live close to the shore in shallow waters. Like others in this group, these fish are generally more peaceful and a bit larger than the Zebra Cichlids
- Goby Cichlids - The Goby Cichlids live close to the shore in shallow waters. Like others in this group, these fish are generally more peaceful and a bit larger than the Zebra Cichlids
- Tropheus Cichlids
These are popular Tanganyika cichlids that inhabit the more sandy areas and open waters. They are generally somewhat larger and more peaceful than the Zebra (mbuna) cichlids.The popular Tropheus species are endemic to Lake Tanganyika. They are widely distributed along the coastal fringes of the lake and have many geographic variations. Many have not yet been described.
- Lake Tanganyika Cichlids
- Lake Victoria Cichlids - West Africa Dwarf Cichlids, West Africa Cichlids
There are many wonderful African cichlids that you may run across besides the highly popular species found in Lake Malawi or Lake Tanganyika. African cichlids also include a number of fish from West Africa, outlying islands including Madagascar, and cichlids from Lake Victoria.
- Lake Victoria Cichlids
There are several hundred vibrantly beautiful species of cichlids found in Lake Victoria alone. Other types of East African Cichlids include Victoria Cichlids found in lakes surrounding Lake Victoria. Others are native to African rivers and streams, and live in a wide variety of habitats.
- Dwarf Cichlids - West African Cichlids
Many West African cichlids are native to African rivers and streams, living a wide variety of habitats. These include the interesting and beautiful African Dwarf Cichlids such as the popular Kribensis.
- Lake Victoria Cichlids
The South American Cichlids are also known as New World cichlids and include Central American Cichlids and American Dwarf Cichlids. They are found primarily in Central and South America, with the Texas Cichlid found in the southern part of North America.
This is a vast geographic area with greatly diverse habitats ranging from savannas to rain forests, consequently cichlids are found in a wide variety of conditions. The Amazon River contains a huge number of fish, one fifth of all freshwater fish species. Its waters are acidic and extremely soft, and much of it has detritus covered sandy type substrate.
For more in-depth info see: South American Cichlids Facts: Information and Cichlid Care for New World Cichlids
South American Cichlids and Central American Cichlids are attractive, personable, and are generally quite durable fish. They come in a range of sizes and with some very beautiful colorations, making them favorite aquarium fish for many hobbyists. Many also reach an impressive size and are great for a large show tank.
There are distinctive types of South American cichlids, including:
- Large Cichlids - Large South American Cichlids
The Large American Cichlids, with their personalities, temperaments, and size, are great specimens for an awesome show tank. Because these fish get large, a 75 gallon aquarium is the standard suggested size for these fish.
- Dwarf Cichlids - South American Dwarf Cichlids
The American Dwarf Cichlids are also called the New World Dwarf Cichlids. These fish consist of small cichlids that only reach up to about 4 inches (10 cm) or so. They have attractive color patterns, and many species can be obtained in a variety of color morphs. Many will be content in an aquarium as small as 20 gallons. Dwarf Cichlids tend to be shy and somewhat delicate, so they are recommended for a bit more seasoned aquarist rather than a beginning cichlid keeper.
- Unique Cichlid Types - Unique South American Cichlids
The Angelfish and Discus have some of the most unique body shapes, and some of the most beautiful and varied color patterns. These cichlids end to be more amiable than others cichlids and each variety will make a great show specimen. Some of the most unique in appearance are hybrids such as the Blood Parrot and the Flower Horn Cichlid. .
- Betta Fish Care
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