Betta Fish Care Infographic, a handy cheat sheet that will benefit any keepers of Siamese Fighting Fish.
Basics on breeding some of the more commonly bred tropical fish
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?
Aquarium Cycling Guide: starting up a new aquarium the right way
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.
Diagnose illness, chart symptoms, suggested medications
How to set up an aquarium for the best results
Freshwater fish compatibility chart and characteristics of different types of fish.
What to feed tropical fish fry, livebearers and egglayers
Glossary of aquatic science terms used in ichthyology and aquarium circles for freshwater and marine animals, corals and plants
Piranhas, one of the most efficient predators with razor sharp teeth and a ferocious nature. Piranha Fish Species, description, information, habitat, and more!
Setting up a Saltwater Aquarium. Guide to marine supplies, putting the aquarium together, cycling the aquarium water and adding fish!
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.
Fish information and habitats for Dwarf Cichlid aquariums, includes types of cichlids like the Ram Cichlids, Kribensis and more.
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.
Fish information and habitats for large Cichlid aquariums, types of cichlids like the Parrot Cichlid, Firemouth cichlid, Green Terror, Oscar, Texas Cichlid and more.
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.
Fish information on Peacock Cichlids, Aulonocara types of cichlids from Lake Malawi, their habitats and keeping African cichlids tanks.
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.
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.
Lake Malawi Cichlids known as Zebra Cichlids. Fish information on the Mbuna Cichlids, habitats, and cichlids tanks for these rock-dwelling types of cichlids.
Nice video with many shots of a large number of Port Acaras swimming among plants and each other. Nice aquarium and quite a few healthy and vibrant Acaras!
Showing a nice sized and healthy looking Wolf Cichlid lazily hovering inside it tanks. You can see it notice the camera and take an active interest in the device as well as the person filming.
Cichlids Articles Aquarium Tropical Fish Articles |
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 Care
Cichlids 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.
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:
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