Cichlids are a favorite with fish hobbyists for the wide variety of colors, shapes, sizes, and behaviors within this category. Cichlids are some of the most colorful fish in the hobby with big personalities! They are often more boisterous than community fish and their larger size makes it easier to find your new fish friends in the tank.
The most popular cichlids in the hobby come from Africa, Central America, and South America. These three locations have incredibly fascinating fish, but they shouldn’t be mixed into the same tanks.
Cichlids use color changes on their body, becoming pale or more vibrant, to communicate. The African cichlids and Central/South American cichlids use opposite communication styles. Just like in people, this miscommunication can cause stress and aggression when mixing these fish.
There are also differences in their preferred water quality. African cichlids often prefer harder, more alkaline water while South American cichlids often prefer soft, acidic water. Their behavior is also different with African cichlids more likely to engage in territorial behaviors than most Central and South American cichlids.
However, keep in mind this is a broad generalization as each fish has its own personality and territoriality depends on the fish and its habitat. Always be prepared to rearrange or change decorations and remove a fish if aggression is seen. Not sure which species get along? Our Fish Compatibility Guide can help you choose compatible tank mates.
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It's good that you are being patient and researching before purchasing your fish. Malawis are a very entertaining. Just know what you are getting into before you get into it!
African cichlids are a more sensitive fish than many other freshwater. You need to make sure you have consistent water parameters and the selection is the most important.
African cichlids are just as easy to take care of as any molly or tetras. Where you may run into problems is in the compatibility of certain cichlids with others. Sometimes you will get a fish that is so aggressive it throws off the balance of the whole tank. So when it comes to actually getting your fish it's just kinda trial and error.
If you plan to have more than one species: There are (at least) hundreds of different African Cichlid species and (at least) a million possible compatibility issues. You just can't go to the store and pick up a bag of ones that catch your eye. You have to ask several reputable people of their opinions on compatibility and then go with the popular opinion.
There are no absolutes and there are exceptions to the general rules. Keeping water parameters and conditions acceptable is very challenging and time-consuming. Figuring it all out is like trying to hit a moving target and can be quite frustrating and expensive to someone new to the field.
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That being said, the difficulty level and the required research tends to make thriving Cichlid tanks more rare than community tanks. I believe it's also the challenge that makes people who keep Cichlids very enthusiastic about keeping them. As with any other hobby, more research yields better results and more enjoyment.
Tank Setup
Setting up a healthy environment for your cichlids starts with the right preparation:
- Choose your tank, substrate, décor, and equipment. Ask a PetSmart associate for help selecting items based on your cichlid species.
- Place your aquarium on a flat, stable surface that can support the full weight of the tank (remember: water weighs 8.3 pounds per gallon).
- Rinse all substrate, decorations, and ornaments thoroughly with tap water to remove dust. Never use soap, as it can be harmful to fish.
- Add the rinsed substrate, décor, and ornaments to the tank, arranging to create hiding spaces and territories.
A 55 gallon tank can house up to 15 African cichlids depending on species, maximum size and temperament. Place the tank near a power source in a low-traffic area, away from direct sunlight and drafts.
Layer about 3 inches of gravel or sand on the bottom of the tank. (That works out to 1½ pounds of gravel per gallon of water.) Rinse the gravel before putting it in the aquarium. Fill the tank about halfway up with dechlorinated water.
Add a beneficial bacteria supplement to the water to promote biological waste breakdown. Add the thermometer, heater, filter and other necessary equipment. Time to decorate! Add plants, rocks and décor. Because cichlids are territorial, provide enough hiding areas that each fish can establish its own territory.
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Cichlids also like to hide, so put several cave structures in the tank. Rinse all décor before adding it to the tank. Finish by filling the tank the rest of the way with water then add the hood with lights.
African cichlids from Lake Tanganyika, Lake Malawi and Lake Victoria come from an area with lots of rocky caves. Using rock or decorations to create lots of areas for these fish to move in and out of adds a lot of enrichment and reduces stress and aggression!
Central and Southern American cichlids often come from areas with lots of vegetation and they like lots of driftwood, almond leaves, and robust live plants like Anubias or Sword plants. Larger cichlids may dig these up or nibble on them.
Consider using aragonite sand - available at Petsmart or other stores in large dry bags. The aragonite will slowly dissolve in freshwater, helping to maintain a higher pH. Domomite rock chips would be another good choice.
Unless you want an all male tank a good male/female ratio is 1/3 or 4. Africans can be very aggressive and a way that some deal with that is overstocking a bit. If you do that make sure that you make up for it in filtration and water changes.
Plants? Sure you can keep live plants like Anubias and Java Fern. I use both,make sure you have A LOT of hiding places for them such as rock caves etc... You can add driftwood too!
Пример оформления аквариума для африканских цихлид
Цихлиды ТОП 10 + базовые советы для начинающих (Африка, Малави, Мбуна)
Equipment
Filtration
An aquarium filter should be able to process all of the water in the tank 5 times an hour. For example, the filter in a 20-gallon tank would need to push through at least 100 gallons of water each hour. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for choosing and setting up the filter.
Good filtration is a must, the more the better.
Различные типы аквариумных фильтров
Heat & Light
Check the temperature your African cichlids will need before you bring them home. Tropical fish need warm water that’s between 78 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit (25-28 Celsius). Choose an aquarium heater with 5 watts of power for each gallon of water in the aquarium. A large aquarium may need a heater at each end.
Wait 15 minutes after filling the tank before turning on the heater. Place the heater close enough to the filter to distribute the warmed water. Run the tank’s filter and the tank’s hood light for 24 hours, then check the water temperature and adjust the heater if necessary.
Lights should run about 12 hours per day; use a timer for consistency and remember to turn them off at night.
Water Parameters
Malawi like hard water with a high ph of 7.8-8.0. Water temp ranging from 76 to 80 is ideal. They live in sandy rocky areas in the lake so sand and lots of rockwork is great so they feel at home and have places for them to hide.
There are several additional ways in which you can adjust the pH of a tank. If you're going with a sand substrate, you might consider using aragonite sand - available at Petsmart or other stores in large dry bags. The aragonite will slowly dissolve in freshwater, helping to maintain a higher pH. Domomite rock chips would be another good choice.
A stable ph is more important then a perfect ph of 8.2. Most cichlids are farm raised and dont need exact rift lake specs.
As others pointed out however, high pH isn't nearly as important as a stable pH. So whatever you do you want to be able to maintain it long term so that you don't have fluxuations.
Adding Cichlids to Your Aquarium
Bring your cichlids home right away after you buy them and ensure you only buy cichlid varieties that are compatible with each other in diet and temperament. Place them in your aquarium - inside their bag - for 15 minutes so they can get used to the new water temperature.
Next, use a net to transfer the cichlids into your aquarium. Do not add any bag water to your aquarium. Add only 1 to 3 cichlids at a time to make sure the filter can handle all the new action in the neighborhood.
Make sure to properly acclimate new additions to your water parameters. I always put new additions in a clean bucket with the water they came in and by degrees add small amounts of tank water to the bucket.
The chemical balance in your aquarium will change with every new fish you introduce, so check the tank’s pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels regularly. Change 25-30% of the water weekly.
Once conditions are stable, introduce only a few hardy fish to begin cycling your tank. Alternatively, consider a fish-less cycle - learn more in Setting Up an Aquarium. Always add a beneficial bacteria starter to support the cycling process.
Test water daily during cycling and complete a partial water change if Ammonia or Nitrite rises above 0ppm, or Nitrate exceeds 20ppm.
Always add water conditioner during water changes to protect your fish. Once your system is established, quarantine any new fish in a separate, cycled tank for 30 days before adding them to your main aquarium.
Feeding
Not all African Cichlids need the same food. Research each species you purchase to ensure that they require the same types of food. It is not recommended to put cichlids that require a lot of protein with those that do not.
Feed them good quality food. I feed NLS Thera A pellets, I feed my crew once a day.
Гид по кормлению цихлид
Natural Diets:
- CARNIVOROUS CICHLIDS: Small fish and crustaceans.
- OMNIVOROUS CICHLIDS: Algae and small crustaceans.
- HERBIVOROUS CICHLIDS: Algae and plants.
Maintaining Health
Plan for partial water changes at least weekly. That means have the gear needed to remove and add a lot of water from your tank. Have a means of vacuuming the substrate. Using a 5 gallon bucket and a simple vac takes about an hour per week for a 55 gallon tank.
There are alternatives (e.g. a Python) but do your research and ask questions about those as well. Look up what water parameters are acceptable for your fish, and prepare to make subtle adjustments as needed to your own tank, and make a plan for how to keep those levels consistent even through partial water changes.
Have a good quality test kit, or a reputable pet store that is willing to do it for you and test frequently. Be sure to treat your water if needed, particularly for Chlorine/Chloromine, etc if you have city water.
Be sure to take the advise of folks in this forum before purchasing fish, and avoid impulse purchases.
PetSmart offers free aquarium water testing. Bring in a sample and we can test its quality within minutes.
When should I test my water quality?
- Fish are sluggish, near the bottom of the tank
- Fish are at the top, breaking the water to breathe
- Sudden behavior changes in your fish
Recognizing Illness
If your cichlids display any of these symptoms of illness or distress, talk to a veterinarian familiar with fish health:
- Thinness or decreased appetite
- Fins clamped to the sides of body
- Scraping body on rocks (flashing)
- Inflamed or discolored skin or fins
- Visible signs of illness or recent fish loss
Contact an aquatic veterinarian if you notice the following signs:
