Beginner Cichlids for the More Advanced Fishkeeper

by Kevin Yates

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, and 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 to their fierce territorial nature.

To allow for the cichlids territorial behaviour only larger tanks should be used, adequate shelter should also be provided for fishes to take cover. Rockwork with caves formed in them and some planting can be used for shelter.

If all this sounds a little daunting to someone wanting to keep cichlids, don't let it put you off, once you've decided on your fishes 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. 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: 48 x 18 x 15inches (122 x 45 x 38cms) * Temperature: 80 degrees - 82 degrees F (27 - 28 degrees C) * 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) and 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 left-over food.

Larger South American Species: The larger South American Species should be given more tank space: * 48 x 18 x 18inches (122 x 45 x 45cms)

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 coryphaenoides) 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: 48 x 18 x 15inches (122 x 45 x 38cms) for the medium sized species * Temperature: 76 degrees - 80 degrees F (24.5 - 27 degrees C) * 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, it's 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 * 72 x 24 x 24inches (180 x 60 x 60cms);

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 * 48 x 18 x 18inches (122 x 45 x 45cms) 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: 48 x 18 x 18inches (122 x 45 x 45cms) * Temperature: 76 degrees - 80 degrees F (24.5 - 27 degrees C) * 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:

* Tank Size: 72 x 24 x 24inches (180 x 60 x 60cms) * Temperature: 74 degrees - 78 degrees F (23.5 - 25.5 degrees C) * 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 (Cyphotilapia frontosa) * Gold-Striped Aulonocranus (Aulonocranus dewindti) * Furcifer (Cyathopharynx 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: * Tank Size: 60 x 24 x 18inches (150 x 60 x 45cms) * Temperature: 76 degrees - 80 degrees F (24.5 - 27 degrees C) * 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:

* Dolphin 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: 48 x 18 x 18inches (122 x 45 x 45cms) * Temperature: 78 degrees - 82 degrees F (24.5 - 27 degrees C) * 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. * Lumpheads You will probably find these species to be quite territorial; you can only introduce a few of these species safely into the aquarium.

All of 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 with a very attractive cichlid setup.

About the Author

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