African Cichlids make fascinating fish to keep. From vibrant orange zebras to the striking blue markings of Sunshine Peacocks, African cichlids provide fun and rewarding fish to care for in your aquarium, with some of the most fascinating breeding behaviors a home aquarium hobbyist could hope to witness.
Hap and Mbuna cichlids of Lake Malawi are two main groups. Mbunas tend to prefer rockwork environments and tend to be more aggressive than Haps.
Electric Yellow
Yellow Labs, also known as Electric Yellow Cichlids (Labidochromis caeruleus), are vibrant freshwater fish native to Lake Malawi in Africa’s Great Rift Lakes system. Aquarium enthusiasts and hobbyists often favour them due to their beautiful coloring and peaceful temperament.
As with other Mbuna fish species, these ones can be aggressive towards each other and tank mates alike, and should never be kept with small or delicate species as they could kill or consume them. They’re also mouthbrooders; carrying fertilised eggs from mating in their mouth until hatching time has come around – therefore making separation between males and females essential.
Wild carp are often found living in rocky lakeshore areas, which makes the aquarium environment similar. Carp often spend most of their time at the bottom of the tank where caves or rock structures provide safe harbor.
As these fish come from hard water sources, they require a tank equipped with a filter capable of filtering out biowastes levels at high concentrations; to do this effectively you should regularly monitor their conditions with a test kit and adjust as necessary. In order to keep them healthy and minimize temperature fluctuations you should also aim for a tank climate between 75-79 degrees F; in addition to that you should perform weekly 25% water changes as part of their care regime.
African Buffalo Head
African cichlids stand out as one of the most vibrant-hued fish species available, boasting an array of hues that spans from electric blue to fiery red and shimmering yellow depending on which species is being observed. Its stunning variety makes African cichlids so captivating and enjoyable to observe.
African cichlids require special care in order to thrive, like any fish species. Their water should remain at a constant temperature while maintaining optimal chemistry for health, such as having pH between 7.5-9.0; although certain species (like those from Lake Tanganyika) require harder conditions (as tested). Regular testing, maintenance, and filtration systems are all key parts of keeping your African cichlids happy and healthy.
African Cichlid Fish in the Wild – when left to their own devices, African cichlids feed on algae and plant matter from their natural environments, with many preferring herbivory while others being predators who hunt prey in rocky environments of their natural environments. When setting up an aquarium for these beautiful fish, make sure it offers plenty of swimming space, hiding spots and compatible tankmates to reduce aggression levels.
African Cichlids breed throughout the year in their natural environments and will generally hatch within 21 to 31 days after incubation begins. At this stage, mother will usually keep close watch on her group of eggs (known as fry). Therefore it is crucial that they be separated from other tank inhabitants during incubation period and placed into separate breeding tanks so they may grow into independent adults.
Blue Dolphin Moorii
Blue Cichlid Fish have stunning scales that dazzle. However, these fish may not be ideal for beginners due to requiring a large aquarium and regular water changes; additionally they tend to be territorial towards smaller fish and tend to intimidate smaller individuals more readily than other African cichlid species. Finally they tend to be slightly more costly than their counterparts in Africa cichlid species.
Malawi blue dolphins (Hypophthalmus moorii) are moderate-sized cichlid fish with wide bodies and tapered snouts resembling dolphins, giving the Malawi blue dolphin its name. Male Malawi blue dolphins tend to display deeper hues of blue than their counterpart females.
These cichlids prefer sandy regions of Lake Malawi and are opportunistic omnivores, feeding on organic debris, drifting life forms and soft Supreme phreatophyte softly floating through the water column, as well as benthic spineless worms from benthic environments.
Sexual maturity typically occurs between three and four years of age and they begin breeding regularly thereafter. Males will display their colors and move in certain ways in order to attract females; when one does appear they’ll select an ideal breeding site – typically flat rocks or stones with pits dug for egg-laying; digging an arena for her while carrying fertilized eggs until hatching (can take up to 21 days), at which point both fish should not be disturbed or separated during this process.
Maingano
Mainganos are colorful fish species from Lake Malawi that inhabit limited areas. Their bright blue horizontal stripes and prominent forehead make for an energetic swimming style, but their active nature requires larger tanks than expected; additionally, these fish require additional upkeep compared to many cichlid species; making them best suited for experienced owners of cichlid fishes.
Mainganos live in shallow, oxygenated shoreline flats with numerous rock caves and crevices, making their natural environment highly oxygenated water with caves and crevices aplenty. Maingano males can become territorial, aggressively protecting their territory when invading another territory; females usually defend it instead. Keepers should only include one or two male mainganos per tank to maximize performance as these fish tend to be diurnal (active during daylight hours rather than night).
These fish are omnivorous but should be fed a diet rich in plant-based foods like African cichlid pellets, algae and fresh peas and cucumber slices. Meaty foods like beef heart should be avoided as these may promote digestive issues and bacterial infections in your fish. Due to Malawi bloat risks, be sure to limit feedings until all their meals have been consumed within three minutes or less.
A 30- to 40 gallon aquarium should be sufficient to house these fish. Furthermore, it would be prudent to include a quarantine tank as soon as new additions arrive in order to prevent diseases from spreading to existing residents of the tank.
Sunshine Peacock
The Sunshine Peacock, commonly referred to as Benga Yellow peacock cichlids, are stunning additions to any freshwater aquarium. Part of the Aulonocara peacock cichlid family, these beautiful species can be found in Lake Malawi.
Peacock cichlids can become very territorial when breeding them, especially during spawning season, so it is wise to maintain a ratio of 4:1 males-to-females when keeping this species. Otherwise, these peaceful fish can co-habitate well with other rock-dwelling mbuna fish species.
Their natural habitat can be found in Lake Malawi, one of East Africa’s rift lakes. Here they inhabit an ecosystem rich with hundreds of other fish and algae; feeding on an assortment of invertebrates and algae from its sandy substrate.
When keeping these fish captive, the ideal aquarium environment should include a tank with a sand substrate rather than gravel substrate to make these cichlids feel more at home in their new environment. Driftwood should also be added for healthy ecosystem development. These fish will benefit from receiving high protein diets such as flakes and pellets specifically formulated to enhance color enhancement – it is recommended that SRC Hi-Intensity color food be fed on a daily basis to achieve maximum color enhancement. For more information regarding what fish can go with african cichlids, click the link for more.
Frontosa
This fish is a slow feeder and prefers live foods, including worms, crayfish, brine shrimp and other meaty items such as worms. When in their natural environment of Lake Tanganyika they feed on smaller species; feeding off over 250 different cichlid species! It stretches across Burundi, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia with over 250 different cichlid species making up its ecosystem.
Frontosa cichlids are hardy cichlid species that typically live 15+ years when kept in an ideal aquarium environment. Their beautiful blocky appearance comes with colors ranging from pale to deep blue with vertical black stripes or markings; alternatively they may also have white or gray variations with longer fin extensions than other cichlid species.
At sexual maturity, males develop a distinctive nuchal hump and deeper coloring around their fins to identify females when they approach their territories. When females are ready to lay eggs, they stop eating for one month to ensure their fat stores can support fertilized eggs.
Frontosa cichlids are non-aggressive species that can co-exist peacefully in tanks with other Lake Tanganyika residents without any issues. While not aggressive, these fish will create their own territory and fiercely protect it with great intensity. Although Frontosas will eat any small fish that fits into their mouths, make sure that your tank mates match both water conditions and temperament of this species to avoid eating fish accidentally!