Cichlid Species

Cichlid fish belong to the Cichlidae family and they are a member of the group labroidei. It is from the same group as damselfish, wrasses, surfperches and such other fish. Cichlidae family is a large and diverse family with at least 1300 scientifically described species and more than 160 genera. Clearly, they are one of the largest family of fish amongst the vertebrates. As new species keep coming into notification, it is really hard to state the exact number of existing cichlid species. All these species come in a huge motley of color, size, shape and behavior. Cichlids are widespread types of fish found all across the world including Africa, Asia, North and South America. Still, the most adored species among people who like having fish as pets, cichlids that are kept in captivation come from the various African rivers and lakes like Lake Malawi, Great African Rift Lake, Lake Tanganyika; the Amazon basin in South America and certain parts of North America.

Cichlid Fish Species Facts

There is a huge diversity in the behavior and habits of cichlids due to the higher number of cichlid species. Most cichlids are herbivorous (fish feed on plants and algae). The remaining species are either omnivorous, that survive on different sorts of organic materials or carnivorous fish - that catch various small fish, larvae and insects. The variety of eating habits has actually allowed cichlids to inhabit various habitats. Apart from that, these species rarely survive in saltwater habitats like oceans and seas.

In the year 2007, the 'IUCNNR (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) red list' revealed some astonishing facts about the cichlid species. According to this list, approximately 156 cichlid species are classified as vulnerable, 40 species are classified as endangered and 69 cichlid species are considered critically endangered. While 6 species (including Haplochromis lividus, Haplochromis ishmaeli, Haplochromis perrieri, Platytaeniodus degeni, Paretroplus menarambo and Yssichromis sp. nov. 'argens') are totally extinct from their wild habitats.

Most species are relatively smaller in size and many amongst them are known as game species. As a result a large number of species are farmed as food fish. On the other hand, we cannot deny the number of aquarium lovers who admire cichlid species for their attractive colors and behavior. The most common and popular species amongst the aquarists are angelfish, Oscar fish, discus fish and convict cichlids.

African Cichlid Species

As I said earlier, most cichlid species that we tend to see in America come from African rivers and lakes. Here is an African cichlid species list, classified on the basis of their native dwelling.

Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi is the 9th largest lake in the world which is bordered by Malawi, Tanzania and Mozambique. One can find more than 280 scientifically described cichlid species here. Haplochromines is the largest found group in this lake with more than 120 species and 48 genera. Some of the major African cichlid species are:

• Big-lipped Cichlid
• Moori or Blue Dolphin Cichlid
• Malawi Eye-biter
• Linni or Elephant-nose Cichlid
• Livingstoni
• Polystigma
• Venustus
• Deep-Water Haplo
• Electric Blue Haplo

Mbuna Group of Cichilds

• Red-dorsal Afra, Dogtooth Cichlid
• Fuelleborn's Cichlid, Fuelleborni
• Trewavas Cichlid, Red-finned Cichlid
• Electric Yellow Mbuna, Lion's Cove Yellow
• Malawi Golden Cichlid
• Johann's Mbuna
• Parallel-striped Mbuna
• Purple Mbuna
• Aurora Cichlid
• Bumblebee Mbuna or Hornet Cichlid
• Elongatus, Slender Mbuna
• Snail Shell Mbuna
• Kennyi
• Eduard's Mbuna
• Zebra Mbuna, Zebra Malawi Cichlid, Cobalt Blue Cichlid or Nyasa Blue Cichlid

Peacock Group

• Baensch's Peacock, Yellow Peacock Cichlid or Sunshine Peacock Cichlid
• Red Shoulder Malawi Peacock
• Lake Malawi Butterfly Cichlid

Lake Tanganyika
Lake Tanganyika is the longest lake in the world, which is located between Congo and Tanzania, in the Great Rift Valley. There are more than 150 species with more than 50 genera. Lake Tanganyika bears naturally aggressive species.

• Pearly Compressiceps
• Compressiceps
• Frontosa
• Black-finned Slender Cichlid
• Striped Clown Goby, Striped Goby Cichlid, Tanganyika Clown
• Dickfeld's Juli
• Checkerboard Julie
• Golden Julie or Ornate Julie
• Regan's Julie or Striped Julie
• Masked Julie or Black-and-White Julie
• Fairy Cichlid
• Daffodil Brichardi
• Lemon Cichlid
• Elongated Lemon Cichlid
• Ocellated Shell-dweller
• Pearl-lined Lamprologus
• Five-bar Cichlid
• Otostigma, Tripod Cichlid
• Blue-eyed Tropheus
• Duboisi
• Blunt-headed Cichlid
• Poll's Tropheus
• Aulonocara
• Lamprichthys
• Synodontis
• Afromastacembelus

Cavity Brooder Group of Cichlids

• Altolamprologus
• Lamprologus
• Julidochromis
• Neolamprologus

Mouth Brooder Group of Cichlids

• Cyphotilapia
• Cyprichromis
• Eretmodus
• Tropheus
• Xenotilapia

Other African Cichlid Species
Other than the above mentioned water bodies, a great variety of cichlid species are found in other water bodies of Africa, like Gambia, Nile, Niger, Zambezi and Zaire Rivers; lakes Albert, Victoria and Volta; the Sierra Leone regions; the Okavango River Delta and the rain forests of Central Africa. They are:

• African Butterfly Cichlid
• Zebra Haplochromis
• Two-spotted Jewel Cichlid
• Blood-red Jewel Cichlid
• Purple Cichlid or the Common Krib
• African Blockhead or Lumphead Cichlid
• Zebra Tilapia
• Clown Tilapia

North American Cichlid Species

American cichlid species are famous for their tough behavior and fascinating colors. These are larger species and hence, they demand larger aquariums. The most common species of cichlids in American waters are cichlasomines. These are aggressive fish that are infamous for warring. To avoid this, you need to make sure that the aquarium you keep them in, consists of plenty of space for each male cichlid to mark his own territory. Apart from the cichlasomines species, fish from rainbow cichild species are also found in American water bodies.

Cichlasomines : Thorichthys Group

• Firemouth Cichlid

Cichlasomines : Archocentrus Group

• Convict Cichlid

Cichlasomines : Henrichthys Group

• Pearlscale Cichlid
• Texas Cichlid

Cichlasomines : Amphilophus Group

• Midas Cichlid
• Large Lipped Cichlid
• Long Fin Cichlid

Nandopsis Group

• Friedrichsthali
• Jaguar Cichlid
• Jack Dempsy
• Salvin's Cichlid or Tricolor Cichlid

Cichlasomines : Theraps Group

• Red-spotted Cichlid
• Black Belt Cichlid
• Nicaragua Cichlid
• Quetzal Cichlid or Red-headed Cichlid

South American Cichlid Species
South American water bodies possess approximately 225 cichlid species, with about 300 estimated species. Amongst them, more than 75% cichlid species dwell in the mighty Amazon river basin. The most popular cichlid species of South American waters are - the discus fish, oscar fish and the angelfish; while some other include - eartheater fish, new world dwarf cichlid and acara fish.

• Oscar fish or Velvet Cichlid
• Peacock Bass
• Festa's Cichlid
• Port Acara or Black Acara
• Pike Cichlid
• Banded Cichlid
• Festive Cichlid

Acara Cichlids

• Blue Acara
• Green Terror or Rivulatus
• Saddle Cichlid or Two-spot Acara
• Keyhole Cichlid
• Flag Acara
• Golden Dwarf Cichlid

New World Dwarf Cichlids

• Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid
• Yellow Dwarf Cichlid
• Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid
• Three-Stripe Dwarf Cichlid
• Ramirez' Dwarf Cichlid

Angel Cichlid Species

• Angelfish
• Altum Angelfish

Discus Cichlid Species

• Brown Discus Fish
• Green Discus
• Royal Blue Discus
• Heckle Discus or Pompadour Fish
• Waroo or Triangle Cichlid

Eartheater Cichlis Species

• Cupid Cichlid
• Pearl Cichlid or Mother-of-Pearl Eartheater
• Red hump Eartheater
• Paraguay Mouthbrooder
• Demon Fish

Asian Cichlid Species

Only two or three cichlid species are found in the Asian continent, that live in the briny water bodies of Indian and Sri Lankan lagoons. They are:

• Orange Chromide
• Green Chromide or Banded Chromide

Since there is a huge diversity in the behavior, eating habits and size of all these cichlid species, it is best to bring home fish that are native to your region. If not, then it is important to maintain healthy and home-like environment in the cichlid fish tank. Make sure you look after all the essentials of a healthy fish tank like ensuring proper hygiene, pH balance, temperature and quality of the water, suitable substrate and light formation and provision of the correct fish food, etc.

So, I guess now you can bring home some of your favorite cichlid species and raise them up with all the care that you can bestow upon them. Here I conclude this article about cichlid species. Hope the article above was informative to all of you.