African Cichlid Fish

The cichlid fish belongs to the family Cichlidae and order Perciformes. African cichlids come from the Great Rift Valley Lakes on African continent mainly from different lakes like Malawi, Victoria, Tanganyika etc. Cichlids are found in abundance in the river Nile, Niger, Zaire, Zambezi and Gambia. They also inhabit Lake Volta, Lake Albert, Okavango River Delta, Sierra Leone Regions and the acidic waters of Nigeria and Cameroon. African Cichlids can be freshwater or marine. The African cichlid fish is one of the most beautiful, colorful and adored varieties of fish species that can be reared at home or kept in an aquarium.

There are more than 1,400 cichlid species. The largely found ones are Pelvicachromis taeniatus, commonly known as Nigerian green, Hemichromis bimaculatus is sold as Jewel Cichlid, Jeweled Cichlid or Red Cichlid, Nanochromis transvestitus known as the West African dwarf cichlid, Steatocranus casuarius as lionhead cichlid, blockhead cichlid. The other popular species are Aulonocara Jacobfreibergi (Eureka), Aulonocara stuartgranti (Rubescens), Cynotilapia afra (Cobue), etc. The common names of the cichlids vary from place to place.

African Cichlid Fish Information

Tank

• Decide the size of the tank according to the size and number of fish. The fish tank should be large enough to accommodate all the fish.
• African Cichlids are mainly saltwater species. So adjust the pH of water by adding commercial buffers and salts or an equal mixture of Epsom salt, baking soda or aquarium salt. Detoxify the water from chlorine, toxic metals and ammonia.
• Maintain the temperature of the water to 74 - 80 F with the help of submersible pumps.
• If the quality of the water deteriorates then 10-20% water changes every week should be done.
• A good filtration system is required so that the water is purified before it enters the tank. Submersible pumps with sponges are very efficient filters.
• A good substrate is required inside the tank to support the cichlids' lifestyle. The substrate can be crushed coral sand, crushed limestone and sand free from silica.
• Now decorate the tank with rocks and fake plants. Make small caves and holes with limestone, slate, petrified wood, etc to give them rest and shelter.
• Few African cichlids are vegetarians. Feed them at intervals. Spirulina flakes are good for them.
• There should be adequate light inside the tank. Fluorescent lights are usually used to illuminate the inside of the tank.

Breeding
Once you have set up the tank, decide the type of cichlid you want to breed. Grow the same breed of male and female species inside the tank. Keep the number of females more than the male cichlids. Once the pair has mated, the female start holding the fry. After hatching you can either transfer the babies to a separate tank or retain them in the same tank for development. Feed the babies with newly hatched brine shrimp.

Care
Only keeping the fish inside the tank won't be a good option for the African cichlid fish. It needs the same natural environment as in lakes and rivers. All the conditions necessary for their survival must be provided inside the tank. The environment inside the tank, hygiene, water quality, pH, temperature, substrate, light, shelter and food must be conducive to support their life. Their movements and habits must be observed so that they don't face any trouble inside the tank. Care should be taken that the fish find a comfortable environment inside the tank and is able to build a niche of their own.

African cichlid fish are very diverse and their diversity in African Lakes and rivers makes them important for evolutionary studies.