How to Keep Sardines in an Aquarium

Fish keepers that speak of keeping sardines in aquariums are not talking about the type that come in tin cans, but rather an impressive species native to Lake Tanganyika, called the sardine cichlid. Sardine cichlids receive their common name from their slender body, which resemble their marine namesake, but have an iridescent lavender to blue coloration with yellow or orange tail fins. The cichlids grow up to 4 inches long in aquariums and are peaceful fish that spend most of their time near the surface of the water, making sardine cichlids easy to keep in home aquariums.

Things You'll Need

  • 55 gallon aquarium with hood
  • Aquarium rocks
  • Aquarium plants
  • Aquarium filter
  • Aquarium heater
  • Thermometer
  • PH testing kit
  • Aquarium water conditioner
  • Small cup
  • Aquarium salt
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Instructions

    • 1

      Fill the aquarium with fresh, dechlorinated water and landscape the aquatic environment with plants and rocks. Sardine cichlids feel more secure when they have plenty of spaces to hide in the aquarium. Sardine cichlids are jumping fish, so ensure the aquarium hood sits securely over the tank to prevent sardines from jumping out.

    • 2

      Install the aquarium filter and ensure all the plumbing connections are secure and the pump is functional. You can use any type of aquarium filter for keeping sardine cichlids, but the fish prefer swift water movement along the surface of the water, so add powerheads to increase water circulations if you use an underground filter system.

    • 3

      Place the aquarium heater and thermometer in the aquarium and set the temperature for 77 degrees.

    • 4

      Test the chemistry of the aquarium water using a pH testing kit. Sardine cichlids prefer alkaline water conditions with a pH between 8 and 9. Add aquarium water conditioners to adjust the pH level and retest the pH.

    • 5

      Allow the aquarium to stand for several weeks before introducing fish. New aquariums need time to cycle through various chemical spikes caused by microorganisms before the aquatic environment becomes stable and safe for sardine cichlids.

    • 6

      Introduce sardine cichlids to the aquarium by allowing the bags containing the fish to float in the water. Use a small cup to take water out of the bag and replace with a cup of aquarium water. This process allows the sardine cichlids to slowly acclimate to the chemistry and temperature of the aquarium, reducing the stress on the fish.

    • 7

      Feed sardine cichlids a few pinches of tropical fish flakes two to three times each day. Several small feedings is more healthy for the fish than one large feeding.

    • 8

      Change 10 to 15 percent of the aquarium water each week. Always use fresh, dechlorinated freshwater and retest the pH to ensure the water chemistry is correct after the water change.

    • 9

      Add 1 teaspoon of marine aquarium salt for ever 11 gallons of water in the aquarium. Sardine cichlids, like many other African cichlids, prefer slightly brackish water in aquariums.