Cichlid Fish Secrets

Cichlids are a tropical fish known for being extremely aggressive and active. They come in a variety of vivid colors and sizes. There are more than 1,300 known species variations of the cichlid, with the two most common for aquarium enthusiasts being the South American cichlid and the African cichlid. While many tropical fish tend to hide, the cichlids are constantly on the move. As with many breeds of fish, there are many secrets to raising cichlids. The various secrets to cichlid care will ensure that you are able to have a successful tank.

Things You'll Need

  • Conditioned tank
  • Aquarium decor
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Instructions

    • 1

      Provide a tank that is large enough to house cichlids. Cichlids can grow to be very large, averaging anywhere from 4 to 10 inches. The minimum size tank for cichlids should be around 30 gallons, with a 50-gallon tank being much more suitable. When adding cichlids, one for every 2 to 3 gallons of water that your tank holds is a good reference point. Decorate the aquarium with a moderate amount of rock formations and caves to emulate the natural environment of the cichlid.

    • 2

      Condition the water of the cichlid tank with a cheap fish, such as minnows. Depending on the breed, cichlids can be expensive. Cichlids also do better in a tank in which you integrate all of the cichlids at once. Adding too many at once to a tank that has never housed fish, however, can cause a toxic buildup of ammonia, which can kill off the fish in the tank. This is called "New Tank Syndrome." Adding a cheap feeder fish such as minnows to a new tank will condition the water with nutrients and bacteria that are essential for a healthy tank.

    • 3

      Dedicate your tank strictly to housing one regional type of cichlid. Cichlids are far too aggressive to add any other fish to their tank. South American and African cichlids are also not compatible with one another. To determine which region the cichlids are from, ask a clerk at your local tropical fish store. African species of cichlids tend to be more vibrantly colored and larger than the South American species.

    • 4

      Take precautions to minimize the aggression of your cichlids. Cichlids are extremely territorial. The more cichlids your tank has, the less territory there will be for individual cichlids. Shift rocks and other décor around on a regular basis to avoid any territorial claim as well. If you notice that there is a smaller cichlid being singled out by one or more of the aggressive fish, you may want to remove the smaller fish and place it in a smaller tank, where you can feed it at a rate of one and a half times that of the main tank. This should cause the smaller cichlid to grow at a rate much more rapid than that of the fish in the main tank. Once the smaller fish is the same size, you may integrate it back into the main tank.

    • 5

      Add an algae eater that the cichlids will not attack. A plecostemous has tough skin and spines, making it more able to defend itself than other algae eaters. Another alternative is to get a snail, like the apple snail. Snails reproduce rapidly, so you only need to get a few