Types of African Cichlids

There are thousands of species of African cichlids, but most of the species kept in aquariums come from Lake Malawi, Lake Tanganyika and Lake Victoria. In general they are aggressive and territorial and are best kept in pairs or in large crowded tanks to prevent individual fish from becoming too dominant. African cichlids have become very popular as aquarium fish, and many species are now bred in captivity. Many species, especially those from Lake Victoria, are endangered in the wild due to pollution and the introduction of non-native species such as the Nile perch.

  1. Lake Malawi

    • There are hundreds of species of cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in southern East Africa. These can be subdivided into two basic types: the mbuna cichlids and non-mbuna cichlids. Mbunas live in rocky areas of the lake and tend to be small, colorful fish that are extremely aggressive and feed on algae and small crustaceans. Mbunas look after their young in their mouths and are called mouthbrooders. A single male should be kept with several females, as males will often fight to the death. The non-mbunas are larger and less aggressive and live all over the lake. The most popular of the non-mbunas are the peacock cichlids. All Lake Malawi cichlids need alkaline water in the aquarium with a pH of between 7.5 and 9.

    Lake Tanganyika

    • Lake Tanganyika in the Rift Valley of East Africa has about 150 types of cichlid fish, although there may be many more unknown species. There are three main ecosystems in the lake with different species adapted to each one. Fish living on the sandy or muddy bottom of the lake tend to be small and to live and breed in empty snail shells. They are known as the shell dwellers. Fish living close to the rocky shore, such as the Julidochromis cichlids, tend to be very aggressive and territorial and are best kept in pairs. Fish from the open water of the lake, which is 1,400 meters deep, form pairs and need very clean water.

    Lake Victoria

    • Lake Victoria cichlids are the least known group in the aquarium world, and many species may have become extinct before they were even discovered. There are both rock-dwelling and bottom-dwelling species. The Christmas fulu, Haplochromis phytophagus, is an easy-to-keep Lake Victoria species that is endangered in the wild. A breeding group of one male and several females can be kept in a large aquarium of at least 40 gallons.