Showing posts with label African Cichlids. Show all posts
Showing posts with label African Cichlids. Show all posts

2017-10-03

AFRICAN LAKE CICHLIDS - Lake Malawi

Dominant Male
Photo   by     Katatoniq
Lake Malawi is part of the East African Rift valley system (meaning it lies in the East African rift caused by the African tectonic plate splitting in two) and is located in southern Africa. It is the ninth largest lake in the world and the third largest in Africa with a surface area around 29,600 km. It is situated between the countries of Malawi, Tanzania, and Mozambique. 

The lake is often called Lake Nyssa as there is still a debate between bordering countries. Lake Malawi consists of a single large basin that is approximately 506 km long and 75 km wide at the widest point. The lake's maximum depth is 700 m and it has a mean depth of around 292 m. Lake Malawi is unusual because it does not have tides or currents.

The lake is fairly warm with a deep level temperature of around 72o and with a surface temperature of 75 - 84o. The reason for the 9o F fluctuation in temperature is that Lake Malawi lies far enough south of the equator to experience definite seasonal variations in temperature. The pH ranges from 7.7 - 8.6, the gH ranges from 4-6 dH, and the kH ranges from 6-8 dH.

There are several main cichlid habitats within the lake. The first is the sandy shoreline that makes up about 70% of the coast. Some plants live in this area, but not many. Haps and peacocks use this as their habitat. The second area is the rocky shoreline that makes up the remaining 30% of the coast.



Here there is no vegetation and rocks are piled on top of each other. The rocky areas tend to be where the shores have a steep drop off. Mbunas make this their habitat (hence their name which means "rock-dweller"). The third area is the river mouths and area close to shore that is highly vegetated. These areas tend to be shallow and can also be fairly muddy. Lastly, the deepwater zones that go from 30 m to 250 m deep are inhabited by some of the larger predatory cichlids.



2017-09-15

A Comprehensive Listing of the Various CICHLID TYPES

A lot of people have been asking me lately about the different cichlid types so I thought I would compile a bit of a thorough list in regards to the various species.

Cichlid (sik-a-lid) fish stem from what's known as the Cichlidae (sik-li-day) family. The Cichlidae family is an extremely large & diverse family having nearly 2000 specimens described and it's believed the still much more to be described scientifically.

different Mbuna from Lake Malawi
Different Mbuna from Lake Malawi (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

They would have to be the largest family of vertebrates.

Due to the fact that we are constantly finding new species types, estimating the exact number of cichlid types is very hard to do.

These fish come in some of the strangest looking shapes to the most breathtaking colors and throw in some peculiar mannerisms and it makes for quite the character.

Cichlids are found all across the globe ranging from Africa throughout Asia to North and South America.
Cichlid fish which tend to be kept in captivation can come from the African waters as well as the Amazon basin area and also from some the famous lakes like Lake Malawi, Great African Rift Lake and Lake Tanganyika.

Presently there is a massive diversity in the behavior and eating habits of these fish because of the greater number of types.

The majority of cichlid types are herbivorous fishes and feed on vegetation or even algae. The other cichlid varieties are generally omnivorous, will eat anything or they are carnivorous fishes that live on other fish & insects.

The broad range of eating habits has really allowed cichlid fish to occupy numerous habitats. Cichlid fish do not survive in salt water although funnily enough, their ancestors did.

Most cichlid kinds are fairly scaled down in size and many of them tend to be referred to as game types.

This has lead to several different cichlid species being farmed for human consumption. On the flip side, we can't deny a number of fish tank enthusiasts that enjoy cichlid species because of their eye-catching colorings and tendencies.

Angelfish, Oscar fish, Discus fish and Convict cichlid are among the most popular with aquarium enthusiasts.

African Cichlid Species
Most of the Cichlid types that we see in captivity today come from the African Amazonian regions. So on with the listings!

Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi is one of the largest lakes known to man and is home to over 300 varieties of cichlid fish. Some of the well-known African species are:

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

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

Peacock Group
* Baensch's Peacock, Yellow Peacock or Sunshine Peacock
* Red Shoulder Malawi Peacock
* Lake Malawi Butterfly

Lake Tanganyika
* Pearly Compressiceps
* Compressiceps
* Frontosa
* Black-finned Slender
* Striped Clown Goby, Striped Goby, 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
* Daffodil Brichardi
* Lemon
* Elongated Lemon
* Ocellated Shell-dweller
* Pearl-lined Lamprologus
* Five-bar
* Otostigma, Tripod
* Blue-eyed Tropheus
* Duboisi
* Blunt-headed
* Poll's Tropheus
* Aulonocara
* Lamprichthys
* Synodontis
* Afromastacembelus

Cavity Brooder s
* Altolamprologus
* Lamprologus
* Julidochromis
* Neolamprologus

Mouth Brooder Group of s
* Cyphotilapia
* Cyprichromis
* Eretmodus
* Tropheus
* Xenotilapia

Other African Species
* African Butterfly
* Zebra Haplochromis
* Two-spotted Jewel
* Blood-red Jewel
* Purple or the Common Krib
* African Blockhead or Lumphead
* Zebra Tilapia
* Clown Tilapia

North American Species
* Firemouth
* Convict
* Pearlscale
* Texas
* Midas
* Large Lipped
* Long Fin
* Friedrichsthali
* Jaguar
* Jack Dempsy
* Salvin's or Tricolor
* Red-spotted
* Black Belt
* Nicaragua
* Quetzal or Red-headed

South American Species
* Oscar fish or Velvet
* Peacock Bass
* Festa's
* Port Acara or Black Acara
* Pike
* Banded
* Festive

Acaras
* Blue Acara
* Green Terror or Rivulatus
* Saddle or Two-spot Acara
* Keyhole
* Flag Acara
* Golden Dwarf

New World Dwarfs
* Agassiz's Dwarf
* Yellow Dwarf
* Cockatoo Dwarf
* Three-Stripe Dwarf
* Ramirez' Dwarf

Angel Species
* Angelfish
* Altum Angelfish

Discus Species
* Brown Discus Fish
* Green Discus
* Royal Blue Discus
* Heckle Discus or Pompadour Fish
* Waroo or Triangle


Eartheater Cichlids Species

* Cupid
* Pearl or Mother-of-Pearl Eartheater
* Red hump Eartheater
* Paraguay Mouthbrooder
* Demon Fish.





2017-08-25

How to Buy AFRICAN CICHLIDS For Sale Online

Buying African Cichlids from an online retailer has pros and cons. One of the advantages to buying from a local fish store is you see the fish with your own eyes before picking one out. The disadvantage is many stores buy fish in bulk from farms that breed mass quantities of fish without the degree of care that a local breeder would do. Furthermore, major aquarium retail chains stock fish that sell well, not necessarily what you want and often with inbred or poor genetic strains.


Before making a tropical fish purchase from an online retailer consider the criteria listed below:

A shell-brooding cichlid of the genus Lamprolo...
A shell-brooding cichlid of the genus Lamprologus from Lake Tanganyika in East Africa
(Photo credit: 
Wikipedia)

  1. Are the fish you will be receiving the same fish photographed on their website? Some online African cichlid stores post pictures that are very different in size and color than the fish you will be receiving. A reputable retailer shows actual photographs of the fish for sale taken from their own tanks. "What you see is what you get" photos are time-consuming and labor intensive so at a minimum, you should only buy African cichlids with photos that are nearly identical to the real fish for sale. Do not be fooled by misleading stock photos.
  2. Where do they get their livestock for sale? The fish are either bred locally, wild caught, or purchased from a major distributor or fish farm. You don't have to know their trade secrets, but you should be able to get an idea of how they obtain their livestock.
  3. How do they ship African Cichlids? Shipping fish is unlike taking a product from a shelf and mailing it. Call your retailer and ask them how they prepare their livestock for shipment. Fish should be double bagged in 2 mil bags with oxygen and an additive to slow metabolism and respiration. An ammonia detoxifier should also be added before packing everything into an insulated box.
  4. What kind of dead on arrival guarantee is offered? A reputable online cichlid breeder guarantees that your fish arrive alive and healthy. In the event fish are dead on arrival, they quickly replace it with shipping included at their expense. At a minimum, a cash refund should be offered.
  5. Do they respond quickly to email or telephone inquiries? If they are difficult to reach before the sale, they may be impossible to reach when a problem arises. Reputable online tropical fish stores are focused on good customer service.

In conclusion, there are many advantages to buying African cichlids for sale online. You can find rare and exotic fish with genetic strains that are unavailable at your LFS, pricing is usually cheaper, the quality of fish from a breeder is almost always better, and fish that come from a reputable and ethical online dealer arrive healthy and disease free as described on their website. Finally, a live arrival guarantee is always included.



2017-08-20

Fact Sheet: DEMASONI CICHLID - Pseudotropheus demasoni

Pseudotropheus demasoni
Demasoni Cichlid - Photo by Lee Nachtigal 
Pseudotropheus demasoni

Description
Demasoni is also known as the Midnight demasoni and is scientifically known as the Pseudotropheus demasoni from the cichlidae family. Its maximum length is 3 inches with a lifespan of 8 years. This species originated in Lake Malawi.

Both male and female of these species also come in the same color patterns unlike most fishes, only the male cichlid's color is brighter. The male possesses dark blue and black vertical stripes along its body and for some may have alternate blue or white stripes. The male will also display anal fin spots while the female does not. The female's color, however, is not as bright as the males.

Aquarium set-up
Demasoni cichlid needs to be in a community by the dozen or even more fishes to keep its aggression at a minimum level. Hence, these species require large size aquariums with capacious swimming space, as well as rocks and caves for hiding. Crevasses, rocks, and caves would satisfy its curiosity giving them adequate things and places to explore. It would also provide each demasoni a place to claim as its territory.

This diversity requires a temperature of 72 - 82 degrees Fahrenheit with a pH of 8.0 - 9.0 range and also a water hardness of 10 - 18 dH.

Behavior and Tank mates
Your demasoni can be deceiving because of its size. So be wary in incorporating tank mates in the community. What the size lacks are all compensated with its aggressiveness and hostility. These fishes are known to have the capacity to attack fishes twice as big as they are and can wipe out a whole community without difficulty.

Bear in mind that these species are really aggressive and brutal which should not be housed in a species tank. They are only compatible with aggressive fishes and must not be kept with other cichlids that look similar to its appearance or even other fishes with stripes.

Diet
Demasoni diet is more on a high vegetable matter and needs only a low protein intake. Meaty foods should be canceled in its diet instead cichlid sticks and flakes are more favorable to its diet. Spirulina foods may be given frequently.

Breeding
Spawning should be 3 females to 1 male to achieve optimum results. It is usually the female who will look for a flat rocky place on which to lay its eggs and then pick the eggs up to her mouth for brooding. She will then closely follow the male until he releases the sperm to fertilize the eggs she is carrying.


The eggs will be kept inside the female's mouth for about three weeks for incubation before it is released. The fry may then be fed with crushed flakes or pellets, daphnia, or a small brine shrimp.

Demasoni cichlid may be tough to handle due to its aggressiveness towards other tank mates but are still an amazing species to keep with its vivid and bright colors. Find out what are its best tank mates and how to control its aggressiveness, I'm pretty sure, you will love the sight of them in your house.

    Lacey Bryant is a cichlid enthusiast and author, who has been caring for cichlids for over 20 years.
    Article Directory: EzineArticles


2017-07-21

All About PEACOCK CICHLIDS

The peacock cichlid is growing in popularity as a pet. They are traced to Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika. The fish are regarded as being amongst the most beautiful cichlids. And best of all they are some of the most peaceful of all the cichlid species.

They are best for large aquariums and are great for display due to their colors and a massive size. They are named after the peacock's colorful displays. The peacock cichlid has an elongated and a much higher back than other cichlids where their pelvic and the pectoral fins are a bit longer.

Aulonocara hansbaenschi RB2.jpg


The males grow to around 15 centimeters while females grow up to 4 centimeters. A dark indigo blue characterizes their colors from the lower jaw up to the rear part of the body. You will not need to breed the males and females of the peacock cichlid separately.

They breed very well and display a beautiful blend of colors. They are considered members of the free swimming Haplochromis group. In their natural habitat, they are known to form schools. While breeding them, it is advised that you have one or two males interact with a larger number of females. This will encourage breeding and you could have a whole school in no time.

The peacock cichlid is a mild aggression type of fish. Since the fish exhibit aggressive tendencies, you will need to build their aquarium with this in mind. They will increase in aggression when confined into these small tanks. Taking this in mind, you can be able to inhibit the aggression as well with extra water volume per fish.

You could also increase breeding. The tank should be around 100cm with capacity for up to 55 gallons of water. In the aquarium, you should set up rocks and provide crevices and cave like designs. Remember the fish's original habitat included crevices and caves.

The water needs to be alkaline in nature therefore; it is advised that you use coral sand substrate. Since the water may change rapidly, it is a good idea to have it changed as frequently as possible. A dirty fish tank is not only disturbing to the eye but also unsafe for fish. The aggression of the peacock cichlid is very minimal compared to most Lake Malawi counterparts.



However, they are good in defending their school and will form territories too. You should not place peacock cichlid with smaller fishes since they may look at them as food. They can be put into the same tank with like-sized fishes like cat fish. Mbunas should not be chosen as tank-mates for the peacock cichlid.

They tend to be far more aggressive. Peacock cichlids are omnivores. It is a simple task when it comes to feeding since they are not choosy. They can be fed from foods such as bloodworm, mosquito larvae and crustaceans. The water pH level should be a bit above 8 but not exceed 8.2. They need a relatively warm water temperature of between 26 and 29 degrees Celsius.



2017-06-26

The Basic Things You Need to Know About the ELECTRIC BLUE CICHLID

Electric blue cichlids are extremely beautiful fishes and are stupendous in freshwater aquarium keeping. They possess the typical shape of the cichlidae family which is sleek and bullet shaped body.

The other name of a blue cichlid is Sciaenochromis fryeri, which can be placed in the aquarium together with other Lake Malawi cichlids if given sufficient and capacious tank of about 70 gallons or even more if possible and decorate it with plenty of rockwork. Live plants are not very compatible with blue cichlids because of its excessive aggressiveness and agility. However, aquatic plants may be beneficial to other aquarium inhabitants. Electric blue cichlids larger than three inches have the tendency to uproot any plants and may be aggressive towards small fishes.

Cichlid - Electric Blue
Photo by Bradsview


They are originally found in the Northern end of Africa and are considered as an "old species" because of its wide distribution in lakes and its breeding technique. Most of the blue cichlids caught are from Likoma. The natural habitat of a cichlid is deep water over rocky areas. They can grow as much as 20 centimeters.

They are considered as a mouth brooder fish. The female electric blue cichlid will fertilized and carry its eggs in her mouth within the period of twelve to eighteen days, after that the fry are released.  The female can spawn up to 50 - 60 eggs or a maximum of 100 eggs. Spawning is normally done in flat rocks or surface in the wild but in aquarium the males are the ones who make the nest.

These variety thrive well in an aquarium water chemistry of 72 - 82 degrees Fahrenheit with a pH level of 7.8 -8.5 and dH of 10 - 15. The temperature may range from 25 - 28 degrees Celsius. Appropriate tank size would be a minimum of 4 - 6 inches in length. The adequate ratio for cichlids inside the tank is one male to five or 7 female blue cichlid.

In the wild this fishes mainly feed in the fry of other species but when kept in aquariums the proper way to provide food is once or twice a day. Each meal should only be given the amount that may be consumed within five minutes. It is best to feed them with live foods like feeder gruppies as well as commercial meaty foods such as freeze-dried or frozen blood worms or brine shrimp. More so, supplement live foods with pellets. Bear in mind that pellets are only supplements to their staple food and should not be fed as their primary diet.

Breeding electric blue cichlid is easy as long as it is provided with the proper care and diet. Read more about how to breed this variety of cichlid, it can be rewarding in your part.



2017-06-03

CICHLID CARE - Caring For African and American Cichlids


African Cichlid  Photo by Marcel Sigg 

One of the most important principles of cichlid care is water quality. Water chemistry, temperature and salinity are very important factors in keeping your cichlids thriving, healthy and happy. Different types of these unique aquarium fish have their own unique and strict water requirements.

Africans generally need their water a little saltier than American varieties, so do your cichlid care research wisely. For this reason alone American Cichlids and African Cichlids simply don't do well as tank mates. I have seen fellow aquarists get each species to survive while living in the same tank, but they simply cannot thrive with each other. For that matter, different varieties of African Cichlids have their own unique water chemistry requirements. Again, do your research wisely.

Another important principle in cichlid care is providing adequate tank decor, or lack thereof. Smaller varieties of cichlids, particularly the African varieties, need lots of nooks and shelters to hide in. Larger varieties such as Oscars simply will destroy almost anything you put in the tank with them. I have found, after years of keeping and caring for Oscars, they will do quite well with drift wood. It will give their tank mates like plecos and corys something to gather around.

American Cichlid - Severum Photo by Chun's Pictures 

Angel Fish and Discus love a heartily planted aquarium. In my opinion, they need a planted aquascape to thrive as they would in the wild. By the way, Discus are absolutely beautiful when they are happy and stress free.




2017-05-29

Introduction to the MALAWI CICHLID

Lake Malawi, The 3rd biggest lake that is in Africa and the 8th biggest in the world is home to several species of fish more than anywhere else in the world today. The Malawi Cichlids are some of the most beautiful fish on the planet. They are known to be of a huge array of wonderful colours and have become quite popular for fish collectors.

Lake Malawi is home to numerous cichlid specie...

The lake is known to be rocky and with very little vegetation. Near the edge of the lake though is sandier and with less rocks and the water is more open there. It is there that you can find a different habitat. The two habitats of Cichlids that are different are the ones that dwell on or around the rocks and the ones that are considered to be non rock dwellers.

If you are a fish keeper and are considering on getting some of the Cichlids for your aquarium you must be sure to know which group to choose as it is known that the rock dwellers and the non rock dwellers cannot live among each other quite well. Also it is believed that neither of them can survive with any other kinds of fish.

Once you make your decision on which you will prefer to have then next you will need to organize the aquarium. If it is the rock dwellers then of course you will need plenty of rocks and also small caves or places for them to explore and hide.

As for the non rock dwellers you shall need to prepare a sandier environment with the water is more open for them. Just scatter a few rocks around at the bottom of the tank; they will not need any caves or places to hide.

Be sure to remember what it is like for them to be in their habitat they like to be in water where the temperature is around 24-26 degrees Celsius or 76-79 degrees Fahrenheit. It is very important to replicate this inside of the tank. Also you shall need to keep the tank away from any heaters and out of any direct sun light.

    By Craig Wrightson
    If you would like to learn more about Malawi Cichlids and their environment, visit my site African Cichlid Success - NEW eBOOK! Get Instant Access!
    Learn everything you need to know about setting up and maintaining a perfect Cichlid Tank including the unbelievably simple secrets the professional breeders use on caring, feeding, breeding and diseases!
    Article Source: EzineArticles



2017-05-03

Basics of MALAWI CICHLID Aquarium Setup

The Malawi Cichlid aquarium needs water that is medium hard and alkaline. Crushed coral sand/gravel, crushed oyster shells, and limestone can all be used to bring down the pH in the tank. There are also products you can buy to amend the pH level such as Proper pH. It is important not to let the alkalinity of the water fluctuate too much, lest it have a bad effect on your cichlids. Cichlids are able to live in environments that are outside of their optimal range, but only if they are slowly introduced to those conditions. Even though they are hardy, any sudden changes in water chemistry can adversely affect them.

A sampling of aquarium fish from Lake Malawi, ...
Aquarium fish from Lake Malawi, in Africa (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Water temperatures should be kept between 76F and 79F. Malawi Cichlids do not tolerate hot water well at all, so be careful not to place their tank in close proximity to windows or heaters that can raise the temperature of the water. A digital water heater can help to regulate the water temperature automatically.

The Malawi Cichlid aquarium must also have proper filtration and lighting. Filters that hang on the back of the tank are recommended over the under gravel filters since Cichlids do like to dig. This fish produces a lot of waste and will fall ill if the water is not regularly cleaned. As for lighting, a fluorescent light is ideal since it does not produce heat, promotes fish growth, and helps to bring out the natural colors of the fish.

Malawi Cichlids do not need plants in their aquarium. In fact, they would be much happier with plenty of sand and rocks. The species out of Lake Malawi will prefer more sand while the Mbuna variety prefers more rocks. For this reason, among others, these two cichlid species should not be kept in the same tank. If you really want to add plants, it is recommend that you add hardy plants that are found in Lake Malawi. Unless of course you enjoy replacing plants every month after your cichlids terrorize them.

This article is only meant to introduce you to Malawi cichlid aquarium setup and there is a lot to learn outside of what I wrote here. The best thing to do to is research the conditions in Lake Malawi and try to find ways to mimic those conditions in your aquarium. When you have mastered that aspect of your aquarium, the fish pretty much take care of themselves.

    If you want more details about setting up a Malawi cichlid aquarium you can find them on my cichlid website. On my site you will be able to find information about everything to do with cichlids, including everyone's favorite: Cichlid breeding [http://www.cichlidfishcentral.com/cichlid-fish-articles/cichlid-breeding-overview/].
    Article Source: EzineArticles



2017-04-07

All About BUMBLEBEE CICHLIDS

The bumblebee cichlids are fresh water fish from the cichlid family. Their scientific name is Pseudotropheus crabro. They are also known as the hornet cichlid. These fishes are basically cave fish, since they live in large caves. Their pH preferences is mid while they are found in areas between the temperatures of 24°C to that of 26°C.

The fishes in this specie have a barred "bumblebee" pattern on their bodies which makes them specifically attractive to children. Their bodies are elongated and have yellow and black bars spawn all over their bodies.
Pseudotropheus Crabro Mâle (dominant)
Pseudotropheus Crabro Mâle (dominant) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When they are younger, the bumblebee cichlids are brightly colored and start to darken when they grow older.

One thing about the bumblebee cichlids fish is that they are very aggressive and should not be placed with other kinds of fishes in a community tank. During breeding, the males turn into an almost total black color.

The bumblebee cichlids change color very rapidly. For the females, they change their color to a black murky black.

The fish generally feed on parasites found on other fishes such as the bagrus cat fish. At times the bumblebee cichlids will prey on the eggs of the bagrus cat fish. Due to their fast color change ability, the bumblebee cichlids take up a dark brown color when preying on the eggs.

In normal circumstances, the bumblebee cichlids males will harass the female or other less aggressive males. They may even go to the extent of killing them. To remedy this, it is a good idea to place a few more females in the fish tank as well. One male bumblebee should be placed in a group of around six other females. This encourages spawning.

To determine the gender of the fish, pay specific attention to the color as well as the size. Male cichlids will usually display a larger frame than the females. On their bodies, they have a bluer coloring. The females on the other hand have a more pronounced yellow and gold.

Although very easy to breed, these kinds of fish should be watched carefully. When the males darken in color, their behaviors change and they create their own special territory in the tank. The male bumblebee cichlids then welcome one female at a time and circle and dance around.

The female lays the eggs and the male will sperm them. She then takes the eggs and the sperms into her mouth. The female then incubates the eggs in her mouth up to 21 days.



Female bumblebee cichlids usually eat the eggs while under stress. This may be caused by the male when he harasses her. The best remedy for this is to switch the female to a different tank. Here, she will incubate the eggs and hatch them, after which she will release them into the tank.

If this is not possible, design your tank in a way that it has more rocks. This will greatly help the females when they are in the incubation period. They will need a place to hide from the male bumblebee cichlids.

    Want to know more about bumblee-cichlids ? Then check out www.CichlidsSite.com [http://www.cichlidssite.com/] for the latest info on caring for, breeding and raising big beautiful cichlids.
    Article Source: EzineArticles



2017-03-10

AFRICAN CICHLIDS Have Many Excellent Features!

Are you looking for a wonderful breed of fish to add to your aquarium? African Cichlids are a tropical fresh water species and they are quite popular for use in home tanks today. Why is this? They have amazing and brilliant colors, making them a great addition to any underwater habitat! Not only are they beautiful to look at, they live much longer than most fish suitable for aquariums. They can live up to eight years with the proper care, and they are fairly easy to maintain as well.

African cichlid aquarium
African cichlid aquarium (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
African Cichlids are curious too, and they love to stay active! Yet, you need a bit of education to make the right choice when at the store, to ensure the best outcome with your new fish. To help you in this endeavor, let's examine African Cichlids in more detail below.


Interesting Qualities
African Cichlids are found in many lakes in Africa, the foremost being Lake Victoria, Tanginika and Malawi. They display a fascinating specialization, and are thought to be the most colorful fish which are freshwater in origin. These lively fish can have intricate behavior patterns, and can sometimes be aggressive. This is especially true if they are in a group, and it is best to feed them often if this is the case. Why is this? It gives them something else to focus upon, and will keep them otherwise occupied. How many feedings per day is appropriate? You can feed African Cichlids up to four times per day if necessary, to keep their fighting at bay. If they are more docile in nature, you can feed them less often.

The reason this tactic works so well, is that food is sometimes scarce in their natural habitat. African Cichlids live in large schools in the wild, and they must fight each other for any food which they obtain. By feeding them often throughout the day, you'll eliminate this source of conflict, by providing them with an abundant food source.

Another way to reduce their aggressive tendencies, is to buy fish that are nearly the same size. With this type of approach, no fish will feel that they have a clear advantage over the others, and more peaceful interaction will develop naturally. If you buy one African Cichlid which is much bigger than the other fish, they will try to dominate the rest, causing problems in your aquarium.

African Cichlids are usually on the move as well, and will provide you with endless hours of entertainment! They love to explore their environment, and will be interested in any decorations in your aquarium. They'll also be curious about the other fish in your tank as well, and often times they will even dig in the substrate to stay busy.

Experienced Care Needed For African Cichlids
For all of these reasons and more, this species is a great addition to any tank, yet some care should be taken. They are not really suitable if you're just starting out, as it can take some research and experience to have the best outcome. In fact, these fish are part of a large subset which includes about six hundred other species, and each one has its own specific needs! The variations can run the gamut from small behavior differences, to special food requirements. As you can see, you shouldn't buy these fish if you haven't prepared to care for them beforehand.

Other potential issues to be aware of, are their breeding habits as well. If you want to produce offspring, you should be aware that African Cichlids can be hard to mate. Incompatibility is a common problem, and these fish can often get into fights instead of breeding. It is best to add one fish at a time, to ensure the most harmonious atmosphere possible. This will also help you to balance the nitrogen levels in your tank as well, keeping it well below the danger zone.

However, once successful mating takes place, African Cichlids are wonderful parents! They will keep their young safe and well cared for, and they stay around even after the eggs have hatched. This is in contrast to some other species, which leave their eggs to fend for themselves. In fact, African Cichlids have even been known to care for one another's eggs when in the wild, displaying remarkably strong social behavior.

Other Considerations
While there may be some variation in their needs, all African Cichlids require a large tank to do well. Also, water which is quite basic on the pH scale is best for them, and will give them conditions which most closely mimic those found in their natural habitat. If you are at a loss for how to do this, add some crushed coral to your aquarium, which will work to promote a base environment.

Also, there are now hybrid species available, which cross African Cichlids with other varieties of fish. While these may be interesting, and boast unique characteristics, there are several drawbacks as well. They may not be as resilient as fish with a pure genetic strain, meaning they may be harder to care for. Also, their behavior may be a bit more erratic, as you don't know which species traits they will display most dominantly.



Conclusion
Though African Cichlids can require some extra measures of care, they are well worth the effort! If you are a novice when it comes to aquariums, you should wait until you have more experience. Yet, if you have some knowledge in this area, these fish are a wonderful addition for your tank! With their high energy and curious nature, they'll always give you something to watch with interest. They may hide behind your decorations, or even burrow into the sand or gravel at the bottom of the aquarium. If you have any problems with aggressive behavior, just remember to feed them often. With this simple strategy in mind, you can often eliminate any issues with ease, and go back to having a peaceable tank in no time at all.

With their brilliant colors, African Cichlids will add new hues and tones to your aquatic environment as well. They have a reputation for being intelligent, and they can be quite loyal as well. If they do have little ones, they make excellent parents too. So, for all of these reasons, you are sure to love this species of fish, and will enjoy having them in your tank for many years to come!

    Having had fish tanks for over ten years, enjoying freshwater tropical fish, I now decided to write about my experiences on FreshwaterTropicalFish.org [http://freshwatertropicalfish.org].
    Article Source: EzineArticles


2017-02-20

Pseudotropheus Elongatus - One of the Original MBUNA

Maybe  it is the sleek, torpedo shape knifing through the waters of the aquarium, unlike most other types of fish which are built much more like...well, fish!  Or possibly the brilliant, usually blue and black vertical striped  colourations, are what attracted me in the first place, and hold me fascinated as they swim.  There are some other morphs and colorations coming into the trade as time goes by, but the blue and black bars of an alpha male will always be my favorite pattern for this fish.

Elongate mbuna
Elongate mbuna (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Most likely it is the way they carry themselves with pure attitude, from fry on up that makes them so memorable.  Rarely do they allow themselves to be bullied, and generally end up as the fish to be concerned about when new additions are added.  They are already kings and queens and will ensure the rest are aware of their status.  An alpha male, patrolling the aquarium and ensuring all others flee when near is a spectacle I can watch for hours.

Like many other Mbuna from Lake Malawi, the elongatus has developed as a mouth brooder. Although this form of parental behaviour is not unique to this species, it is fascinating to watch.  I have had established aquariums where many generations live and thrive in the same tank.  Father, Son, Grandson, great grandson and even more generations all grow and thrive together over time and interbreed their generations if allowed.

Unlike livebearers who simply drop their babies someplace and leave, rarely recognizing them later as anything other than food, the entire cichlid family provides some form of parenting behaviour.  South American Cichlids share the duties with both parents often protecting the eggs where they have been laid.  They then continue protecting the brood as they hatch and then begin to swim.  For most species this a job for both male and female of the pair, and for this reason many species form long-term bonds.

The Mbuna, or African CIchlids generally take this protection a step further, holding the young within the mouth of the female until the fry are free-swimming and able to fend for themselves.  Unlike many others that pair-bond, it seems the female takes the responsibilities for the fry on herself and pairing will be much more fluid.  This is important to understand since when after the courtship and the eggs have been laid, the female may not eat for up to three weeks to prevent accidental ingestion of the precious cargo she is carrying in her mouth.  The male does not share these duties, and can even be working with another female during this period.

Elongatus, like most African Cichlids, are more difficult to sex and to compound the problem there are  extreme discrepancies in the ratio of the sexes for many Mbuna species.  There are commonly many more females than males born and raised to maturity. It is often best to purchase these fish, as unsexed juveniles in schools of 6 or so, that way you should get at least one viable pair when they mature. This also helps with controlling the aggressive tendencies of the fish and keeps them busier among themselves establishing territory and dominance in the group rather than beating up the other species kept in the aquarium.

Once grown, the males are generally larger than the females.  The egg patches on the anal fins are often more intensely coloured for the females, offering better visual targets for the males in the breeding rituals. As a species they are very aggressive, even for African Mbuna,  But, with enough distractions, simply add plenty of activity to the aquarium.  Don't obtain these fish if you are looking for a peaceful and placid aquarium community.



The living area should be as large as possible, with a 30 gallon aquarium being my personal minimum for them.  Decorations should be basically rocks - usually the flatter and stackable the better.  I have had the most success with lots of slate that is piled up in such a manner that there are all sorts of small spaces and channels for the babies, once they have been released from the mother's mouth.  They need to rapidly find places and swimming paths where bigger fish mouths simply cannot go.  The rocks should be piles in the back of the aquarium with free swimming areas open in the front. I also tend to offer a few caves or other hiding places in the front that often become the sole property of the tank alpha male.

Some people have had success with live plants with Africans, or so they report, but I have always found that if they don't eat them, then they will dig them up, so I have always reverted to rock decorations only.

I keep the tank relatively high in pH, although nowhere close to the recommendation of Hans Baensch - p 756 - Baensch Aquarium Atlas which is 8.5.  My fish do fine in Montreal's standard water - about 7.6 - 7.8.  The water is supplemented with an African Cichlid conditioner to bring up the hardness and stabilize alkalinity, but other than that, at present no other work is done on the water characteristics.

I do very little as far as exotic foods.  Most African Cichlids do very well on the various prepared foods available at the local pet store. Cichlid pellets, either floating or sinking are usually quite enough, although I do feed them some staple flakes as well.  At present the food I have is a sinking small Cichlid micro pellet for the tank of essentially juvenile Africans.  The pellets seem to sink quite fast to a single place, so the addition of flakes lets everyone feed at other levels in the aquarium.

    By Stephen Pond
    Having kept and bred many different types of tropical fish for the past forty years, I am dedicated to providing information required for the novice aquarist to to the advanced tropical fish keeper to become successful in this fascinating hobby. I continue to provide as much information on all aspects of the hobby through my website with its associated blogs and video areas dedicated to quite a number of aquarium topics at the Tropical Fish Aquarist website. It has been designed to provide an excellent resource for every level of fish enthusiast. For more detailed information specifically tailored for the novice aquarist on all aspects of the beginning aquarium check the website at http://www.noviceaquarist.com Besides my own personal contributions, a variety of other sources are polled and added regularly to the content warehouse available there.
    (Part of non-working links deleted)
    Article Source: EzineArticles




2017-02-03

AFRICAN CICHLID Fish

Cichlids are an adorable group of freshwater fishes highly prized for their rich coloration. They are considered among the most specialized and diverse group of fishes anywhere in the world. There are an estimated 1300 or more species existing, all with an unimaginable number of size and color combinations. Those freshwater Oscars and angelfish we all knew to be aquarium fish species are actually cichlids. The African cichlid is one two classifications widely displayed in aquariums these days.

Adult Neolamprologus cylindricus in an aquarium
Adult Neolamprologus cylindricus in an aquarium (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This particular fish group comes from three African lakes: Lake Victoria, Lake Malawi, and Lake Tanganyika. With Lake Malawi being the second deepest and at the same time third largest lake in the African landscape, about a thousand species or more of the Lake Malawi cichlids are considered the most beautiful in the world, whether they live in the freshwater or otherwise.

Cichlids found in Africa are especially known for displaying beautiful and enchanting patterns complete with an array of colors not surprisingly typical in most species of freshwater species. Everyone agrees that such types are also the most colorful among the species. They are most elegant to observe at, especially when they flaunt their impressive social behavior and intelligence.

African cichlids are designed by nature to adapt to captivity, which is why you can see so many of them available in pet shops anywhere these days. They are also hardy, which means maintaining them is much easier compared to others. This great characteristic is doing so many things to help them survive in new environments and specific geographic locations.

African cichlids are also known to have varied and interesting behaviors. Some types are known to carry their eggs and young into their mouths. The male functions to fertilize the eggs, while the female picks them up and incubates them inside the mouth for about three weeks or more depending on the species. Researchers believe this behavior is an evolutionary advancement of their specific reproductive methods, since the process significantly provides offspring protection during delicate development periods. Even if the young are already released, mothers are still driven by instinct to protect them inside their mouths whenever threatened.

This particular species are also known to be more aggressive compared to their counterparts and extremely territorial, which may also explain the link with their highly predatory features. When on the wild, they are often found living together in schools or groups of the same species. The mature ones are not hospitable since they function to guard the territory. They may even be aggressive to other fishes and even cichlids of varying species.

Cichlids in general express both their dominance and timidity mainly through their colors; pale fishes could be stressed out, or they could also be submissive. Bright-colored fish types on the other hand are usually dominant as they are also more aggressive than other cichlids. Whenever male cichlids lose territory, they also lose their bright colors. Some others even hide while retaining their dominance color just to pretend of their status, which also means to keep their hopes of attracting mates strong. And that's the African cichlid for you.