| African cichlids are well known among aquarists | | | | ensure that the fishes in your aquarium live in |
| for their aggression and territorial behavior and | | | | similar water condition before putting them |
| hence, they can be difficult to care for when not | | | | together. |
| handled properly. If you are going to keep them | | | | Secondly, after considering water compatibility, |
| with other community fishes or cichlids, you need | | | | you will need to look at their temperament. One |
| to pay extra attention to the issue of water | | | | of the most complex and problematic issues |
| requirement and compatibilities with other cichlid | | | | surrounding cichlid is their behavior towards other |
| species. | | | | cichlids. You will find that most cichlid display |
| Firstly, you will need to ensure that the fishes in | | | | "selective aggression", meaning that they are only |
| your aquarium come from waters with similar pH | | | | aggressive towards the same species or species |
| level. African cichlid comes from three main | | | | that bears close resemblance to them. |
| African lakes: Lake Malawi, Lake Victoria and Lake | | | | The rationale here is that cichlids perceives |
| Tanganyika. The general idea here is to not mix | | | | similarity as a threat to their survival (compete |
| cichlids from different lakes as the pH level of the | | | | for the same food, same partner, same territorial |
| water are not the same. | | | | preference, etc). Thus, the general idea here is to |
| The same logic goes with all the other fishes in | | | | not mix cichlids of similar color or shape as they |
| you aquarium. Do your research beforehand and | | | | are perceived as a threat. |