| I like to say breeding African Cichlids is all about | | | | and Tanganyika never drops under 7 pH. |
| preparing the right kind of environment for them. | | | | Therefore African Cichlids are not used to acidic |
| The closer your aquarium comes to representing | | | | water (pH under 7) and absolutely hate it. Aim for |
| the natural habitat of African Cichlids (which | | | | pH from 7.5 to 8.5. Water hardness is not as |
| consists of 2 warm lakes in Africa; Malawi and | | | | important as pH but make sure your water is not |
| Tanganyika) | | | | too soft. African Cichlids prefer hard water. |
| Well how do you create similar conditions as in a | | | | African Cichlids are extremely territorial type of |
| warm African lake in your aquarium? First of all | | | | fish. In their natural environment they usually find |
| you need a water heater. You should have one | | | | a small cave or other hiding place where they |
| anyways even if you don't want your Cichlids to | | | | spend their whole life. If there isn't enough hiding |
| breed. Unless the temperature in your house is | | | | places in your aquarium they will be very unhappy |
| around 79F what I doubt. | | | | which will result in the following:o Aggression and |
| Temperature of water sets the mood of your | | | | fights for territoryo Your Cichlids wont have a |
| Cichlids. The warmer the water the more active | | | | place to mate and lay their eggso Even if your |
| and aggressive they are but they also have | | | | Cichlids breed, baby fish will be eaten by the adult |
| higher desire to mate and breed. If your water is | | | | fish |
| too cold the will be just slowly swimming around. | | | | Make sure your aquarium environment features |
| Ideal water temperature is around 25-26C | | | | many hiding places for adult fish but also small |
| (77-79F). At this temperature they will be most | | | | hiding places for baby fish which are only |
| inclined to breed. | | | | accessible to them such as small spaces between |
| You also have to provide your Cichlids with similar | | | | rocks. |
| pH as in their natural environment. Water in Malawi | | | | |