| Worldwide, shelter brooding is a kind of | | | | behavior will continue, following establishment of |
| reproductive habit among cichlids. Many cichlids | | | | any pair bond, as a ritualistic recognition or |
| guard their off spring and hide them inside caves, | | | | greeting behavior reaffirming that bond. |
| shells or simply inside the mouth of a parent. To | | | | There isn't any best or right setup and design for |
| breed them, clear clean water and substrate | | | | cichlids. You can find however designs which may |
| ranging from mud to gravel is required (with | | | | be better suited to your cichlids and make them |
| regards to the Betta species). Dense vegetation | | | | feel more at home. If your interested in seeing |
| really should be planted into your aquarium. Their | | | | natural behaviors from the fish you should try to |
| water temperature need to be cool, say between | | | | design your aquascape to mirror the environment |
| 65 and 75 degrees F. Flowing streams coming | | | | your fish would live in if it were wild. |
| from the highlands have cooler water. | | | | Not every setup will work with every cichlid. One |
| Most African Cichlids are what's called "maternal | | | | example is an exceptionally rocky African Mbuna |
| mouthbrooders." Mouthbrooders are highly | | | | setup will not make a south american or even a |
| advanced from an evolutionary standpoint. | | | | african hap very happy. Many individuals who keep |
| They've developed a technique for protecting | | | | fish think cichlids are difficult to take care of, but |
| their young along at the most vulnerable time in | | | | Cichlids are easy to maintain once you learn how |
| their development. Mouthbrooders brood their | | | | to keep them healthy, and stress free. 90% of |
| eggs within their mouths! | | | | issues with cichlids start with stress, tank mates, |
| For many of the non-mouthbrooding cichlids, and | | | | pH levels, and feeding them the wrong food. |
| that is most neotropical cichlids, more or less | | | | To acquire more information about the |
| stable pairs are formed and maintained through | | | | technicalities of keeping cichlids, read Cichlid Fish |
| pair bonding behaviors. Such behaviors as jaw | | | | Secrets. It's very professionally written and very |
| locking, gill flaring (frontal displays) and beating | | | | easy to read whatever experience level, which is |
| circling (lateral displays) function permitting | | | | loaded from start to finish with relevant, detailed, |
| inspection and "testing" of potential mates. This | | | | and simple reading information. |