| p>Jewel cichlids or Hemichromis bimaculatus | | | | common variety tropical fish foods. It is a good |
| belong to the family Cichlidae. Jewel cichlids are | | | | idea to supplement their diet with some form of |
| commonly known as African cichlids because that | | | | protein whether freeze-dried, frozen or live to |
| is their continent of origin. They are native to the | | | | help insure they are less likely to develop a taste |
| rivers, streams, creeks and lakes of west and | | | | for their tank-mates fins. |
| northeast Africa. Jewels are plentiful in the Nile, | | | | Breeding Jewel Cichlids |
| Zaire, and Niger Rivers. They live in a variety of | | | | The Male is more brightly colored than the female. |
| water conditions including stagnate lagoon waters. | | | | Jewel cichlids are monogamous by nature. Once |
| Jewel Cichlids are not for amateur aquarists. Nor | | | | they choose a mate that is it. This is not at all a |
| do they make good community fish. They require | | | | trait common to most fish. |
| fairly specific water conditions. They fare well in | | | | If you hope to spawn them provide them with |
| water with a pH level of 7.5 and a temperature | | | | plenty of hiding places. Rocks and caves are |
| range between 70-82 °F. Jewel cichlids are | | | | probably best due to their tendency to dig up |
| innately aggressive. They appear to suffer from | | | | plants. Once they pair up they should be removed |
| an extreme case of Alpha Male Syndrome. They | | | | to a breeding tank with adequate hiding places. |
| will fight other species for dominance over their | | | | You will know spawning is about to take place |
| territory. They are best suite for a mono-species | | | | when they start to clean a flat surface to deposit |
| aquarium. | | | | their eggs on. |
| There have been reported cases where Jewel | | | | Both males and females have advanced parental |
| cichlids have adapted to a community | | | | instincts. They will guard the eggs until they are |
| environment. They are introduced when still quite | | | | hatched and then participate in raising the fry. The |
| young to a well established tank. This procedure, | | | | parents will continue to tend to the fry until they |
| however, is not recommended. Even if they | | | | are about half an inch long. They will even make a |
| adapt to communal living, they are still voracious | | | | nest of sorts by digging a hole in the substrate to |
| fin nippers due to their instinct to feed on other | | | | deposit the fry into. Make sure the parents are |
| fish in the wild. | | | | done parenting their offspring before removing |
| Even in mono-species environments they are an | | | | them from the breeding tank. |
| active species to the point of being destructive. | | | | Freshly hatched fry can be fed newly hatched |
| They have a tendency to dig up both plants and | | | | brine shrimp, liquid or solid fry food. Powdered |
| substrate. | | | | eggs can also be used as a suitable alternative to |
| Jewel cichlids reach four to six inches long as | | | | store bought food. Do not add too much at a |
| adults and have a life span of up to eight years. | | | | time to avoid fowling up the water. |
| Jewel cichlids are omnivores. They will eat | | | | |