| The cichlid fish has a very colorful appearance | | | | select the fish, cichlids can be kept in a |
| which makes them one of the most popular fish | | | | community tank. Dwarf cichlids work extremely |
| to own. Their care is not that difficult but they do | | | | well for this. They can be kept together pretty |
| have requirements that must be adhered to in | | | | easily with schooling fish like Characins. If you |
| order for them to be healthy.Most cichlids come | | | | keep cichlids in a tank together just make sure |
| from Africa, but they are also found in Central | | | | there is enough room for them to claim their own |
| and South America. They are found in many | | | | territory.Large cichlids should only be kept with |
| different kinds of waters, such as rivers, lakes | | | | fish of the same size and temperament as |
| and ponds. There are many different cichlid | | | | themselves. Do not keep any large cichlid with a |
| species and many different color variations.In your | | | | small fish because they will probably make them a |
| cichlid tank, you must provide places for them to | | | | meal.If you decide to breed cichlids, you need to |
| hide, such as large pieces of driftwood or rock | | | | realize that there are two different types of |
| caves. If you have a large species of cichlids, it is | | | | breeders. Substrate brooders lay eggs out in the |
| best not to put plants in their aquarium because | | | | open on a surface or hidden in a cavity. They will |
| they tend to dig up substrate materials. Other | | | | fan the eggs to increase oxygen supply and after |
| species, like the angelfish and discus prefer a | | | | they hatch, the fish will look after the young until |
| planted tank.Most cichlids like to be in water | | | | they are eating on their own and free swimming. |
| temperatures in the mid seventies. The Discus | | | | After that, the parents will still protect the young |
| species prefers slightly higher temperatures. The | | | | against predators. The parents will be extremely |
| staple food of your cichlid's diet should be a large | | | | aggressive during this time.The other type of |
| flake food, but you should also feed many | | | | breeder is called a mouthbrooder. They put the |
| different types of live and frozen foods. It's good | | | | eggs and larvae in their mouths. They keep them |
| to have variety in their diet. If you have a large | | | | in their mouths until the young are free swimming. |
| cichlid, it can even be fed earthworms and | | | | Most mouthbrooders stop looking after the young |
| crickets.Cichlids are very territorial which makes | | | | once they are free swimming, but others do |
| them aggressive. You must watch out for this | | | | continue to care for them by letting them go |
| aggression. If you have a mating pair, the male will | | | | back into their mouths when there is |
| usually drive away the female after mating. There | | | | danger.Cichlids are really fun fish to own. There |
| needs to be somewhere for her to hide or else | | | | are so many different kinds of cichlids and some |
| she can be killed. Because they are so aggressive, | | | | of the colors are truly stunning. Before you get |
| you should only keep them with other large fish | | | | cichlids, just try to do as much research about |
| that can stand up against them.If you carefully | | | | them as you can. |