Cichlid - African Assorted

Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Color Form: Assorted
Diet: Omnivore
Water Conditions: 76-82° F, KH 10-15, pH 7.8-8.6
Max. Size: 5"
Family: Cichlidae
Minimum Tank Size: 55 gallons

Provide a large aquarium with plenty of rockwork, caves, ledges and hiding places for African Cichlids. Recreating the shallow, rocky shores of Lake Malawi can be achieved easily by using limestone or any type of inert rock as the main aquascaping feature. An aragonite-based substrate is recommended in order to maintain the necessary high pH and alkalinity. These cichlids do not like bright lighting, and the aragonite should ideally be either mixed with or covered by darker gravel to reduce the amount of glare in the aquarium. A species tank or a biotope setup housing only African Cichlids creates an impressive display. This setup will be large, well-filtered and have many protected niches for males to claim and defend.

For the best spawning results the female to male ratio should be at least three females to one male. The female will spawn on a flat rock. She will then take the unfertilized eggs into her mouth and follow closely behind the male until he releases the sperm to fertilize the eggs. The female will then incubate the eggs for approximately three weeks before releasing the fry. The fry can then be fed newly hatched brine shrimp or crushed flake food.

In nature, Cichlids feed upon the organic sediment covering rocks and wood. Provide a balanced diet of dried seaweed, and other plant-based flake and pellet foods. Supplemented their diet with meaty foods such as brine shrimp and bloodworms.