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THE AFRICAN CICHLID

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The african cichlid is one of the most entertaining and rewarding fish you can keep. Most species are known to be prolific breeders, as well as responsible and protective parents. In many species, the juveniles from one brood help the parents to protect the young from subsequent broods, until they reach adulthood, and move on to start their own families.

Many species of the african cichlid are known as mouth brooders. The female holds a clutch of eggs in her mouth until the fry are able to free swim on their own. Some amateur breeders prefer to remove the young from the mother after about two to three weeks by gently prying her mouth open with the tip of a blunt object, or placing the female in a turkey baster, with her head facing the tip, and gently squeezing the bulb, forcing water through her gills and pushing the fry out. The fry are then placed in an isolation tank, until they are large enough and strong enough to be placed in a community tank, or sold to a local fish store.

African Cichlids prefer fairly alkaline(hard) water, they tend to do well in water with p.h. ranges from 7.0 to 9.0. One tablespoon of non-iodized table salt may be added for every three to five gallons of water. The salt helps the fish to build a better slime coat, which aids in warding off disease. The African rift lakes are naturally brackish water with a p.h. of approximately 8.0.

These fish are active, beautiful and vibrant. No self respecting keeper of mbuna could not have Labidochromis caeruleus in their collection.

Most of the Mbuna species with formal scientific names — and many without them — are now illustrated at this site;

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By Jessica Miller

If you can't remember the current genus for that favorite species, or whether "saulosi" is an Mbuna or a "Hap" (there's one in each group, actually); if you wonder whether there's a picture naming a cichlid's skull bones, or can't recall where you saw that photo of Ethelwynn Trewavas — then this Index is for you! Table of Contents The Cichlid Fishes of Lake Malawi, Africa       Feeding African Cichlids Because of intense competition for food, the hundreds of species of Cichlids have evolved many (presumed) specializations to exploit a seemingly endless array of diets. Some species eat foods typical of "ordinary" fish communities — vascular plants; insects; small fish. But others are unusual, even unique, in the novel foods exploited, peculiar structural adaptations, bizarre feeding behavior, use of aggressive mimicry, and other features. Check this page:

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African Rift Lake Cichlids

Since their first large importations in the early 1970s, these African cichlids have taken the aquarium world by storm. It's no wonder—their brilliance and diversity of form is only rivaled by the most colorful of coral reef fishes.

The most popular come from Lake Tanganyika and Lake Malawi. Almost all of the hundreds of cichlid species in these lakes are found nowhere else on earth. All of the Lake Malawi cichlids, and many of the Tanganyikan species, are maternal mouthbrooders. In fact, when kept in conditions to their liking, many will reproduce freely, the young finding refuge among the rocks.

Water: The water of these lakes is very hard, strongly alkaline (pH 8.0), and near 80°F, so keep their captive conditions the same.

Decorations: The most commonly available Rift Lake cichlids inhabit rocky shorelines with intervening sandy stretches, so aquascape their aquarium with piles of medium-size rocks and areas of open gravel. Boost the alkalinity by choosing rockwork or gravel comprised of hard, dolomitic limestone.

Food: Improper feeding can cause digestive disturbances, so feed them a number of small meals daily. Their diet should be highly varied—a combination of flake foods alternated with frozen foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp, and plankton.

Tank: Be sure to provide an aquarium large enough for these cichlids' needs. These fish are most attractive and do best when kept in large mixed species groups in a large (over 60-gallon), heavily-rocked aquarium

SETTING UP THE AFRICAN CICHLID

RIFT LAKE AQUARIUM

The water from these lakes is very hard, containing many dissolved minerals and salts, such as carbonate and magnesium. If you live in an area with hard water, you may count yourself very lucky. But for those who do not, there are many easy measures you may take to make your water more "hard." Crushed coral sand, shells, limestone, and other rocks such as slate are good at pushing the pH of the water up into the alkaline range by adding phosphates and calcium to the water. These alone will typically only drive the pH to 7.6, which is suitable, but not ideal. Remember that Africans can adapt to a wide range of alkaline levels. If after using these measures, you still want to raise your pH, there are many commercial Cichlid buffers on the market. I recommend SeaChem’s Cichlid Salt. SeaChem and other companies also offer Cichlid Salts and Trace Elements, which try to simulate the exact salt and mineral conditions of the rift lakes, in addition to raising the pH. I would recommend using both the buffer and the salts because they really bring out the fishes’ colors.

PH: 8.2 to 8.6 for mixed Africans,

7.8 to 8.6 for Malawi cichlids,

8.4 to 9.2 for Tanganyika cichlids,

and 7.8 to 9.0 for Victoria cichlids.

Hardness: adjust the hardness to desired value for the type of fish you are keeping.

This is recommended to be 350 to 400 ppm TDS or 12 o to 14 o dGH

(Gesamthaerte or German degrees of general hardness) for Tanganyika,

200 ppm TDS or 7o dGH for Malawi, and 150 ppm TDS or 5o dGH for Victoria conditions.

Temperature: Between 75-80 degrees F.

Ammonia: 0.0 ppm

Nitrites: 0.0 ppm

Nitrates: 0.0 – 30 ppm

Alkalinity: 125 – 225 ppm or 10 – 12 dKH

Cichlid Recipe

Page 1 - Introduction

Page 2 - Water Conditions

Page 3 - Tank Selection

Page 4 - Cichlid Diet

Page 5 - Cichlid Aquarium Decoration

Page 6 - Cichlid Aggression and Feeding

Page 7 - Cichlid Aggression and Stocking

Page 8 - Controlled Crowding

Page 9 - Breeding Aggression and Tips

Page 10 - Cichlid Names and Genus Summaries Explination

Page 11 - Altolamprologus - Chalinochromis

Page 12 - Champsochromis - Cynotilapia

Page 13 - Cyphotilapia - Enantiopus

Page 14 - Eretmodus - Haplochromis (Victorians)

Page 15 - Iodotropheus - Lethrinops

Page 16 - Marvichromis - Melanochromis

Page 17 - Neolamprologus

Page 18 - Nimbochromis - Petrotilapia

Page 19 - Placidochromis - Pseudotropheus "Dwarfs"

Page 20 - Sciaenochromis - Trematocranus

Page 21 - Tropheus - Xenotilapia

Page 22 - Examples of Various Cichlid Communities

P. demasoni is one the newest discoveries coming out of Lake Malawi

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1	Cichlid	mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm		MMMMMMMM	mmMMMmmm
		FISH OF Lake Tanganyika		mmmmm	Tanganyika

This list includes only valid species.

Pet trade names and local geographic races are not included.

Water quality parameters, such as the

water temperature is interesting.

The surface temperature varies from 23 C to 28 C,

depending on the season. Deeper down the

water temperature is slightly lower. Due to

the even thermocline there is little exchange between

the surface water and the sulphur-rich water on

the bottom. Below 200 metres, the dissolved oxygen

concentration is very low and higher forms of life

can not be found below 250 metres.

Besides the water temperature, the chemical

composition of the water is notable.

The water in Lake Tanganyika is rich in dissolved

salts, and has a high carbonate hardness and total

hardness. The carbonate hardness of the aquarium

water should be kept at around 1 5 and the dGH

values in the lake vary between 9 and 11

The pH-value should be at least above neutral.

pH measurements in Lake Tanganyika showed values

exceeding pH 9 (Conrad, Micro-S\pHep +A 0.1, ).

The fishes from Lake Tanganyika do not cope well

with soft and acidic water, but are often tolerant to

slightly higher or lower values than those found in

the lake. However, one should aim to provide the most ideal conditions.

The interesting behavior and coloration of African Cichlids is largely responsible for their popularity as aquarium residents. Sometimes a hobbyist doesn't have the space, time, or money to setup and maintain a large aquarium full of boisterous Cichlids. If this is your situation, there is a group of Cichlids which will fill your needs, providing endless fascination and enjoyment. Acquaint yourself with the Dwarf Shell-Dwellers from Lake Tanganyika.

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