African Cichlids

A salt water setup with coral and diverse species of fish portrays what you see when snorkeling or scuba-diving. When set up correctly in an aquarium, it can be a beautiful sight. However, if you want a similar experience without the potential problems associated with salt water aquarium set-ups, I highly recommend African Cichlids.

There are virtually thousands of species whose color combinations are fantastic. They can be inexpensive, but can cost as much as salt water species if not more. However, they are very hardy to most water conditions which makes them a clear favorite over salt water species, especially among younger hobbyists. Even when an aquarium is not maintained properly, these fish will survive. They tend to be very aggressive and should not be housed with other fresh water varieties. They have a character of their own and are intriguing to watch. They can be very territorial, so consider the habitat they are going to be housed in. Most species require a larger aquarium (55 gallons or more). Most African Cichlids are mouth-brooders.

The females hold the eggs in their mouth for a period of 28 days, until the young are free swimming. At this point, she will release them from her mouth, but will allow them back in if danger is imminent. Both parent take an active role in protecting their young. I would recommend having a proportion of 3 females to 1 male if considering breeding African Cichlids. This will decrease the stress level of the females and increase your chances of successfully breeding. Males can be very vigorous and relentless when mating. I highly recommend African Cichlids to the first time hobbyist.