Water conditions for both wild and hybrid discus are the same. Temperature should be kept between 82° and 89° F. pH should be between 6.0 and 7.0, with hardness between 1° and 4° dKH (18 to 70 ppm). They prefer quiet water, and are rarely found in areas where there is strong current or wave action.ĭiscus prefer warm, soft, acidic water. Discus tend to congregate near fallen trees, known as “galhadas”, along the shore. These areas experience extreme changes in water level due to seasonal flooding. Water RequirementsĪll African Cichlids should be kept in water with a pH of 7.5-9.Moderate, see our Learning Center for comprehensive care.ĭiscus are found in floodplain lakes and flooded forests of the lowland Amazon River basin and some of its tributaries, including the Rio Negro. Longer tanks are better than tall as many cichlids are mid-level or bottom-level swimmers. The minimum for most African cichlid species is going to be 55 gallons. Cichlids do get large and are territorial. However, not everyone wants a massive tank. You will have more water volume to make your tank stable and more room to curb aggression. When it comes to any freshwater fish species and aquarium setup, bigger is always better. Care Requirements of an African Cichlid Tank African Cichlid Tank Size A lot of secondary research should be done with this species of fish given the lack of information in the hobby.

Some of the most popular fish are Pundamilia Nyererei, the Zebra Obliquidens, and the Kyoga Flameback. Some can mix with Mbuna and Peacock cichlids. They are in general naturally aggressive fish. There is a lack of hobbyist literature available which makes Victorian cichlids sometimes difficult to identify. Lake Victoria Cichlids are the least known and popular of the three lake Cichlids. They are usually known for being kept alone in an African cichlid tank, but have been known to be kept with large Tanganyika fish like Calvus and Compressiceps. Frontosas are the feature fish when it comes to Lake Tanganyika cichlids. Rock Dwelling Cichlids like Calvus are solitary hunters with slender large jaws used to suck smaller prey out from rock crevices. They are small in size, peaceful behavior, hardy, breed easily, and are easy to keep. Shell dwelling Cichlids have a good number of positive features going for them. Lake Tangayika Cichlids are broken down into three groups – shell dwelling lamprologus like Lemon Cichlids, rock dwelling cichlids like Calvus, and large cichlids like Frontosa. There are examples of success in mixed african cichlid tanks, but even if successful, the Peacock typically will not grow as fast, will end up being less colorful, and may not live as long. They are not compatible with Mbunas due to Mbunas more aggressive nature. They are most suited for a community type of aquarium. Peacocks are the most peaceful of the three species. Because of this, it is not a good idea to house these fish with anything small enough for it to swallow. They are piscivores, which means they prey on small fish – particularly smaller Cichlids. For some Haps, at least a 75 gallon tank would be needed to house them long-term. Haps are moderately aggressive fish with some Haps being very large. Aggression is typically curbed by overstocking, frequent feeding, and by not putting in fish groups with similar coloring. They are very colorful with the dominant male being the most colorful. Mbuna are the most active and aggressive of the three. They are split into several species – Mbuna, Haps, and Peacocks. Lake Malawi Cichlids are rock-dwellers and should live in a rock environment. The most popular of these cichlids placed in African cichlid tanks come from Lake Malawi. Cichlids are split into two groups: Central and South American Cichlids or New World Cichlids and African Cichlids.Īfrican Cichlids come from three lakes in Africa – Lake Malawi, Lake Tanganyika, and Lake Victoria. There are over a thousand official species and some scientist in the field believe there may be thousands more! They are also known as secondary freshwater fish because their distant relatives originated from the ocean. Chloroquine Phosphate Aquarium Dosing CalculatorĨ Additional Reading and Resources About African Cichlids What are African Cichlids?Ĭichlids are a diverse group of freshwater fish from the biological family Cichlidae.

Red zebra cichlid plant eating