Do African cichlids need to be in pairs?
When provided with clean water and food, in theory most cichlids are able to survive alone. However it is best to keep at least a breeding pair or more to allow them to thrive. The only cichlid that is often kept alone is the Oscar. While possible to keep alone, I would recommend to not keep cichlids solitary.
Are African cichlids easy to keep?
They are beautiful, active and easy to care for fish, and often are sold by the local fish store as a “community tank” fish. That is well and good — if the community tank consists of other very active, very aggressive and very nasty fishes.
Can I keep 2 cichlids?
Because cichlids are mostly aggressive, they are generally not community fish and only do best in species tanks. Keeping cichlids from the same region together is also recommended. For instance, mbuna and peacock cichlids will do well together since they both come from Lake Malawi in the east coast of Africa.
Can African cichlids be kept alone?
Aimara. A lot of big Cichlids & Hybrids are kept solo as Wet Pets and do just fine. The tank size required depends on the projected growth of the fish.
How long do African cichlids live?
How Long do African Cichlids Live? It depends on the species, but most should live for around 8 years in an aquarium.
How many cichlids should I have?
Reaching five to six inches in length when fully grown, the highly aggressive Zebra Mbuna should not be kept in a 55 gallon aquarium with other species that are more docile. We would recommend no more than three in your Cichlid tank, with two being an ideal number.
Are there any peaceful cichlids?
Keyhole Cichlid (Cleithracara maronii) – A very peaceful species, the keyhole cichlid grows only 4 to 5 inches in length. These fish are very shy and need to have plenty of hiding places in the tank. These fish have an attractive pattern and they tend to prefer tanks decorated with plenty of rockwork.
How can I Keep my African cichlid in the tank?
You can use aquarium silicone to secure rocks to the sides of the tank, which will help keep them in place. Providing plenty of hiding spots is key for decorating an African cichlid tank, as this will give your fish plenty of places to spawn as well as to hide. African cichlids in their native environment tend to live in fast-moving waters.
Are there any cichlids that live in Africa?
African cichlids do not make good companions for South American cichlids because their immune systems differ. One type of cichlids can easily make another sick. Most popular African cichlids are sourced from the Great Rift Valley Lakes.
Which is the best water heater for African cichlids?
Warm water is also ideal for breeding African cichlids. Lower temperatures will make the pets docile but ensure the temperatures do not fall below 20 °C. When selecting a heater, opt for one with five watts of power per each gallon of water. Position the heater close to the filter.
What kind of cichlid is found in Lake Malawi?
There are hundreds of types of African cichlids, each with unique behaviors and appearances. These are some of the most common types of cichlids raised in home aquariums. The Orange Zebra Cichlid is found in Lake Malawi, and comes in a vivid orange hue.
What fish go with cichlids?
Catfish are one fish type that can co-exist with cichlids. Like cichlids, catfish are extremely diverse. Choose South American catfish for a South American cichlid tank and African catfish for an African cichlid tank to avoid disease problems. Large, speedy, aggressive catfish can do well with cichlids, as can slower species that hide.
What are good tankmates with African cichlids?
The spotted Raphael catfish, hifin catfish, upside down catfish, ocellifer catfish and spotted catfish are all suitable as tankmates for African cichlids.
What does pH do cichlids need?
African cichlids need a water temperature of 75-85°F and a pH of 7.8-8.6 should keep most species healthy. Africa’s great lakes have quite hard water, 4-6 dH, so try not to use soft water in your tank. Moderate lighting is fine for them.
