Cichlid 101

Hey all I need a favor. I need to put together a kind of Cichlid 101 for my in laws. They just got a new tank and they are learning some things the hard way. What tips, tricks, dos, donts, info can you think of that first time fish owners need to know?

What type of Cichlid?

What kind of cichlids? That will help for answering since they come from a wide variety of waters, temperments, etc.....

American cichlids

Plan for them to be MORE aggressive than they state. African cichlids should have a veggie rich diet. American cichlids should have a more meaty diet. ph of Africans is generally more basic (7.0-8.2), where Americans are more neutral (6.5-7.5). Males only with Africans unless you do a species tank. 1 Male per tank with Americans. They all get big and like to arrange the tank the way they want it. I'm sure more will come, but some of the basics.

Most american cichlids like lower PH and usually do well in a planted tank. Most like higher temps also. They do not like to be overstocked. This is just a few basics on SA cichlids. Now if your talking oscars and jacks no plants and just throw the tank together as it will be redecorated.

Temps for Africans 78-82. Americans 74-80.

Angels ,discus like 80 up to 86 for discus

They have 6 cichlids in an 18g some oscars, a red devil and some other ones that they dont remember the name of lol, if they lived closer I would go check out what they have but some are attacking others and the size of the tank and # of fish is obviously an issue.

A single Oscar needs a 55-75 gallon tank. Red Devils are much the same. They really need to cut the number of fish in the tank FAST! or they will all die but 1.

The Red Devil will most likely kill everything.

1 oscar will get the size of the tank and not be able to turn around. CS is correct they need to be moved quick.

the bigger they all get them more they will fight....i tried to keep my dovii with other fish....all i ended with was very exspensive yummys for him

Unfortunatley this is what happens to many larger fish...they look so cute and the fit into a 10 gallon aquarium...well 3 months later they are all but dead and the face touches the front and their butts brush the back of the tanks.

Try to talk them into Rams or Blue Acaras both can go in that size tank both can pair up show the cichlid characteristics that make them so loved by many of us, and they stay relatively small.

If they absolutley want the larger fish take them to see some adults and what they look like and what they are housed in.

That being said many fish stores push feeders for larger cichlids...I would avoid feeders besides really make the tank dirty they also are carriers for fish disease. Try to get the fish on pellets most inexpensive way to feed big fish. Good luck

Also, feeders do not give a ton of nutrition needed for the bigger cichlids, which will sometimes result in Hole in the Head. Not good.

depends on the breed of fish for hole in the head......my male downs 80 feeders a week

You also have to watch what kind of feeders you use. Feeding goldfish to tropical cichlids will often result in fatty liver disease. Goldfish are coldwater fish and because of this tropical fish like cichlids can't digest the fat in goldfish which builds up in the liver. I would also avoid using feeders unless you breed them yourself and they are tropical. Platies make great cichlid feeders. Breeding them yourself insures that they are healthy/not carrying any diseases.

and you can feed the feeder to the specifics of what your feeding feeder to. Boy that don't sound right! hope you understand. IE: feeding platies high protein because your oscar (which will eat the platies) needs more protein.