Overview:

Most Cichlids come from Africa and South and Central America, with a few species found in Asia and North America. Cichlids inhabit the most varied of waters, ranging from roaring rivers to the smallest of ponds.
Their colorful appearance, the many different species available, their behavior and their breeding are just some of the reasons the Cichlids are one of the most popular aquarium fish. To view detailed profiles on many individual fish just click on any picture

Angelfish

Distinguishing traits:

One sign that the Cichlids are part of the order Perciformes is their Dorsal fin. It is made up of two parts, one with soft rays, the other hard spiny rays. The various species differ from each other mostly in body shape and the shape of the mouth and teeth. Body shapes vary from pencil like to leaf shaped. The most common shape found in the Cichlids is a fairly arched back, end positioned mouth and flattened sides. The shape of the jaw is either overshot or undershot.

Firemouth

Discus

Care:

In the Cichlid tank there must be places of refuge. These can be rock caves, large pieces of driftwood or even inverted flowerpots. Most large species of Cichlids will dig up the substrate material, so it is best not to have plants included in the aquarium decorations. The Angelfish, Discus and the dwarf species Apistogramma all prefer a densely planted tank.
The water temperature should be in the range of the middle seventies, slightly higher for the Discus. The diet should consist of live and frozen food of all kinds as well a large flake staple food. Large specimens can be feed Earthworms, garden Crickets and kitchen leftovers. Some species like Geophagus need their diet supplemented with plant material.

Krib with fry

Angel with fry

Cichlids are divided into mouthbrooders and substrate brooders.

Substrate brooders lay their eggs either openly on a surface ( open water brooders ) or hidden in cavities (Cavity brooders ). Both groups engage in brood care. The eggs are fanned to help increase the Oxygen supply. The Hatched Larvae are looked after until the contents of the Yolk-sac is used up and the young are free swimming and eating on their own. Parental care continues even beyond this point, mostly in the form of protection against predators. This is the time that is most dangerous for other tank inhabitants as the parents increase their territories and become more aggressive toward the other tank dwellers.

Mouthbrooders pick up their eggs and their larvae in their mouths, either right after or during spawning. This group is called "Ovophile" ( egg loving ) mouthbrooders. Some mouthbrooders deposit their eggs on the substrate where they look after them until the Larvae hatch. Then they pick the Larvae and keep them in their mouth until they are free swimming. This group is called "Larvophile" ( Larva-loving ) Mouthbrooders. In many species parental care stops when the Fry are first released from the mouth, but in some the care continues with the young being able to swim back into the the parents mouth for protection when danger arises.

For an interesting article about Spawning with the Seasons, please click here.

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