Cichlazomas: maintenance and care, breeding, compatibility, photo, video, description

Cichlazomas belong to the order of perciformes of the cichlid family. The fish are native to Central America, namely Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras and Panama. Cichlazomas live in the lower and middle layers of water in slow-flowing rivers, ponds, and canals with sandy or silty soil. Preference is given to overgrown areas of reservoirs. They reproduce well both in the natural environment and in captivity.

Aquarists choose cichlases mainly due to their acceptably large size, slender proportions, extraordinary colorfulness, ease of care, interesting behavior and high intelligence.

Cichlazomas have a slender, elongated, laterally flattened body, a sloping forehead and a pointed muzzle. Their fins are large and pointed. Color and size depend on the type and gender of the fish. Thus, males are usually one and a half to two times larger than females, and their colors are brighter. Cichlazomas grow at home to an average of 10-17 cm. If optimal conditions for their existence are created, the fish will delight their owners for 10-12 years.

Cichlazomas are considered fairly easy to care for fish, since they are unpretentious and easily adapt to new conditions. Both experienced and novice aquarists can keep them. Several types of cichlasoma can be bred at home, the most popular of which are the following: cichlasoma biocelatum, cichlasoma Meeka, cichlasoma black-striped, cichlasoma diamond, cichlasoma severum or false discus, Managuan cichlasoma, cichlasoma Eliot, cichlasoma salvini, cichlasoma festivum or mezonaut.

This type of cichlid is distinguished by family constancy - the fish live in pairs, and they choose their mate from juvenile age. Aquarists should definitely take this factor into account, since cichlid fish will feel lonely alone.

Description and natural habitat

The aquarium fish Cichlazoma comes from the warm waters of America, Asia and Africa. Scientists introduced it to lovers of home ponds at the end of the century before last.

Cichlazomas belong to the class Cichlids and are predators or omnivores. They have a powerful and fairly large body (up to 20-40 cm in length), high in the dorsal fin and somewhat flattened laterally.

These are typical bottom dwellers; they also love thickets of aquatic plants and partial shade. They choose bodies of water with a slow flow, usually with a silted bottom.

The high vitality and unpretentiousness of these underwater inhabitants makes their reproduction possible not only in the natural environment, but also in cichlids.

The fins of fish end in sharp tips (they are ray-finned), but can vary in shape depending on the variety. Males are usually significantly larger than females in size and brightness of color. As a rule, monogamous, an established couple can delight their household members with their beauty and excellent behavior for many years (up to 15 years).

Photo gallery of cichlaz:

The eyes of cichlases are very expressive, large, and black. A large mouth, voluminous gills, dense leathery cover and powerful scales, a muscular strong body with a strong spine are all distinctive features of this family.

The scales adhere so tightly to the skin that parasites can almost never get under them. This is another explanation for the resilience of fish. The integument is restored so well that wounds and abrasions received during hunting or mating games heal very quickly. The color of scales and fins can be varied (depending on the species), but turquoise and steel tones, dark stripes and spots predominate more often.

Habitat in nature

Black-striped cichlasoma (Amatitlania nigrofasciata) was first described in 1867.

It lives in Central America, from Guatemala to Honduras and Panama. At the moment, it has spread quite widely in the United States, especially in the southern states.

It lives in the Guaramo, Aguan, and Tarcoles rivers. It loves places with a current, and is found in both small streams and large rivers. The typical biotope where fish live is a rocky bottom with lots of hiding places.

This fish is almost never found in open places, preferring corners with various shelters. In nature it feeds on insects, their larvae, worms, fish, and plants.

Mr. Tail recommends: species of cichlases

So far, the existing gradation in the aquarium industry makes it possible to classify cichlases into one family. There are many scientific classifications, but it is more interesting to simply describe the varieties that are most popular among lovers of home artificial reservoirs.

Black-striped cichlazoomas

Very popular in modern aquarium hobby. These are small perch-like fish with bright colors and a rather calm character. They are capable of aggression during the period of spawning and caring for offspring, so it is still better to keep them in a cichlid with other representatives of their family. These can be parrots, pseudotropheus, barbs, gourami, swordtails, thornets.

The name Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum includes two words, nigro - white and fascia - black, this fish is often called zebra.

It is considered a small fish, in nature its size is about 15 cm, in an artificial reservoir it is somewhat smaller.

The main color background is grayish-bluish, with wide, alternating white and black stripes on it, which really makes the fish look like a zebra.

Males are much larger than females, they are distinguished by the pointed shape of their anal and dorsal fins, and during the spawning period a bright red stripe is visible on their belly.

Diamond cichlazomas

These cichlids really resemble a diamond due to the iridescent large scales and silvery spots evenly scattered throughout the body, even on the fins.

Body length reaches 15-17 cm, males are larger.

This cichlid is also very popular, in second place after the black stripe. Cichlasoma cyanoguttatum is also called pearl cichlasoma and Texas cichlasoma.

These fish are also quite peaceful for predators, although they are prone to fighting for territory.

Cichlazoma Severum

A very bright cichlasoma with a yellowish body, on which small orange specks are scattered, although in nature the color is completely different - grayish-greenish. But in aquariums only selected varieties are found, but they are also rare.

Sometimes it is called false discus because of its color. Whether these fish belong to the genus Cichlasom or Heros has not yet been fully determined.

In addition to the above-described “red pearl severum”, the decorative forms “blue emerald”, “red-headed”, “golden”, and many others are also in demand.

This variety of cichlases is highly aggressive, especially intraspecific. It is better to keep them separately in several pairs in a very large tank with proper zoning.

Cichlazoma Meeka

Another fairly popular species of aquarium cichlases comes from Guatemala and Southern Mexico.

The body length of the fish, painted silver on top, is 14-15 cm. Larger males have bright red spots on the belly and the lower part of the large head. The sharp fins are colored gold or have a purple tint.

Typically, these underwater inhabitants behave calmly in the aquarium, but defend their territory, so the tank should be divided into spacious zones.

Cichlasoma meeki in the wild is much larger in size, up to 35-40 cm. The fish is named after the American ichthyologist Meeki, who discovered this species of perciformes in 1933. Sometimes it is called mask because of the peculiar color of its head.

In the aquarium, Meeks usually behave slowly, but they completely transform during the mating season. At this time, it is better to house the couple separately. They love to rummage in the sandy bottom, picking out algae and turning over parts of the decorations.

Lionhead cichlazomas

They differ from other species of cichlids by a large knob-like growth above the upper part of the huge head.

Steatocranus casuarius's style of movement in a reservoir is strikingly different from the leisurely Meeks; it seems that the fish is jumping and galloping along the bottom, where it spends most of its time.

A monogamous couple usually inhabits its own cave, where it breeds offspring. It is not recommended to keep more than three families in one, even a large aquarium.

The color of the scales is usually dark with a bluish, purple or almost black tint, but gray-silver individuals are also found.

Cichlazoma Flamingo

These predatory fish are slightly smaller than their family members - from 8 to 14 cm in length. The name was given because of the unusual pinkish color, which can be very pale or more saturated. The most peaceful of all known species of cichlases.

Ichthyologists have still not agreed on the origin of this species. Some consider it to be an albino form of the black-striped cichlid, but this can hardly be true (the eyes are not red, there is pigment in the color). Others believe that the rare shade of scales is the result of a natural mutation.

Rainbow cichlazomas

One of the largest species of cichlids, even in an artificial reservoir some individuals reach 20 cm in length.

The coloring of the scales contains many bright colors - yellow, green, red, blue, which gave rise to the name of the variety.

The fish is very aggressive. Usually, one pair is selected from 6-8 individuals and moved into a separate tank. Even when zoning an aquarium, fights between males are inevitable.

Cichlazomas Bees

These perch-like fish are small in size (8-10 cm) and in nature are more often found in the Amazon River basin.

They have a very unusual and remarkable color. Each scale has a blue spot, which, when refracted in light rays, gives a unique play of colors - gold, black, azure.

Other names for the species are eight-banded, cichlazoma Biocelatum.

The brightest color is found in yearlings. Juveniles are paler and calmer. And adult males do not get along with almost anyone; it is better for the pair to be kept in a separate aquarium.

Cichlazomas Labiatum

They are distinguished by their uniform yellowish-pink color and high intelligence. If a person approaches the tank, they follow him with their gaze and even beg for food. At the same time, their neighbors in an artificial reservoir are usually completely ignored.

The large head ends in a large, well-defined mouth, which is why Labiatum is often called the big-lipped cichlazoma.

Nicaraguan cichlizomas

Large underwater inhabitants (20-25 cm in length) with a large convex head and low lips.

The color is usually a mixture of three colors - a silver body, a bluish upper part and forehead, and a purple belly.

Sedzhik's cichlazomas

A small aquarium fish (10-11 cm), peaceful, even timid in nature, there must be caves and grottoes at the bottom for shelter.

The light brown, flat and round tall body is equipped with yellowish fins. Dark wide stripes cross the body.

This species has a pronounced habit of defending its territory, especially during the mating season. It is better to keep the pair in a small (about 50-100 l) own tank.

Smaragd cichlazomas

They are very different in their behavior from other cichlids. They can be called benign neighbors rather than dangerous territorial predators.

If the wine cichlid gets scared of something, it freezes and falls to the bottom, resembling a fallen leaf. This is facilitated by the peculiar coloring of the body (yellowish, pinkish, gray tones), it helps the fish to mimic.

At the bottom of an artificial reservoir where this species of cichlids is kept, there should be shelters - grottoes, caves, dark algae. It is better to choose brown soil, then the fish Cichlasoma temporale crassa will not be stressed.

Citron or lemon cichlazomas

They are considered excellent intercalary specimens due to their bright orange light coloring and forehead-shaped head.

They usually behave calmly in the aquarium, somewhat more aggressively only during the mating season and when the tank is overpopulated. Cichlasoma citrinellum are omnivores and do not refuse live, dry and plant food. They can even eat zucchini and watermelon.

Cichlazomas Menonuata

Shy and peaceful, they can even get along with angelfish. They can jump out of a pond out of fright.

The color of the body is dull, pale yellow; a black oblique stripe runs along the body from the pectoral fin in the middle of the dorsal fin.

Cichlazoma Salvini

Cichlasoma salvini originates from the central part of the American continent. The main background of the body is greenish or brownish-yellow with bright black stripes along the entire upper half and a red belly (in males).

The fish are quite peaceful, but can defend their territory; zoning of the aquarium is necessary. Body length is from 13 to 16 cm.

Cichlazoma Spilurum

The gray cichlasoma Cichlasoma spilurum has a large body, painted in a grayish-metallic color with pale transverse stripes and retracted dorsal and ventral fins.

Quite calm, but during spawning they can become very nervous, and aggression is possible.

Cuban cichlises

Cichlasoma tetracanthum or Tetracanthum in natural conditions lives in calm waters of Cuba and Barbados.

The main background of the body is grayish-silver. Strokes and spots of black color are scattered across it. The drawing, in spite of everything, is not repeated, it is unique.

Very dangerous and aggressive, suitable only for keeping as a pair in a species aquarium. Large ones - about 20-25 cm.

Cichlazomas Fascetum

Cichlasoma facetum or Chanchita comes from reservoirs in Brazil, Honduras, Uruguay, and Argentina. The colors are varied - grayish-yellow, bluish, green, red tones. The transverse stripes are pale and extend throughout the body.

Small, but very aggressive, this is a territorial species (protecting its living space).

Managun cichlazomas

Parachromis managuensis is a very powerful and beautiful fish with an unusual black and gold color and a unique shape of fins, which is why they received their second name - Jaguar. The body length of these underwater inhabitants of aquariums is large - up to 35-40 cm.

A tank of at least 500 liters is suitable, and preferably a large one, since the fish are aggressive and always make very sharp leaps when moving.

Eliot's Cichlazomas

They are somewhat reminiscent of Meeks in color and behavior, but the red spot on the belly is brighter.

Cichlazomas Golden Leopards

This is an endemic species of African Lake Malawi. Large fish (25-30 cm) prefer bottom habitat and are able to live at depths of up to 25 m.

Because of their unique body coloring—large black spots on a lemon background—they are often called Golden Giraffes.

Unlike their brothers in the family, they are not monogamous, but prefer to live in a small harem, where there are three or four females per male. They should also be kept in a large species aquarium (at least 600 l). Two males will not get along together; one of them will definitely die in a fight.

A distinctive feature of this variety is the ability to interbreed with other species of cichlids.

Cichlazoma Golden Parrot

Auratus are distinguished by the different colors of male and female individuals (golden and azure colors) and the special aggressiveness of females.

If there is no male in the aquarium, then the female is capable of changing color and becoming a “false male”.

It is also endemic to Lake Malawi, preferring to live in a harem. For one male you need two or three females. In an artificial habitat, these aggressive and large individuals can only live separately in a species aquarium.

Cichlazomas Pseudotropheus

Lombardos are very beautiful, but only experienced aquarists can keep them. Fish are not only extremely aggressive, but also very sensitive to fluctuations in water parameters.

The color of male and female individuals is so different that they are often not recognized as individuals of the same species.

Cichlazomas Flowerhon

Otherwise, the Three-hybrid parrot is a breeding species of cichlid. It is distinguished by a fatty lump on the forehead, frequent sharp changes in bright color, phlegmatic nature and a tendency towards solitude, with a heart-shaped pattern on the sides.

Albino cichlazomas

They are rare, have white, even transparent, skin and scales, low immunity and poor survival.

Managua cichlisoma

The Managua cichlid is a very large and colorful fish, named after its natural habitat. The common people call it a jaguar, because of its similar color. The fish size is up to 30-40 cm.

Managuan cichlasoma can only be kept in large aquariums, as it is very large. You need an aquarium with a volume of 400 liters per couple, a general aquarium of 600-800 liters or more. Large cichlids may be neighbors. You cannot plant with small fish, as they will be eaten.

The fish are calm and relatively peaceful, but they intensively guard their territory. Active predators that feed not only on small fish, but also on large bloodworms, earthworms, large insect larvae, and dry food.

Comfortable water parameters for keeping: 24-27°C, desirable hardness 15-25°, pH 7-8. Aeration and enhanced filtration are needed with weekly water changes up to 1/3 of the volume.

Males reach sexual maturity by the age of one year. Males are much larger and brighter than females, and the patterns on the anal and dorsal fin are more contrasting.

Feeding these aquarium fish must be correct: balanced, varied. This fundamental rule is the key to the successful keeping of any fish, be it guppies or astronotuses. Feeding fish should not be monotonous; the diet should include both dry food and live food.

Basics of aquarium keeping and behavior of cichlases

Keeping cichlases in an aquarium is not difficult in terms of preserving their vital functions, as these fish are distinguished by excellent health and resistance to diseases. But it strongly depends on the varieties, which is due to the fact that there are quite peaceful types and their extremely aggressive forms.

It is enough to populate the first ones in a large artificial reservoir with zoning and maintain the numerical ratio of individuals. The latter should be kept in special cichlids or species aquariums.

All cichlazomas are territorial inhabitants, carefully protecting their living zone. Therefore, at the bottom of the reservoir it is necessary to place grottoes, decorative gorges, caves, and plant thickets of aquatic plants with hard leaves.

The water temperature should not fall below +19 °C, optimally +25...+27 °C, hardness should not exceed 26-29 °dH, and acidity should be maintained within 5-7 pH.

Usually two or three pairs are placed together in an aquarium with a volume of at least 400 liters, except for the largest varieties of cichlases.

Reservoirs must be equipped with heaters, and the level of illumination for these bottom abodes is not so important. But for aesthetic purposes, lamps are needed; it is better to use LEDs or fluorescent ones.

Coarse sand, fine gravel or marble and granite chips are suitable as filler for the day. The height of the soil should be decent, at least 8-10 cm, which will allow cichlids to easily dig through it.

To protect them from being dug up by fish, it is better to plant plants with a strong root system or in pots. Suitable hard-leaved Anubias, Cryptorina, Echinodorus, Vallinseria.

Water must be saturated with oxygen, so an artificial reservoir must be equipped with aeration units. Powerful filters are responsible for the purity of water; it is better to use remote filters.

At least a third of the water volume should be renewed weekly and it is advisable to siphon the soil. The beauty and unusual behavior of cichlases invariably arouses the interest of aquarists in these underwater inhabitants, but it is not recommended for beginners to keep them; they are problematic fish.

It is very interesting to observe the behavior of cichlases in an aquarium. Some peaceful species, such as Meeks, can be kept in a common tank rather than in a cichlid, but zoning is necessary.

An adult Meeka, when defending her territory, does not necessarily rush into a fight; more often she simply scares a potential invader. At the same time, the fish threatens, inflates its gills, fanning out the red leathery fold under the lower lip. The male also behaves during courtship dances.

If there are larger and stronger fish in an artificial reservoir, then the male Meeka may get sick and die from stress, while the female adapts and chooses a protector of a different species.

Black-striped cichlasoma

Diamond cichlazoma photo can be enlarged

Black-striped cichlasoma is one of the most popular fish of the cichlasoma family. These are relatively small fish, unpretentious in keeping, with a beautiful, sophisticated body color and, importantly, unlike many cichlids, they have a calmer character.

Black-striped cichlasoma is a surprisingly easy-going fish. And this despite the fact that she is a prominent representative of the aggressive family - cichlids. He has a calm disposition and is friendly even to small neighbors.

You can conduct “experiments” with this fish and add relatively compatible fish to it. As a recommendation, it is advisable to keep the black-striped cichlid with other medium and small cichlids: parrot, diamond cichlid, pseudotropheus. Barbs, gouramis, swordtails and terences can also get along with them. Black-striped cichlazoma calmly reacts to labeos, loaches, thoracatums, and corydoras (speckled catfish).

However, you need to be careful when it comes to the compatibility of this fish with catfish. After all, the black-striped cichlid spawns at the bottom of the aquarium and the catfish will especially interfere with this process by swimming into the territory of the cichlids. As a result, there will be skirmishes and fights in the aquarium.

Feeding

All species of cichlases are predators, but in an aquarium they are omnivores.

They will be happy to eat live and frozen food - bloodworms, Artemia nauplii, tubifex. Dry ready-made food of the appropriate type (for carnivores) should also be in the diet. And plant foods will make up about a third of the daily requirement, this can be duckweed, cabbage and lettuce leaves, oatmeal, spirulina tablets.

The main thing is to avoid monotony and diversify your daily diet.

How to avoid diseases

When buying cichlid fish, you need to know what this species is. About preferences in: nutrition, compatibility with other fish, temperature, as well as water hardness and acidity. If you have a rare and expensive specimen, for example, discus fish that love perfectly clean water, then it is better to keep such fish in a separate aquarium.

As we already know, most diseases are directly related to the immune system, which in turn is influenced by quality nutrition.

The conclusion is this: if cichlid fish do not receive live food for a long time, which actually contains the essential amino acids necessary for the body, the health of those fish that are fed at least occasionally with live food will be significantly lower.

Compatibility

If you place cichlases in an aquarium with small exotic fish, then most often the latter are perceived by predators as live food and quickly disappear.

You can combine several varieties of this family in a large cichlid, but all combinations are individual. But other types of predators are of no use in a common aquarium; this will lead to endless fights for food and territory.

However, some species of cichlases, for example, Meeks, get along well with barbs, angelfish, and acars.

Cichlid diseases

Cichlid fish are quite strong, but improper maintenance can lead to diseases. Even in a reasonably stocked aquarium with clean water and complete quarantine control, an outbreak of diseases cannot be avoided, the cause of which may be poor nutrition and non-compliance with the temperature regime (in this case, hypothermia).

The most common disease is ichthyophthyriosis (fish louse). Accompanied by compression of the fins and scratching of the fish on the ground. The body and fins are covered with a white coating in the form of small grains (semolina).

The causative agent of the disease is an equiciliated ciliate parasitizing on the body of fish. Parasitic ciliates can be present in almost any aquarium, but they usually affect fish with a weak immune system.

Another common disease caused by improper fish keeping can be saprolegniosis. A fungus appears on the affected area, which resembles a stuck piece of cotton wool.

All sick fish must urgently undergo treatment until complete recovery. You can learn how to cure sick fish from the publication “Treatment of aquarium fish with bicillin.”

Breeding

Breeding cichlases is not a problem, especially since these fish always live in pairs or a small harem. In this case, reproduction will occur independently, without any effort on the part of the owner.

Sex differences in cichlids are always pronounced. The male individual is much larger and has a bright color. Most often, there is a pointed anal fin, and a knobby fatty growth grows on the forehead with age.

These fish can spawn all year round with short breaks. If stimulation is necessary, it can easily be achieved by frequently changing a quarter of the water volume (monsoon effect).

The female usually lays eggs in “her” cave or on a stone. Then both parents become extremely aggressive, fiercely guard the clutch and carefully care for it.

The male, female and juveniles continue to provide care. They flap their plumage, raising mud from the bottom of the pond so that the young can feed on living dust. And for night sleep, the fry are collected in a shelter.

It must be remembered that in rare cases the male may be aggressive towards the young, then he must be removed for the period of growth of the offspring.

This usually takes three weeks, then the babies become independent. You don’t have to remove the male specimen, but block off the tank with a special mesh.

Reproduction

Aquarium cichlids become sexually mature at the age of 8-18 months. Representatives of most species have well-expressed sexual dimorphism and males can be distinguished from females by their brighter coloring, slender large body and fin configuration.

To stimulate spawning, it is necessary to replace part of the water in the aquarium, raise its temperature and introduce more protein foods into the fish’s diet. Spawning itself can take place:

• in shelters;
• in the water column;
• on an open substrate;
• by incubation in the mouth;
• in the substrate followed by gestation in the mouth.

Regardless of the type of breeding, all aquarium cichlids have highly developed parental instincts. The fish actively care for the eggs and fry, increasing their chances of survival.

Cichlids often create complete families, where both parents take part in caring for the offspring. The fry develop very quickly and by the end of the first month of life they grow to 2-3 cm.

Nutrition

Cichlases have a strong body, a lot of muscle mass and an impressive skeleton. To keep it in good shape they need a lot of live protein food.

Bloodworms, shrimp, tubifex, brine shrimp, and crickets are excellent for feeding diamond cichlid.

To replenish your fish's body with vitamins and beneficial microelements, feed them with granulated dry food for cichlids .

Feed your pets once a day. Make sure that portions are eaten quickly and without residue. If overfed, cichlazomas can become obese.

Manifestations of gender

Cichlazoma Sedzhika

But Sedzhik's cichlazoma is characterized by the appearance of various sexual characteristics by 5-7 months . By this time, the male becomes more massive and darker than the female, the fins acquire a characteristic shape and wine color (hence the second name: wine-finned). The female is smaller and lighter, the fatty growth on the forehead is less expressive.

An interesting feature of the male cichlid labiatum is that it “grows” a fatty bump on its forehead only during spawning. Later, it practically levels out on the general relief of the fish’s body.

The changes in adults during the periods of puberty and spawning in species such as orange cichlasoma (festacychlazoma) are original. With a characteristic bright orange color, the male becomes greenish in color at the time of spawning. However, this is not a guarantee that the female selected for pairing was suitable for him. The fact is that “orange” couples form from childhood. And the fish do not change their choice.

But wine cichlasoma, on the contrary, is characterized by the fact that the male must have the opportunity to choose a partner every time before spawning.

Among the Maingano there are no differences in the appearance of females and males throughout life.

Suitable neighborhood

Cichlazomas meek are territorial fish. This means that they very jealously protect their chosen habitat. This applies to a greater extent to males. Females and juveniles prefer to live in schools.

Moreover, if these fish are kept together from a young age, then they get used to the company of their own kind, initially share the territory, and in adult life they no longer need to fight and injure each other.

Neighborhood with other species can be divided into three groups:

Good. Can get along with other large but non-aggressive fish, such as acars or angelfish. As a rule, there are no problems at all in compatibility with locarium catfish, which include ancistrus, pterygoplichts and loricaria.

Tense. An example of this is living together with American cichlids, when the fish spend part of their time peacefully, but periodically fights for territory occur between them.

Bad. This includes the neighborhood:

with closely related species (black-striped cichlazoma, golden cichlazoma, etc.), since the result is undesirable hybrids;

with small, sedentary and veiled fish, which are perceived as food;

with shellfish that run the risk of being eaten or left with nibbled tendrils;

with larger and more aggressive fish, like astronotus.

Female.

Not compatible

Cichlid fish do not get along with the following fish:

• Goldfish.
• Crucian carp.
• Guppy.
• Cockerels.
• Telescopes.
• Sword bearers.
• Gourami.
• Tetras.
• Danio rerio.
• Rasbory.
• Pecilia.
• Mollies.
• Carps.
• Rainbows.

Species that do not get along with certain cichlid species:

Cichlids native to Asia and Africa show great friendliness and a calm attitude towards their neighbors. They get along even with small underwater inhabitants. But fish from America are very aggressive and are often incompatible even with each other. Therefore, before adding new neighbors to the Tsikhlovs, find out in advance their origin, character and compatibility.

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general information

The cichlid family includes many species that differ in the shapes and sizes of the body and fins, and can be painted in different colors. In the aquarium hobby, they even use special coloring of cichlids to give them an unusual shade and appearance. Unfortunately, artificially created pigment does not last long, and its frequent renewal greatly harms the health of pets.

The smallest individuals even in adulthood retain compact body sizes - up to 2 cm. The largest specimens can grow to almost a meter. Such large fish are practically not kept in aquariums.

There are only 1200 such fish left

Requirements for conditions of detention

In order for the fish to be healthy and live as long as possible, it is important to follow the basic rules of keeping them. There are cichlidariums on sale - these are aquariums equipped with everything necessary for cichlids, and many professional aquarium stores prepare them taking into account the needs of a particular type of fish

This does not mean that it is impossible to prepare a container for cichlids yourself, but you must follow the following rules:

1. The capacity of the aquarium should be from 150 liters, some recommend choosing containers from 200 liters.
2. The lighting must be adjusted so that the fish do not suffer from bright rays. It is better to give preference to sources of diffused light.
3. The aquarium must be equipped with a filter and a water aerator.
4. The water in the container should be replaced weekly.
5. Cichlids are capricious and do not like cold water or sudden temperature changes. It is advisable to constantly maintain the water temperature at 27−28°C.

These fish need shelter

Cichlids do not require specific food, but variety is important for them. To feed the fish, you can use squid fillet, lettuce, mixed feed, dandelions and even beef

All types of food can be constantly alternated.

Fish reproduction

Most often, aquarists buy a small flock of grown fry or caviar. You cannot take very small fish from cichlids. The parent couple has a very hard time with parting with their offspring; this usually ends with the fish killing each other in search of the culprit for the supposed death (loss) of the children.

Cichlids that have been successfully raised in a school choose their own mate. This usually occurs at an early age before puberty. The formed couple tries to behave alone. They will need a separate shelter for breeding. Future parents do not participate in the affairs of the pack, and when strangers approach the shelter, they can attack and eat the trespasser. Due to the high level of aggression of fish, experienced aquarists usually try to move future parents into a separate aquarium.

These fish choose their own mates

Features of behavior

Cichlids are considered intelligent due to their behavioral characteristics. The fish quickly get used to one owner and willingly take food from his hands. But if the owner skips feeding, keeps the aquarium in poor condition, or separates the formed pair, cichlids can become “offended.” Losing trust in a person is not a momentary phenomenon. Even if the separated couple is brought back together, both fish will show a cool attitude towards the owner for several years.

Editorial: Aspredo

In mixed schools consisting of more than just cichlids, one of the fish can take on the functions of a protector. Such a guardian of order will stop skirmishes, disperse fighters and protect herbivorous neighbors from the aggressive antics of predatory cichlids.

Caring for the offspring also affects the relationship between the fish in the school. It is known that during the first spawning in captivity, young females can kill their fry. The attitude towards such females is sharply negative; members of the pack may even try to kill the careless mother. In this case, relocating the female for a long time will not help. They will no longer try to kill the fish returned to its original aquarium, but they will not be accepted into the school again.

Each school of such fish has “defenders”