African cichlids care is not as difficult as some would have you believe. The fish themselves are very hardy and their, needs once set up, are easily followed. What is even better, their colors are as bright and varied as most salt water specimens.
There are three things that are a must with these fish. The pH levels must be correct, the DH levels must be controlled and the water temperature must remain constant. The pH level in Lake Malawi can range from 7 to 8.2 while Lake Tanganyika has a range of 7 to 9 on the pH scale. The water hardness or DH in all of the lakes is very high and the temperatures in the wild range from 85-95 degrees Fahrenheit. These levels must be met in the tank before adding the fish.
The cichlid populations in America come from three lakes in Africa. The lakes differ in alkalinity and pH enough that fish are not compatible for any lake but their own. It is advisable to not mix fish from different lakes in the same aquarium. There are over a thousand species of cichlid in these three lakes so it will not be difficult to build your population without incident.
When putting the tank together there are some items that are "must have" pieces of decor. These fish need rocks arranged to have openings like caves. They will mark them as their property as soon as they are put into the water. You will also need to supply them with plastic plants with ceramic bases. They dig in the pebbles in the tank and move the plants around trying to enlarge the territory they have claimed.
Over crowding is not an issue with these fish. In fact most people feel that the more the merrier is a good motto. Because of their aggressive and territorial behavior the spectrum of many fish keeps them confused so they lose their target. You will want to be careful about putting fish of the same size together. They will fight for dominance and one will surely die. The smaller fish in your tank will be safe unless they are bite sized for the larger ones.
These fish are not picky eaters and will eat almost anything you give them even if it is not good for them. Their diet can consist of flakes or live bait such as blood worms. They also need vegetables in their diet and flakes can be purchased for this also.
The cichlid has been attributed with a personality and recognition skills. They have been said to be able to recognize their owner and crowd the front of the tank begging for food when they are near. That would show them to be an interactive pet that people can enjoy even more.
When giving African cichlids care all you want to remember is that they will need hard water, excellent filtration, a lot of hiding places and many compatible tank mates to ensure they will have a long and healthy existence in your tank.
There are three things that are a must with these fish. The pH levels must be correct, the DH levels must be controlled and the water temperature must remain constant. The pH level in Lake Malawi can range from 7 to 8.2 while Lake Tanganyika has a range of 7 to 9 on the pH scale. The water hardness or DH in all of the lakes is very high and the temperatures in the wild range from 85-95 degrees Fahrenheit. These levels must be met in the tank before adding the fish.
The cichlid populations in America come from three lakes in Africa. The lakes differ in alkalinity and pH enough that fish are not compatible for any lake but their own. It is advisable to not mix fish from different lakes in the same aquarium. There are over a thousand species of cichlid in these three lakes so it will not be difficult to build your population without incident.
When putting the tank together there are some items that are "must have" pieces of decor. These fish need rocks arranged to have openings like caves. They will mark them as their property as soon as they are put into the water. You will also need to supply them with plastic plants with ceramic bases. They dig in the pebbles in the tank and move the plants around trying to enlarge the territory they have claimed.
Over crowding is not an issue with these fish. In fact most people feel that the more the merrier is a good motto. Because of their aggressive and territorial behavior the spectrum of many fish keeps them confused so they lose their target. You will want to be careful about putting fish of the same size together. They will fight for dominance and one will surely die. The smaller fish in your tank will be safe unless they are bite sized for the larger ones.
These fish are not picky eaters and will eat almost anything you give them even if it is not good for them. Their diet can consist of flakes or live bait such as blood worms. They also need vegetables in their diet and flakes can be purchased for this also.
The cichlid has been attributed with a personality and recognition skills. They have been said to be able to recognize their owner and crowd the front of the tank begging for food when they are near. That would show them to be an interactive pet that people can enjoy even more.
When giving African cichlids care all you want to remember is that they will need hard water, excellent filtration, a lot of hiding places and many compatible tank mates to ensure they will have a long and healthy existence in your tank.
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