Cichlids is a diverse group of fish and possess many different biological and behavioral need for there species. To provide appropriate care for a cichlid, it is necessary to understand the specific needs of that cichlid species because the requirement of one species of cichlid may be entirely different than another species of cichlid. The origin of a cichlid species determine the needs of the water parameter for that species.
The African rift lake cichlids evolved in water with high level of minerals and alkalinity and live near rocky bottom in there native habitat. The South American cichlid species evolved in soft, acidic water containing tannins from the leaf in the rivers in which they live. The cichlid species from Central America require water parameters in between those of the African and South American species.
How to Care for Different Cichlids
If you dont meet the requirements of the water parameters for a cichlid species with a specific origin, the cichlid may stop display its characteristic color and may begin to hide from humans and other cichlids in its aquarium. This hiding behavior indicate that the water parameters are not set up correct for the species of cichlid that is kept in the aquarium. The adult size of a cichlid species determine the size of the aquarium that you must provide to house that species.
Small cichlid species, like the ram fish, require small aquarium tanks to house the juvenile and adults of that species. However, large species of cichlid, like the Frontosa fish, require much larger aquarium to house those fish when they reach there adult size. It isnt recommended to purchase juvenile cichlids based off solely upon the small size of those fish when they are young because the species will grow to their adult size over time.
An aquarium that is too small for the adult size of the species will not provide enough space for the aquarium dwelling fish to exhibit there natural behavior. The diet requirement of a species of cichlid will determine the type of food that you must provide to that species. Herbivorous species require food composed of plant matter and spirulina.
However, piscivorous and invertivorous species require foods that contain high level of protein to fulfill there dietary requirement. If you provide the wrong food to a cichlid species, the cichlid species may become underfed. Additionally, if you mix different types of cichlid species in one tank, you may create water quality problem due to the fact that each of those species require different type of food.
Due to the fact that each of the different cichlid species utilize different breeding strategy, the way in which you must set up the aquarium for those fish will be different. For example, mouthbrooding cichlid species must have a spawning area in the aquarium where they can carry the eggs and fry in there mouths; during this period, the mouthbrooding species will not eat. Additionally, substrate spawning cichlid species must guard a specific area in the tank where they lay there eggs, and will chase other fish away from that area.
Lastly, shell dwelling cichlids require areas within the aquarium where they can utilize snail shells for shelter, and you wont find them in aquariums without these shell provided for them. Each of these breeding strategy will influence the way in which you must set up the aquarium for those species to coexist. Most cichlid species exhibit territorial instinct, but the specifics of those instincts differ between species.
For instance, most cichlid species will establish and defend there own territory from other fish. Additionally, in tanks that do not contain many hiding spot for the individual fish, the dominant male fish may rearrange the species within the aquarium. Some species may include many individuals of that specific species living within the aquarium, while other species may fight with other fish in the same aquarium if there is too many fish in that area.
Due to the above characteristic of cichlid species, the care for each species can be of varying difficulty. For instance, some cichlid species are more hardy than others, indicating that the fish can tolerate change in the water parameters for the aquarium. Other cichlid species are more difficult to care for than others.
Therefore, prior to purchasing any type of cichlid species, it is important to research the care requirement for the species that you are interested in purchasing. By knowing the adult size of the species, the water chemistry that is required for there survival, there dietary requirement, and there temperament, you can better understand whether the cichlid species live up to the expectation that you have of it.
