American Cichlids

There are around 450 species of cichlid native to South America which have adapted to a wide range of environments. The majority of the South American cichlids are carnivores or piscivores, but some feed on plants, planktons or molluscs. The size of South American Cichlids vary from just 3 cms to as much as 60 cms.

One of the most popular of the South American Cichlids amongst fish keepers, the freshwater Angelfish in its natural environment lives in slow flowing streams and rivers where the water is soft and acidic. The optimum aquarium conditions for Angelfish should have water with pH between 6.5 to 6.9. Good water conditions and frequent water changes are advisable as failure to do will result in fish that refuse to eat.

Pike Cichlids also originate from South America. They are not particularly suitable for novices, but can be an interesting challenge for more experienced aquarists. As predators they like to spend much of their time hiding behind rocks and plants waiting for an opportunity to attack unsuspecting prey.

The size of pike cichlids varies hugely; the smallest is around 3 inches and the largest around 24 inches. Dealing with the aggressive tendencies of the pike cichlid can be an issue, but this can be addressed through a suitable aquarium and avoiding having smaller fish sharing tank with them.

In order to keep oscar cichlids you will need a larger aquarium as they often grow up to 12 inches in length. They need slightly acidic water with a pH between 6.5 to 7.0.

Oscars are considered to be amongst the more intelligent fish and will quickly become bored, so do benefit for the regular addition of "toys" to the aquarium. It is said that some oscars will differentiate their owners from other people!

The natural habitat of Central and North American Cichlids stretches from the southern reaches of the Panama to as far north as Texas. Despite the wide variations in natural environment there are relatively small variations in pH and water hardness.

Convict cichlids earn their name by virtue of their stripes, apparently similar to prison uniforms. They are popular fish to keep in aquariums due to the fact that they are relatively easy to keep. They are not fussy eaters and will eat most fish foods, as well as aquarium plants. They do have a tendency to dig though so an external filtration system is often preferable.

The Texas Cichlid (or Rio Grande Cichlid as it is also often known) is the only cichlid that originates from the United States. In the aquarium, the Texas Cichlid like to have plenty of rocks and plants to create hiding spaces. If keeping more than one you will need to divide the tank with the rocks and plants into different territories. They also like floating plants to hide under.

Texas Cichlids are sensitive to dirty water, so you will need to change 25% - 40% of the water every week.