Choosing Your Cichlid Fish

Before you go rushing down to the fish shop your first task is to find a reputable supplier. By this I mean an expert who has been dealing with fish for years. I would strongly advise against going to any sort of pet store chain. You know the places where somebody gets paid the minimum wage for putting a fish in a plastic bag. In my experience these people are just doing a job and really do not know or care too much about your fish. The best place to purchase your cichlid fish is from a specialist aquatic shop or a breeder. You can make your own decision by making several visits to these places and checking on the cleanliness of the tanks like thos shown here. Check also the activity of the fish and whether the shop owner will offer information without pushing for a sale.

Many cichlid keepers maintain what is known as a 'community tank' where lots of different fish live together quiet peacefully, but you have to be selective in your choices. There is no point putting an aggressive fish in amongst a tank of fairly placid ones. 'Last Man Standing' springs to mind. Several aggressive fish can be housed together provided they are of a comparable size. They would need rocks and driftwood to mark out and claim their own territory.

Another option when choosing your cichlid fish is a single fish in a tank of its own. I have heard that fish do not really need contact with other fish and do not get lonely if there are no other fish to interact with. Strange to think of I know, but have not tried this one myself.