Cichlid Guide - African Cichlid Guide - Cichlid Breeding And Care

African cichlids should be fed several times a day, but you must be careful how much food you give them. A good cichlid guide to feeding is to feed in small quantities several times per day.

Most cichlids will continue to eat, even if they are technically full. This overeating can lead to what is commonly called cichlid bloat. Bloat is identifiable by distinct white patches on the belly of the fish. Once bloat sets in, it is almost impossible to cure and your cichlid will likely perish.

A good rule of thumb is to only place as much food as the fish can eat in about 20 to 30 seconds in the tank. This will also serve to help keep the water, rock, and filter cleaner which also leads to healthier cichlids.

Some cichlids are extremely aggressive fish, and will become very territorial in the tank. Some cichlid guides will help you find the right amount of rock and wood structure to ensure your tank stays aggression free.

One of the more common mistakes people make with their african cichlids is not thinking about which species interact well with others. Cichlids come from three main lakes in Africa. Chances are, the cichlids from one lake could care less if fish from another lake are in the same tank.

It is when you mix in same lake species that are known to be aggressive that you can run into trouble.

To remedy many cases of aggression, you can add sufficient rock structure for your cichlids. However, it is vital that you add the right kind of rock to ensure a healthy environment.

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Many people who are successful cichlid fish owners will eventually want to breed their fish. However, a common problem is getting healthy fry to emerge, and then ensuring the fry survive in your tank.

A good cichlid guide for information on learning how to breed african cichlids will explain how the right separation environment is critical. Often, when a female cichlid is ready to mate, the males will turn very aggressive, and will often fight over the female.

Ensure there are enough female and male fish to keep a healthy balance in your cichlid tank, and avoid fish having to fight over domination. A good rule of thumb is to have 3 females for every male in your tank. This keeps the males busy chasing multiple females, and gives the females a chance to recover from being chased when breeding.

It is very important to have a fry tank set up and ready for when the fish are born. If your tank is full of adults, there is a good chance they will eat the fry before they can hide or grow. When you notice a female with a mouth full of eggs (cichlid females will hold eggs in their mouth until born), immediately get your fry tank set up and ready. When born, scoop them out as quickly as possible and transplant into the fry tank.

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Most people struggle with frequency of water changed for their cichlid tank.

Having a regular water change schedule is critical when caring for African Cichlids. The pH level must be just right for them to really thrive and become full of color.

Each week, you should change the water in your fish tank, preferably using a rock cleaner at the same time. Each water change should be between 10 and 20% total water change.

Once every two months, do a 50% water change to really give the tank a nice, fresh start.

Be sure you understand the right chemical mix to use in your cichlid tank as well. Bacteria, salt, and water conditioner should all be used in proper amounts for each water change, and when adding new cichlid fish.

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African cichlids require some rock structure in order to find holes to hind in and feel like that are in natural habitat.

By far, the best rock to use is lace rock for your tank. The natural structure of lace rock allows you to stack and create many wonderful little holes for your fish to hide in. The make up of lace rock is also very similar to the natural coral and other structure the cichilds are used to in their home lakes.

If you can not find lace rock, another alternative that works very well is lava rock. Lava rock with lots of holes and swim through spots will work the best.

Ensuring your fish have plenty of cover will also reduce aggression and other problems that may arise in your tank.

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