Cichlid Care

If you have ever owned cichlids, you know how much work is required to balance the PH levels, balance the nitrogen and ensure that the tank is free of disease. But once you have perfected it, you are left with the most amazing fish to create a natural focal point for any room.

Perhaps you are a bit more serious about cichilds. Maybe you have mastered the cichlid tank, but are now breeding them (can be a very easy money making adventure) and need help with sexing cichlids. I know I have a terrible time trying to figure out if "fishy" (as cleverly named by my children) is fish or fishette.

This page will give you all the benefits to maintaining a perfect cichlid tank and keeping your cichlid fish healthy.

The very first thing a person will notice, after they have the proper cichlid care, is that the fish will be much more active. The fish will be moving more around the tank and displaying their agility for your viewing pleasure. When a tank is dirty or does not have the correct balance, it is just like humans breathing in dirty or polluted air... we do not function as efficiently either.

COLOURS
One of my favourite aspects to having healthy cichlid fish is the extreme difference in their colours. Unhealthy fish are dull. There is no sharpness to their details and many times they will look pale. Once you replicate their natural cichlid habitat, their colours pop. You are able to see the small specks of colour that really make the cichlid species beautiful. This was most notable in my jewel cichlids. After I was able to fix their tank to a healthy level, you really were able to see why there were called Jewels.

COST
We all know how expensive fish stores are, especially if you are visiting the big box stores. There are two subcategories to cost. Disease and lifespan.

DISEASE
If your cichlids are living in less than ideal circumstances, there is a good chance that they will pick up a disease. This creates many problems. First off, can you even recognize that your fish has a disease? Next, once you acknowledge a disease and determined what it is, you need to purchase the products to kill this disease and prevent spreading. If you had a healthy cichlid tank, you would not be worrying about disease.

LIFE SPAN
This follows cost, because an unhealthy cichlid does not live long. Just like any other living organism on this planet, if you are not in a healthy state, your odds of living to your expected life span is very small. Cichlid fish have a longer life span than most fish, so they are priced more expensive. Treat your cichlid right and give them life they deserve.

PROFESSIONAL ADVICE This is a little out of place in this list, but lets face it. The 16 year old working at the local pet store is not an expert on all fish. I have been lucky if the individual working is able to name the fish I am interested in, often times I'm providing them with information. If you have a your cichlid health is above par, there is no need to put your fate and your cichlid's fate in someone else's hands. You have the knowledge and the wherewithal to help your cichlids with any stumbling block you may have.

OVERALL HAPPINESS IN THE HOME If you are looking at a dirty tank, or less than healthy fish, you are not going to be happy. A fish tank should be the focal part of any room. It can be the most impressive piece in a person's home. The feng shui, is greatly improved, as is the happiness in the home. Besides, no one wants company over to look in a nasty, dirty tank. That is embarrassing.

I have been a cichlid owner for five years now. It has taken me five years of testing and learning, but I'm here. :)

If you are new to the cichlid world and want to have a resource with all the correct answers, then I would suggest Cichlid Fish Secrets. It explains everything step by step so you never have to be wondering if you are doing things correctly.

CICHLID FISH SECRETS

What size tank you should have when keeping cichlids
What filter you should use in your tank
How to properly cycle your aquarium
How to properly manage pH levels
The water temperature you need to maintain
The correct way to perform a water change
How to clean the glass of your fish tank
How to be an expert water tester
The BEST rocks and wood you NEED to be using
The right ways to prepare your rocks & wood for your tank
The only way to have live plants in an African Cichlid tank
How to choose the right cichlids
What to feed your cichlids & how often to feed them
The expert ways to breed your cichlids
How to diagnose, treat, and cure the most dangerous fish diseases

To learn more about Cichlid Care visit CICHLID FISH SECRETS