Many people in this column are giving very broad ideas of chichlids. Not all african cichlids get large, and many are very different. Discus are known as the kings of the cichlids, and are almost always followed by a high price tag. Agels are more common, and are more aggresive, often ridding your tank of those peskey neons
. There are also fish beyond them who do well in communities.
New World dwarf cichlids range from the docile ram to the keyhole cichlid. Most of these enjoy soft water, and grow around 3 in. long.
There are also the New World LARGE cichlids. Reknown as being the killers of the aquarim world, theser are fish such are red devils, firemouths, oscars, eartheaters, midas cichlids, servums, and many others. This is basically the only cichlid group that eats feeders.
And now into the african cichlids. The two major lakes in Africa that contribute to the aquarium population and Lake Tanganyika and Lake Malawi.
Lake Tanganyika's king in the Frontosa is a formidible site, with its large hump and and deep blue and white stripes. However, this is one of the largest from that lake is the trade, and most of the fish from that lake are much smaller. Julidochromis are very interesting Tang. fish. They have long slender bodies and they range in many colors and sives, from 3 to 6 inches in most species. The Neolamprologus contains many shells dwellers, such as the Multifasciatus. These tiny fish give hours of entertainment, as you watch them fight over shells and dump mouthfuls of sand onto other's homes. These are only a few of the Tang. fish.
In Lake Malawi aquarium trade, these are the fish you commonly see under the name of assorted african cichlids. They tand to have the same body shape, which most have seen, and range in colors of yellow, blue, reds, and browns. Some of the more common of these species are the electric yellow and blue, zebra, mbuna's, and peacocks. Most range from 4 to 10 in.
Last are the cichlids of the African rivers. This covers many types that have no relation to each other. The egyptian mouthbrooder is an interesting fish to watch during breeding, as they keep the eggs and protect the young in their mouths.
. Kribensis are also in this group. another community cichlid. Others are the jewel cichlid, blockhead, and others of the rivers, Lake Victoria, and madagascar.
I hop that in this post someone learned the important fact that saying cichlids are big golfish-eating fish is not being very correct. Sorry for the long drawn out post
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