African Cichlids

The Cichlidae family contains over 1,200 species of fish, the majority of which are found in the Tanganyika and Malawai Lakes of central Africa. Each different kind has slightly varying temperaments as well, and are resilient in captivity.

There are plenty of colors and patterns of this species for you to choose from, though it can take up to a year for them to develop full color. Coloring can be impacted by the quality of care they receive (we’ll cover that more a bit further down). Each type of African cichlid’s aggression level should be minded when placing together in an aquarium. They are more aggressive in general than other common tropical fish. Small fish should also be avoided, as they will likely become an easy meal.

It’s tempting to house African cichlids in the same tank as South American cichlids since they look similar. However, they require different care, and will likely fight.