I went to Wal-Mart a few nights ago, and was just looking at the fish, and saw this cute little Cichlid.. I could put my finger on the tank and he would follow it Every where.. So, last night I went back and he was still there, the bigger ones picking on him, I just had to have him.. BUT, I have always been a Betta lover and honestly only know how to work with the Betta’s and caring for them..
I could use some MAJOR pointers on this little guy.. I only have him in a gallon tank (By himself, no betta’s) with water bubbles, gravel and plant, but he isn’t very big, I know soon I will need to get a bigger tank, but for the time being could anyone with these fish tell me Anything that can help me keep him alive? He isn’t sick or anything, I just need help knowing his needs, or anything period I can do for him since I know he is much different from Betta’s and was a good $6.00 for him, lol… All answers are appreciated.
Also, I would really like to know how to tell if it’s a girl or a boy? (sorry) The little fish is so hyper he’s all over the tank.. I feel so bad for him, being stuck in the Wal-Mart tank where it’s Definately not 1 fish per 1 gallon.. =( But any help on a good home for him, PH levels, Anything you can tell me about them or if you hvae them of your own and can give me advice on taking care of him would be a lot of help. =)
I am way too familiar with Wal-Mart and fish diseases =( , I often just buy Betta’s.. but I looked his body over and he has no traces of salt looking grains, etc. on him, but I do have Aquarium salt that I put in there, stress coat, etc.. and he doesn’t act sick at all really.. he’s pretty hyper =
They don’t get along with other type of fish, so becareful what you put in a tank with it. They will also grow to fit the tank they are in, so do worry about it getting to big for the tank. Change 20% of the water every 3-4 days, and if the tank is small, you can rinse the rocks every 2-3 weeks, but keep some of the old water to put back in because it will have some “good bacteria” in it. You don’t really need a heater, but a filter is a good idea. Go to freecycle.com and find your area, here you can ask people in your community for the items you need and they will give it to you for free! Fish tanks etc are a popular give away in my area.
PS Buying fish at wal-mart is a bad idea……. They don’t seem to live very long, and they carry disease such as ick.
Aquarist for over four decades.
Breed cichlids.
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They don’t get along with other type of fish, so becareful what you put in a tank with it. They will also grow to fit the tank they are in, so do worry about it getting to big for the tank. Change 20% of the water every 3-4 days, and if the tank is small, you can rinse the rocks every 2-3 weeks, but keep some of the old water to put back in because it will have some “good bacteria” in it. You don’t really need a heater, but a filter is a good idea. Go to freecycle.com and find your area, here you can ask people in your community for the items you need and they will give it to you for free! Fish tanks etc are a popular give away in my area.
PS Buying fish at wal-mart is a bad idea……. They don’t seem to live very long, and they carry disease such as ick.
Aquarist for over four decades.
Breed cichlids.
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First of all, congrats for chosing a African Cichlid…
The methods of care for African Cichlids can vary, and it is vital that beginners to learn how to maintain ideal aquarium conditions. Once you have created the ideal environment for your African Cichlid, you may refer to the following guidelines for maintaining their nutritional and environmental needs.
Water Conditions
African Cichlids prefer a water pH within the range of 7.4 to 8.4. To achieve this, you may need to enhance your tank water with commercial “Cichlid Buffer” which can be purchased through any aquarium supplier. You’ll also need to use special Cichlid salts and trace elements for your fish to exhibit superior coloration, and provide anti bacterial conditions. Aquarium water can quickly deteriorate, and you’ll need to replace evaporated water regularly. A good filtration system is vital for optimum conditions to assist in the breakdown of bacteria, and to provide good water flow and movement. You’ll also need to use ammonia removers for superior water condition. Follow to the manual that comes with your filtration unit, and familiarize yourself with how to maintain it properly. Water temperature should range between 74- 82F.Monitor your aquarium heaters’ thermostat, to provide ideal water temperature.
Lighting
Lighting is necessary to view your fish in the evenings. It’s better to illuminate your tank from late afternoon until late evening, to better appreciate your aquarium.
Full spectrum lighting is best , and Arcadia tube bulbs are highly recommended. Avoid leaving your tank lit during the day. You may cause excessive algae problems.
Feeding
Feeding African Cichlids the right type of food is very important. Due to their extremely long intestinal tracts, it takes a long time for them to digest food. Once you have identified the four different dietary habits of African Cichlids, and know which species you maintain, you can purchase the correct food. Inappropriate foods will rot in their stomachs causing bloating, sickness and sometimes death. For this reason, foods with a large proportion of spirulina and vegetables are best. Frozen bloodworms and brine shrimp are also good for most species, but meats and live blackworms are not recommended. Researching specific foods for specific species is essential.
Aggression Control
It’s important to know that African Cichlids often exhibit aggression. Even the milder tempered Cichlids are aggressive compared to other species of tropical fish. Some species are more aggressive than others, but it’s difficult to generalize their behavior. It’s not possible to control Cichlid aggression, but there are some things you can do to help reduce their aggressiveness. You may want to try lowering the water temperature slightly.
African Cichlids thrive amongst rocky coastlines, so you’ll need to create an environment that simulates this. Use shellgrit or coral sand as lining for the tanks’ floor. Either one will assist in anchoring rocks and other accessories, and aids in the re-creation of hard alkaline water. Refrain from using driftwood as it lowers the pH of water. You’ll want to position the rocks and coral you’ve purchased to mimic coves, hiding places for sleep, and reefs. Live plants are a beautiful addition to most aquariums, but African Cichlids are omnivorous, so you’ll want to purchase plastic plants if you decide to add “flora” to their environment. Be sure to secure artificial plants to surrounding rocks with a piece of monofilament.
Hope all the above helps…and happy cichliding..
Fishfanatic since 1999
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The methods of care for African Cichlids can vary, and it is vital that beginners to learn how to maintain ideal aquarium conditions. Once you have created the ideal environment for your African Cichlid, you may refer to the following guidelines for maintaining their nutritional and environmental needs.
Water Conditions
African Cichlids prefer a water pH within the range of 7.4 to 8.4. To achieve this, you may need to enhance your tank water with commercial “Cichlid Buffer” which can be purchased through any aquarium supplier. You’ll also need to use special Cichlid salts and trace elements for your fish to exhibit superior coloration, and provide anti bacterial conditions. Aquarium water can quickly deteriorate, and you’ll need to replace evaporated water regularly. A good filtration system is vital for optimum conditions to assist in the breakdown of bacteria, and to provide good water flow and movement. You’ll also need to use ammonia removers for superior water condition. Follow to the manual that comes with your filtration unit, and familiarize yourself with how to maintain it properly. Water temperature should range between 74- 82F.Monitor your aquarium heaters’ thermostat, to provide ideal water temperature.
Lighting
Lighting is necessary to view your fish in the evenings. It’s better to illuminate your tank from late afternoon until late evening, to better appreciate your aquarium.
Full spectrum lighting is best , and Arcadia tube bulbs are highly recommended. Avoid leaving your tank lit during the day. You may cause excessive algae problems.
Feeding
Feeding African Cichlids the right type of food is very important. Due to their extremely long intestinal tracts, it takes a long time for them to digest food. Once you have identified the four different dietary habits of African Cichlids, and know which species you maintain, you can purchase the correct food. Inappropriate foods will rot in their stomachs causing bloating, sickness and sometimes death. For this reason, foods with a large proportion of spirulina and vegetables are best. Frozen bloodworms and brine shrimp are also good for most species, but meats and live blackworms are not recommended. Researching specific foods for specific species is essential.
Aggression Control
It’s important to know that African Cichlids often exhibit aggression. Even the milder tempered Cichlids are aggressive compared to other species of tropical fish. Some species are more aggressive than others, but it’s difficult to generalize their behavior. It’s not possible to control Cichlid aggression, but there are some things you can do to help reduce their aggressiveness. You may want to try lowering the water temperature slightly.
African Cichlids thrive amongst rocky coastlines, so you’ll need to create an environment that simulates this. Use shellgrit or coral sand as lining for the tanks’ floor. Either one will assist in anchoring rocks and other accessories, and aids in the re-creation of hard alkaline water. Refrain from using driftwood as it lowers the pH of water. You’ll want to position the rocks and coral you’ve purchased to mimic coves, hiding places for sleep, and reefs. Live plants are a beautiful addition to most aquariums, but African Cichlids are omnivorous, so you’ll want to purchase plastic plants if you decide to add “flora” to their environment. Be sure to secure artificial plants to surrounding rocks with a piece of monofilament.
Hope all the above helps…and happy cichliding..
Fishfanatic since 1999
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African Cichlids have the attitude of bettas for the most part. (they like their space and like to…um…defend it) Minimum tank size for the full grown chiclid is 30 gallons. i would suggest going ahead and getting it. chiclids are messy fish they have sloppy table manners and this can make them sick if the water gets dirty- bigger tank=less mess per water. Chiclids hide in caves and will usually pull up plants. They like to dig in the gravels if possible. Keep the tank about 76 deg F sexing is very difficult in chiclids. remember chiclids are meat eaters so meaty based foods are best for him. just keep the tank well filtered (I would use more than a bubbler) good luck. There’s a lot of info out there on chiclids.
Fishfanatic since 1999
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I bought 4 cichlids 2 years ago and they are great!! PH is about 7.2 and they like the tank at 69 to 74 degrees, keeping it at 70 or above entices breeding in them. And you should get two or three more. The botton fin if it comes to a point its probally a male and if it is rounded its probally a female but no matter yours need a few more to swim around with and have friends. And most of all they need more room and a few cave like things in there to hide and make homes out of. I had mine for 6 months and they bred and had many babies now I have 4 babies from my fish. I now have 7 and I started out with 5. They like frozen brine shrimp and blood worms on top of the their cichlid flakes, I have even given them a earth worm and they loved it. I have two catfish that live with them. They also like rosie reds every once in a while. Rosie reds are feeder fish. When I got mine they were about 1 and half inches to 2 inches long, Now mine are from 4 to 6 inches long and they live in a 55 gallon tank. My grandkids love them and we watch them with their babies, they take good care of their young just like any parents do, its great to watch. Good luck with yours,
Books stores and my own experience,
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