If you have a lot of surface feeders and only a few bottom feeders, how will the fish on the bottom get enough to eat? Do you have any species that are especially aggressive toward food and will bully anyone who looks at them while they try to eat? Do you have appropriate substrate for bottom feeding fish to dig through? Does your species of cichlid prefer live food such as Oscars or frozen food?
There are many important points to consider when feeding your fish and simply "dumping some food at the top" will not work for every system and species. Along with the wide variety of cichlid species comes a diverse collection of herbivores, omnivores, carnivores and all levels in between. Depending on what mix of species you choose, you may need more than one diet to keep all your fish healthy.
Do not assume a can of "cichlid flakes" will do the job. Many cichlid species do best with a varied diet. There is no "one size fits all" when it comes to a cichlid aquarium. Do thorough research before you buy anything! Although you may have your heart set on one species, you may not have the space or setup to house them. Don't cut corners thinking your new cichlids will make do with whatever you have ready.
Many of these species have strict water quality, space, diet and other requirements that will cause serious disease and possibly death if you ignore them. Cichlids are also long-lived species of fish, often living from 10 to even 20 years in aquariums! So, be sure to plan ahead and get the correct setup - as they will be your pets for a long time if well cared for. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content.
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Develop and improve products. That being said, thick leafed anubias species and Java fern will work for virtually any African setup. Specialized freshwater lighting systems will need to be considered if you chose to have plants in your African cichlid tank. While lighting requirements will vary for different plants, the proper spectrum of light needs to be provided to them.
You will need lights that emit in the blue and red end of the light spectrum. These are wavelengths of and nm. Check out my post for planted LED systems , to see systems with the proper wavelengths. Plants have tighter requirements to prevent algae outbreaks as well. Regular water changes to keep nitrates below 5 ppm and the use of bristlenose plecos will help with algae.
Keep in mind; however, that plecos will eat soft plants. You have to purchase the right african cichlids for your tank to ensure success with plants. You will have the greatest success with non plant eating african cichlids like peacocks and the hardest time with Mbunas. The final factor is dealing with the digging of cichlids.
Plants can be uproots with the digging activities so plants need to be fastened to prevent uprooting. Java fern should be tied to rock with fishing line and other plants should be potted or wedged in between rocks.
Getting them at your local fish store would be the first step. I would highly recommend that you join a aquarium club to learn more about the quality local fish stores near you. Some people, however, do not live near a quality local fish store. In those cases, pushing African Cichlids online would be the best way to obtain them.
There are a few out there that are worthwhile:. As African Cichlids keeping has been around for many year, there are a wealth of resources and even books for you to enjoy and read. Here are several I would recommend and you learn more about them. All are easily found on Amazon:. African cichlids are a highly rewarding fish to keep. We hope this article was useful in planning your African Cichlid tank.
Contents show. Editor's Choice! Great For African Cichlids. Great For Cichlids. Best Flake Formula. Cobalt Aquatics Cichlid Flakes With probiotics and specially formulated for Cichlids, this is bar none the best flake formula available for your Africans. For Added Variety.
Hikari Cichlid Excel A spirulina based pellet food. He started in the aquarium hobby at the age of 11 and along the way worked at local fish stores. He has kept freshwater tanks, ponds, and reef tanks for over 25 years. His site was created to share his knowledge and unique teaching style on a larger scale.
He has worked on making aquarium and pond keeping approachable. Mark has been featured in two books about aquarium keeping - both best sellers on Amazon.
Each year, he continues to help his readers and clients with knowledge, professional builds, and troubleshooting. Follow on Facebook Follow on Twitter. Looking for the best 10 gallon fish tank?
You came to the right place! Even if setting up and maintaining one of these can be challenging, there's no doubt in my mind about how rewarding it feels when everything goes according to plan - especially since many people will enjoy the ambiance from such cute little aquariums.
I love setting up new aquariums. Choosing which kind of fish to put in small aquariums like a 10 gallon tank can be tough though! That's exactly why I've decided to write this article - to take some of the hard work out of the decision-making process for you. Creating an awesome nano freshwater aquarium takes plenty of research, but don't worry, you've come to the right place!
Any exotic pet lover would appreciate the cutesy looks and artistic gills of axolotls. However, I must admit; the increasing admiration and fascination of Mexican walking fish are mainly due to the bizarre axolotl morphing.
Most of these Cichlids are beautifully colored and very peaceful suitable for community tanks. The Dwarf Cichlids can be found all over South and Central America spanning from the savannas to the rainforests. The range of biotopes found in this area can be comprised of clear waters, white water, and blackwater. While this should go without saying always do your research before you place a fish into a tank smaller than 10 gallons.
Tanks this size are more complicated to maintain for the average person and water parameter swings can happen quickly and sensitive fish may not survive these swings. Even with the Dwarf Cichlids listed above a gallon tank is pushing the limit and a gallon tank would be much more accommodating for these fish.
Excluding the shell dwellers, most other Dwarf Cichlids will appreciate a heavily planted tank with lots of caves and smooth rocks which if your parameters are right will encourage some breeding.
Other than that the typical pieces of equipment like filters , lights and substrate will be required for your set up. If you would like to see how to set up a planted tank check out my post on setting up a gallon planted tank.
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