The Texas Cichlid, also known as Rio Grande Cichlid requires a tank of at least 50 gallons, with a fine sand bottom. The plants should be hardy as the Texas Cichlid will burrow around and attack them. The Texas Cichlid is sensitive to old water and requires frequent changes of 1/4-1/2 of the water weekly.
The […]

Also known as the Jaguar Cichlid, is a beautifully marked cichlid. The adult requires an aquarium no smaller then 70 gallons. They require plenty of open swimming room, as well as places to hide. The bottom of the tank should be coarse gravel, without plants, as the Managuense Cichlid is a burrower and will tear […]

Knowing the aggressive nature of cichlids, you might think the green Terror would be a huge freak cichlid capable of eating human beings …
although it won’t eat you it has a beautiful greenish color and some fish would be understandably terrorized by its sole presence.
The green terror will honor his name by eating any thing […]

Although it may be hard to believe, the Pterophyllum scalare or Angelfish is a member of the cichlid family. Luckily, they are not as territorial or destructive as most of their relatives.
For many people, Angelfish are instantly recognizable and in fact, are one of the oldest and most beloved species in the aquarium hobby.
These elegant […]

Depending on the mood and condition of the fish, a number of dark vertical bands cross the body and a dark diagonal band reaches from the eye across the gill cover. On the best specimens, the dorsal fin is blue with a red and yellow edge, and the rounded edge of the tail is bright […]

Endemic to just a few rivers of Colombia. Characterised by the lateral spot (separated by two light bands) this fish shows an exceptionally mild temperament in the aquarium. Makes an ideal addition to community aquariums.

Photo copyright: Andrzej Zabawski. Courtesy of www.akwafoto.pl
Family: Cichlidae
Species: Aeqidens Metae
Size: 8 in (20 cm)
Diet: Omnivorous
Temperament: Peaceful
TankConditions: 75-82°F; pH 5.8-7.5; dH

This subtle-hued little fish seems easy to keep and breed. The yellow coloration is more dominant during spawning in both sexes, with the male displaying bight yellow sides and lower fins, and orange and black on the dorsal fin. The female is bright solid yellow with black markings.

This genus contains approximately 70 species, 20 of which are still waiting for scientific evaluation. The Apistogramma should be kept in a tank that is 30 gallons minimum, with densely planted groupings. They require plenty of open swimming areas but also need hiding places. A fine gravel to sand substrate is recommended. Although a semi-aggressive […]

Apistogramma hoignei - © Johnny Jensen - www.akvariefoto.dk
This genus contains approximately 70 species, 20 of which are still waiting for scientific evaluation. The Apistogramma should be kept in a tank that is 30 gallons minimum, with densely planted groupings. They require plenty of open swimming areas but also need hiding places. A fine gravel to […]

The Apistogramma cacatuoides is commonly known as the Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid or Big Mouth Apistogramma. The Apistogramma originates in the streams and backwaters of South America. This strain has been selectively bred for its brilliant orange coloration. The rear part of the dorsal fin, as well as the tail, has a striking orange coloration.

copyright: Andrzej Zabawski. Courtesy of www.akwafoto.pl
Apistogrammas, often called dwarf cichlids, are quite peaceful fish, they defend a territory, but rarely harm tankmates. Like most apistogrammas these fish are delicate and require very good water quality. The water must be clean, well filtered, and exceptionally low in nitrates. Regular partial water changes with a good conditioner […]

Photo © Jose Manuel Fariñas
Sometimes called Zebra Cichlid. The Convict Cichlid requires a minimum tank of 30 gallons with a gravel bottom, rocks and plenty of hiding places among the rocks or some inverted pots. Floating plants are recommended as a form of cover. Because of their aggressive nature, Convict Cichlids should only be housed […]

Care should be taken with water qualities, as Rams are sensitive to water conditions and do not like changes in the chemical nature of their water. Best kept with similarly-sized fishes, Rams are non-aggressive Cichlids.
Rams are quite difficult to breed, and as for cichlids, they make suprisingly poor parents. A pair will form when both […]

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This South American Cichlid was named after legendary heavyweight: Jack Dempsey, although usually smaller than the average adult Oscar (8 in - 20 cm) this beautiful cichlid is considered by almost everyone the perfect match for our bully pet: The Red Oscar. Do to its aggressive behavior Oscars soon will learn no to mess with […]

Photo © Daryl Hutchins
These are an easy to breed fish that do well in a community aquarium with other fish of similar size. The Blue Acara requires an aquarium of at least 50-gallons, with a sandy bottom, rocks and plenty of hiding places among the rocks.
The Blue Acara is generally peaceful with other fish of […]

Photo © R. Eringa
These are an easy to breed fish that do well in a community aquarium with other fish of similar size. The Port Acara requires an aquarium of at least 30-gallons, with a sandy bottom, rocks and plenty of hiding places among the rocks.

The Port Acara is an open-breeder and will accept a […]

This genus contains approximately 70 species, 20 of which are still waiting for scientific evaluation. The Apistogramma should be kept in a tank that is 30 gallons minimum, with densely planted groupings. They require plenty of open swimming areas but also need hiding places. A fine gravel to sand substrate is recommended.
Although a semi-aggressive fish, […]