Tropical Fish | Secrets | Advice | Tips

African Cichlids are in the tropical semi-aggressive community and grow from 4" to 8" or more. These are a long lasting fish living up to 20 years! African Cichlids are versatile in the fish tank, they spend their time in the middle level in the water. You can find the African Cichlids scooting from top to bottom. African Cichlids are great for a community aquarium but they are semi-aggressive. Cichlids are territorial, and can eat smaller fish. You can put these fish with other fish but be sure they have similar temperaments and are similar in size or the Cichlid will begin to rule the roost.

African Cichlids are carnivores but they can also chow down on some plants. Prepared foods such as vegetables and live foods like worms suit the fish well for it's diet. You can feed African Cichlids fish flakes, frozen foods, live foods from tubifex worms to daphnia. They even gorge down mosquito larvae, worms and brine shrimp. Remember to supplement your African Cichlids diet by tossing in some veggies. For some reason fish like zucchini. It's the universal veggie, but peas and romaine lettuce will work too. Feed what the cichlid will eat up to 3 minutes and alternate between meat and vegetation to keep your African Cichlids diet in sync.

Fish Tip: Place your fish tank in a low traffic area away from exposing sunlight and AC/Heat vents to keep your tanks water temperature controlled.

Other African Cichlids include the Rock-dwelling Cichlid from Malawi and Tanganyika.

Here are more signs of a happy fish

• They are eating like champs!
• Your fish are swimming at the right water level
• No skin lesions
• Pure colours
• Steady gills
• They are darting around like Nemo...

Here are the common indicators your fish is sick

• They scrape their body on the rocks or rough surfaces
• White stuff on or around the mouth
• They may get Red Lines on their fins
• Golden specks on skin and fins is known as a common problem
• Parasites on the fish. Can you see them?
• If your fish seems like it's having consistent gill spasms then you know it may be sick.