In nature, cichlids are widely distributed. Interest in them is shown not only by aquarists, but also by people engaged in fishing. For example, tilapia, sold frozen in supermarkets, is a commercial fish.
The homeland of aquarium fish is cichlids - the rivers and lakes of the tropics of America, as well as the waters of Africa and Asia.
Cichlids in nature
In nature, cichlids are found in rivers with slow currents or standing lakes. They live alone, in a separate area, which is protected from other fish. Most cichlids are predators, and feed on small fish and insects.
Aquarium fish cichlids belong to the family of percids. This family is very diverse. Among them there are very small fishes of 2.5 cm in length, as well as huge, long meters of fish.
In natural conditions, cichlids lay eggs on plants or peeled stones. Some species of fish bear fry and caviar in their mouths, which explains the high survival of the offspring.
Contents of aquarium fish cichlids
Attractive and bright color, the unusual shape of the body of these fish attracts many aquarists. But these fish are not for beginners, with their content there are many problems.
Most aquarium fish cichlids are predators who behave aggressively both to individuals of their species and to other fish. During breeding, aggressiveness only grows. This aggression can be adjusted to some extent, if you pick up the fry in size and grow them together. But then you can not even temporarily separate the fish.
Large species of cichlids are usually not difficult to maintain and dilute. Such species include astronotuses and cichlases. And some of the simplest in the content: biocell and striped.
It is more problematic to contain species of small cichlids, and their breeding presents a problem even for experienced aquarists. Before you have a pelmatochrome and nannakar, you should gain sufficient experience in the content and breeding of larger species.
When breeding these fish it can be problematic to reduce the female and male. In the early days they are put in one aquarium and separated by a glass partition. After a while the septum is removed, but the male can still behave aggressively. Then change one of the fish. In small species, the coupling of couples is easier, since they are not so aggressive.
Care for aquarium fish cichlids
The composition of water for many species of these fish is insignificant, but some of the cichlids poorly tolerate infusions of fresh clean water. Small cichlids like more "old" water.
With feeding, too, there are no special problems. They eat any live food. A herbivorous species must be added to the diet of greens and algae.
Almost all cichlids are trying to pull plants from the ground, so plants should be chosen with strong roots and large leaves. Ground should be laid out with a thick layer and fix the plants with stones.
Malawian (African) cichlids
In some isolated groups, there are predators and herbivores.
For example, aquarium fish Malavi cichlids. They dwell only in the lake of Malawi.
More of these aquarium fish are called African cichlids, since the lake in which they are found is in Africa.
Females of this species have eggs in their mouth, which prevents eating offspring by other inhabitants of the lake.
To keep these cichlids you need aquariums, with a volume of 150 liters with many shelters. Vegetable fishes and predators of this group coexist well in one aquarium.