keeping cichlids

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Reducing African Cichlid Aggression

October 4, 2011 in African Cichlids, Reducing African Cichlid Aggression | No comments

African cichlids are often referred to as the most aggressive cichlid, and most inexperienced aquarists will tell you that you should not keep this species because they are too “mean”. African Cichlids have a tendency to be aggressive by nature, but don’t let this discourage you from keeping them as a pet. In this article I am going to explain some of the most common ways to reduce African Cichlid aggression.

Feeding

Food is the number one cause for Cichlid aggression. This is because African Cichlids live in vast numbers in the wild and are required to defend themselves for food. They also display the same behavior in an aquarium. It is best to feed in small amounts several times a day. By feeding throughout the day, you are helping to eliminate their food related aggression.


Tank Size

Since African Cichlids tend to be very territorial by nature, it is important to have a large enough tank for them to live in. It is suggested that you use at least a 55 gallon aquarium for keeping this species. Having a larger tank will allow you to build a lot of nooks and crannies for your Cichlids to hide in and claim as their territory.

Similar Sizes

When choosing your African Cichlids, it is best to pick those that are similar in size. If you have one Cichlid that is much larger than the others, it is most likely going to take over your tank and be the most aggressive Cichlid. This rule of thumb is especially important if you are keeping several males of the same species.

Before choosing your tank mates, I suggest that you do a bit of research to determine how big they will get when they are adults. This will also help to ensure that you have the proper size tank for the species you plan on keeping.

Variety

Having a large variety of colors with different body markings will also help reduce African Cichlid aggression. If they look like one another, chances are they will not get along.

Temperature

It is recommended that you keep the temperature of your Cichlid tank on the low side. High temperatures will increase the fish’s metabolism and can trigger more aggressive behavior. Of course you don’t want freezing cold water, but 74-76 degrees is acceptable for most African Cichlid species.

Male/Female Ratio

The general rule for most African Cichlid species is to keep one male per every three females. This is important because males, in almost all cases, tend to be the most aggressive cichlids in the tank. This is because the males will be aggressive towards females that do not want to mate. Having more females in the tank will take the male’s focus off of just one female and instead his anger will be evenly distributed.

Mixing species

The three main lakes that African Cichlids originate from are Malawi, Tanganyikan, and Victorian. Although it has been done, I do not recommend combing species from different lakes. However, if you insist on mixing African Cichlids from different lakes, Malawi and Tanganyikan are going to be your best bet. If you plan to mix the two, I suggest that you do some serious research to determine which species will be compatible with one another. If you are a beginner at keeping cichlids, it is best to stock your tank with African Cichlids from the same lake.


African Cichlids are a wonderful species to keep, but it is important to remember that they can be aggressive if you aren’t careful. Taking precaution and following these guidelines will help keep your African Cichlids aggression at a minimum. These really are a beautiful species of fish and I hope that you can enjoy them as much as I do.

For more helpful information, I recommend checking out the step-by-step guide “Keeping Cichlids”

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Maintaining Cichlid’s Water

June 2, 2011 in Water Chemistry | No comments

If you’re still a beginner in the hobby of raising and keeping cichlids, the seemingly complicated specifications of water chemistry may have you worried.

Believe it or not, obtaining and maintaining the correct water chemistry for your cichlids may be less complicated than you think. There are three important properties that need to be measured and adjusted in order to give your cichlids the most ideal water chemistry possible. Those three are pH, GH, and KH.

 

pH

Having the correct pH balance in your cichlid’s water is probably the most important part of good water chemistry. Your water’s pH balance describes whether it is more acidic, more alkaline, or just plain neutral. If your water tests for a pH balance of seven, this means it is perfectly neutral – an ideal balance for most fish. Any number greater than seven means it has an alkaline balance, and any number less than seven means it is acidic.

 

Even the slightest changes in the pH balance of your water can upset your delicate cichlids so try to keep a stable level. If you need to make adjustments, be sure that you don’t raise or lower the level by more than a third of a point per day. Keep in mind that each number on the pH scale signifies a difference of ten times more or less acidity or alkalinity than the numbers adjacent to it. A reading of six – just one point less than a neutral seven – means your water is ten times more acidic.

 

General Hardness (GH)

The hardness of your water is measured by the amount of calcium and magnesium it contains. Many African cichlids are happiest in an aquarium with a GH level that hovers somewhere between 160 and 320 parts per million. Because calcium and magnesium do not keep for very long in water, your aquarium’s GH level will steadily drop if not manually adjusted. There are various scales used to measure water hardness so make sure to determine which of them your testing kit is using before judging the results.

 

Carbonate Hardness (KH)

The carbonate hardness level of your water describes the level of carbonates and bicarbonates it contains. It measures your water’s ability to keep a stable pH level, which, as we know, is crucial to the survival of your cichlids. With a sufficiently high KH level, your water will maintain its pH balance even through various changes. The right amount of carbonates and bicarbonates acts like a vacuum cleaner, absorbing any harmful additives before they affect the acidity of your precious water. A good KH range is usually somewhere between 180 to 240 parts per million.

 

Testing

It’s important to test your aquarium’s water for these three properties to ensure that your fish are as healthy as they can be. Having the correct levels in all three of these categories will contribute to happier, prettier cichlids that will live longer, more natural lives.

 

One of the most accurate water testing kits is the API liquid test kit, which comes with a number of different tests for various minerals. As a rule, liquid drop test kits are generally of better quality than the cheaper but less accurate test strips.

API Testing Kit

How to Adjust and Maintain pH and KH

Because cichlids are so vulnerable to even the slightest changes in their water chemistry, if you need to adjust any of these levels, it’s important to do so slowly. Adding one teaspoon of baking soda for every five gallons of water in your tank can help to slowly begin raising its pH and KH balance if needed, but make sure that you add it slowly(too fast can harm the fish). This should be dissolved ahead of time in a glass of aquarium water.

Each time you do a water change, you will need to add 1 teaspoon of baking soda for every 5 gallons that you take out. For example, if you take out 30 gallons of water, you will need to put 6 teaspoons of baking soda in. This should also be dissolved before adding it to the aquarium.
Lowering your pH balance is much trickier as you first need to obliterate the carbonates and bicarbonates in the water, after which you can then lower the pH. Driftwood and sodium biphosphate both contain acids that will get the job done nicely, but be sure to keep a close eye on your water. After you are finished the process, restore your water’s KH balance with crushed coral, limestone, or oyster shell.

For more details on maintaining your cichlid’s aquarium water, check out the Keeping Cichlids e-book.

 

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