These stunning fish hail from Lake Malawi and have a preference for slightly alkaline water conditions of between pH 7. Peacock cichlids routinely sift through sand for food and hover above it to keep a lookout for potential prey. To protect their gills as they sift through the substrate, steer clear of pebbles with jagged edges.
The great news for aquarists hoping to house peacock cichlids in a community tank is that these are generally tame, peaceful fish. Just be sure to maintain a ratio of 1 male to 4 female fish to minimize breeding-related aggression!
With a name like that, it comes as no surprise that the Cockatoo cichlid has multiple color variations that range from bright yellow to dark red. This trait, along with their compact size, friendly disposition, and ease of care makes this fish a great pick for any aquarist.
The cockatoo cichlid is a dwarf cichlid that measures between inches long. Unlike larger cichlids, they do not uproot plants.
They are also fond of hiding — creating caves and other crevices in your tank will make these tiny fish very happy. Another interesting trait is the prevalence of sneaker males — males that do not develop their full coloration until a more dominant male dies. This protects weaker males from their stronger, more aggressive counterparts. Also known as the electric yellow cichlid, the yellow lab cichlid is a go-to for hobbyists looking to introduce a pop of color to their freshwater tanks.
Their easy-going temperament adds to their appeal, though they may still act aggressively towards fish of a similar shape and color. As mouthbrooders, yellow lab cichlids are rather interesting to watch. Oscars are interesting, intelligent, large cichlids that can grow up to 12 inches long.
With proper care, Oscars can live up to 20 years. They are also resilient and omnivorous, making them easy to care for. Because of their size, they tend to be messier and require larger tanks than most fish.
An oscar tank should be at least 55 gallons, with 30 more gallons for every additional fish. These fish are also territorial, which means that they should be kept in a dedicated oscar tank. Tank conditions should replicate those of their natural habitat in the Amazons. The water should be kept neutral, while the base of the tank should be lined with a soft substrate. Kribensis cichlids are one of the smallest cichlids you will encounter as they belong to the dwarf family. Approximately 3 inches long, they come in many colors ranging from blue to pink to yellow, making them popular additions to community tanks.
Kribensis cichlids are tolerant of most water conditions, but these cave-dwellers require caves to feel truly at home. The tank should also be well-planted as these fish enjoy burrowing and may uproot plants.
These fish are mostly peaceful, but may have a tendency to nip at longer-finned fish. They can also be territorial towards other cave-dwelling fish. Avoid other bottom-dwellers and long-finned fish to minimize instances of aggression. Venustus, or giraffe cichlids are large cichlids that can grow up to 10 inches long and require large tanks to accommodate their size and territorial personality.
Hailing from Lake Malawi, these fish have a preference for hard water with an ideal pH of 8. Because of their aggressive personalities, these fish should be kept in a species-only tank, with a ratio of one male to several females to minimize breeding-related aggression.
Avoid housing males together unless you have a very large tank. Kept in ideal water conditions, these fish will eat most foods and breed easily. Frequent water changes are an absolute must for these large fish, especially as the alkaline conditions of the water increases the toxicity of ammonia.
Sometimes known as the humphead cichlid, frontosa cichlids have a distinctive appearance that makes them the centerpiece of every aquarium it finds itself in. These large cichlids can grow up to 14 inches long, and feature a distinctive bump in front of its head.
In spite of their large size, these are gentle fish that will do reasonably well in community tanks. Just be sure to keep small fish away, as carnivorous frontosas will readily gobble them up as a snack.
These fish are happiest when they are kept in schools of individuals in a ratio of 1 male to 4 females. Make sure to house them in a large tank — 75 gallons suffices for a single individual, but gallons is recommended for groups. These fish are hardy and resilient to a fault — they are one of the few ornamental fish classified as an invasive species. Though cichlids have a reputation for aggression, Firemouths are generally peaceful and are compatible with similarly-sized fish.
They are monogamous, non-schooling fish, and are best kept as pairs in large tanks. One thing to look out for is aggression during spawning season.
Male fish will carve out a territory for their families and guard it diligently, so community tanks should be large enough to accommodate this scenario. The jewel cichlid is commonly regarded as one of the most colorful cichlids in the world, and for good reason. Though they can be found in a variety of colors, they typically have bright red bodies dotted with iridescent blue flakes. Their gorgeous appearance belies the fact that they are one of the most aggressive cichlids on this list.
These fish are definitely not cut out for community tanks, though their unique behavior and appearance makes them great candidates for dedicated tanks. A well-maintained angelfish aquarium is a feast for the eyes, but keep in mind that there are quite a few misconceptions out there about these cichlids. Contrary to what many sources and even aquarium stores! Tank mates to go with your Angelfish are a possibility, but avoid any fish that are nippy, extremely active or too small.
In our humble opinion, the ideal angelfish set-up would be an Amazone biotope tank with plenty of leaf litter and wood. The king of cichlids — maybe even the king of all aquarium fish. This regal status is thought to come with extremely difficult care and all sorts of specific requirements. Now, discus fish are definitely not beginner proof. But are they only for the absolute most experienced aquarists? If you follow their care guidelines, keeping your discus fish happy and healthy is not rocket science by any means.
An Amazon biotope set-up would make a great discus environment. Adding some plants is a possibility, but keep in mind that these fish require very warm water that is soft and quite acidic. Not all plants will appreciate this. The same goes for tankmates: choose them with care!
Also known as electric blue haps, the males of this mouthbrooding Malawi cichlid species are real eye catchers. A sandy substrate, plenty of rock mounds and hard water with a basic pH are musts for this fish. A harem consisting of one male and at least three females is ideal. Tankmates are a possibility, but avoid anything smaller than the cichlids themselves.
These is a predator that will gladly eat anything that fits into their mouths! Larger Plecos that can tolerate the hard water and high pH can also be a good option. Interested in breeding cichlids? Other than that, they are pretty easy to keep and suitable for beginners. An aquarium of at least 30 gallons works well for a single pair.
If you want to keep more, be prepared to get a much larger tank to prevent territorial aggression. Rocks, wood and hides such as coconut caves and flower pots will be appreciated. Water values are not much of an issue as long as you do regular water changes and keep things stable. Males can develop amazing yellow-orange coloration on their crest-like dorsal fins, which are flashed during aggressive displays or breeding time. Its smaller size and relatively easy care make this a great cichlid for beginners.
Oscar fish Astronotus ocellatus. Before we get further into the types of cichlids that can coexist, we need to remind you that you have to consider some other essential aspects, including:.
Most cichlids are hostile fishes, and putting them in a small tank will lead to much closer interaction between them and can result in fighting over territory, mates, food, etc. Caves and rocks are crucial for your cichlids as they allow cichlids to choose their territory, which helps minimize contact with other cichlids.
All this will result in less or no aggression within your tank. Moreover, caves and rocks provide smaller cichlids and other fish an excellent hiding spot from larger fish.
All cichlids are different, as some are less aggressive while there are more aggressive types as well. This is an easy fix as the only thing you have to do is mix hostile cichlids with passive ones to maintain the peace balance in your tank.
Dwarf cichlids Pelvicachromis pulcher are probably the best choice you can make as they can easily live together due to lack of aggression and their size.
Angelfish can easily live with other fish and non-aggressive cichlids. Angelfish can easily live with Dwarf Cichlids and Discus fish. Discus is among the most beautiful and brightest fishes you can have in your tank. However, they sometimes ARE aggressive toward members of their own species, particularly when they are trying to spawn. Discus fish can easily live with Angelfish and Dwarf Cichlids. These fish species include semi-aggressive Clown Loaches Chromobotia macracanthus , some tetra species, and Corydoras Catfish Corydoras paleatus.
However, African cichlids belong to types of cichlids that can normally cohabitate with some non-Cichlid fish. Also, they can live with various bottom feeders as long as they can tolerate cichlids. These are some of the best tankmates for cichlids:. African Cichlids can go well with African Red-Eyed Tetra Arnoldichthys spilopterus as this tetra species can get much larger than cichlids.
Therefore, it needs a large tank in which it can swim. These tetras have exact water requirements as African cichlids, making them excellent tank buddies. A frican Red-Eyed Tetra Arnoldichthys spilopterus. The Giant Danio Devario aequipinnatus is a stunning fish with bright, striking color hues. Their colors range from a silverish shade together with some golden patches and a cobalt-like blue top.
Giant Danio Devario aequipinnatus.
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