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Extensive index of African & American Cichlid profiles. Draw on the vast experience of other aquarium hobbyists to help you find the information you need about keeping Cichlids.
by Cichlid Explorer on Thu, 03/04/2010 - 23:34
If you're not interested in having fish as a pet because you think they're boring, you've probably never seen an African Cichlid. African Cichlids are one of the most interestingly natured and colorful fish you'll ever be able to keep in an aquarium.
Cichlids come in all sorts of bright, electric colors. You can't even compare these guys to a goldfish or a beta. We're talking bright blue stripes, glowing blood red, metallic yellows and even fish that will change their color depending on their surroundings.
If it wasn't for cichlids, these kinds of bright and interestingly colored fish would only be found in salt water fish. Salt water fish are really high maintenance pets so if you go that route to get some colorful fish make sure you have the time to invest in them.
Luckily for all fish lovers we have some pretty easy access to purchasing cichlids these days and we don't have to keep high maintenance salt water fish to have a bit of color in our aquariums.
Cichlids are not like the little orange blob goldfish swimming around in water doing practically nothing except eating. Cichlids are really interesting and they come in all different temperaments. Some cichlids are highly aggressive and will destroy any type of vegetation you put in the aquarium. Other cichlids are somewhat docile so you'll be sure to find one that'll suit your preference.
When some cichlids reproduce they keep their babies safe inside their mouth. The mother will open her mouth to let the babies swim around a little bit and get some exercise and then sucks them back into her mouth when there's a sign of danger. Other cichlids are diggers and will make a depression in the bottom of the aquarium and then fight off other fish if they get too near.
If you've never seen a cichlid or thought about keeping this type of fish as a pet, you should do some web research on the different types of cichlids that are available. Get a feel for what kind of maintenance and equipment you'll need because once you've seen a cichlid you'll never want to have a goldfish or boring beta ever again!
Cichlid Explorer maintains an extensive resource on African & American Cichlids.
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Cichlids can range from the disk-like forms of the popular Angelfish and Discus to the cylindrical bodied forms of the sporty African cichlids. They are very active and intriguing freshwater fish. Many are highly colorful, especially those from the African lakes, while others reach an impressive size and are great specimens for a large show tank. They can be very personable too, readily greeting their keepers and begging for food.
The Midas Cichlid is one of the most beautiful cichlids of Central America. Its outer appearance, which can vary in color immensely from one specimen to the other, as well as the huge frontal hump of the males has rendered him a very popular tank fish; there are many Midas Cichlid fans especially in North America and Asia. However, you should not underestimate this fish, which can stand up very easily! This species knows how to fight it out with its strong mouth and its brawny shape.
Cichlids are by far the most interesting tropical fish that you can keep in an aquarium!Even though the different cichlid species can look and act very differently, they all share some common anatomic characteristics. All other known fish species have small intestines that leave the stomach from the right side, but with the cichlid species the small intestine leaves the body at the left side. The cichlids are also equipped with no more than one nostril. This is a characteristic that they share with the Damselfishes. Another interesting fact is that cichlids have teeth in both the upper and the lower jaw – and in the throat!
I've seen some really big cichlids before. They really are the best looking fish that you can have as a pet. I checked out your Cichlid Information web site, and think it has a lot of great information. It also has some of the best pictures of cichlids I've ever seen.
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