5 Most Popular Victorian Cichlids

Cichlids are considered some of the most beautiful fresh water fish due in part to the variety of colors available. Looking for a Cichlid from Lake Victoria might be hard due to; invasive species, water siltation, and over fishing reducing the availability. 

Here are the top 5 most popular types of cichlids to look out for considering they are your best bet at adding a Victorian Cichlid to your fish tank. Of the Cichlids that are native to Lake Victoria I find Haplochromis to be the most easily accessible, which may be due in part to their striking colors and visual appeal. They are also considered more docile and easier to maintain in comparison to their Lake Malawi cousins, in my opinion, the equally as beautiful Mbuna.

1. Statoreochromis Alluaudi

Figure 1(Bauman)

 2. Haplochromis sp. #44 "Thickskin” 

Figure 2(Bauman)

3. Haplochromis sp. "Blue Obliqidens"

Figure 3(Bauman)

 4.Haplochromis sp. "Red Tail Sheller"
Figure 4(Bauman)

5. Haplochromis sp. "Kenya Gold"

 Figure 5 (Bauman)

This list of 5 stand out in popularity because of the allure of having freshwater fish that can be easily mistaken for their saltwater counterparts, and when comparing the upkeep required for maintaining a saltwater tank it’s easy to see why they are in such high demand.

Which out of this list of Victorian Cichlids you like most?

Breeding African Cichlids

Breeding African Cichlids

Having trouble getting your Cichlids to spawn, well considering they can be a bit difficult I’ve gathered some tips I hope are helpful.

A healthy Cichlid is a breeding Cichlid, so be sure to have a good filtering system, with regular water changes that meet the necessary standards of your tank. “Unhealthy fish don’t mate and considering females don’t eat during incubation period of the eggs that can be up to four weeks, she will need to be in good health.” 

Keep the Female to male ratio high to insure not just one female takes the aggression of the male. “Having at least 2 females will spread the damage an aggressive male can potentially cause. “

Diet is also important so it’s recommended to use good quality Cichlids food like; “pirulina flake, with supplements of brine shrimp, blood worms, krill, and plankton.” 

“The last thing that I know has helped me and many others in getting their fish to spawn are caves, you can use clay pots. What’s important is that they have a place they can hide.” 

What is your motivation for breeding African Cichlids?

What is a Lake Malawi Cichlid Habitat Like?

What is a Lake Malawi Cichlid Habitat Like?

Lake Malawi is one of the largest lakes in the world. It is approximatelt 360 milkes long and some where between 20-45 milkes wide and has a maximum depth of around 2300 feet. Temperatures  tend to fluctuate in accordance to the time of the year. During the dry season is when Lake Malawi is at its coldest peek which results in surface temperatures to reach about 68 degrees Farenheit. The wet season takes place from around the months of Novemeber to April. This is when Lake Malawi has temperatures ranging between 74-82 degrees Fahreneit. (Smith,2010)

Contrary to how visually appealing it is diving in a coral reef, the only colour you tend to see underwater are the many species of African cichlids themselves. The natural habitat of Lake Malawi  consists solely of mud,sand and various sized rocks which illustrate little to no colour. Although the natural scaping is not aesthitacally pleasing the play a crucial role in the sustainability and surivial of the several types of cichlids that call Lake Malawi home.

A common question that is constantly asked in the aquarium hobby is how to make sure the cichlids are happy and when asked this I always say the same thing: Replicate parameters of water so that they are similar to the ones in Lake Malawi before the addition of the African Cichlids. Most cities consist of water that mimics the necessary pH and hardness value that is desireable to various African Cichlid Species however to those who reside in areas where both pH and hardness is relatively low there are several buffers and chemicals available available to enhance parameters to meet the standards of the fish you decide to keep. For those who have set up aquariums, where are you all from? What are your water parameters like?

Aquascaping a Tanganyika Fish Tank

Aquascaping a Tanganyika Fish Tank

It is very easy to fall into a trap when designing the layout of your fish tank. The majority of fish owners will pay more attention to the aesthetic aspects of the tank and not so much on what the fish will respond better to.

The way that rocks are placed in the tank can affect the water flow which can move small rocks and can block areas of the fish tank that you want to be able to see, or where the fish want to swim. A well designed tank will have a perfect balance of design tension, attractive and eye catching features and incorporated knowledge of the specific fish’s habitat.

5 Most Popular Victorian Cichlids

Cichlids are considered some of the most beautiful fresh water fish due in part to the variety of colors available. Looking for a Cichlid from Lake Victoria might be hard due to; invasive species, water siltation, and over fishing reducing the availability. 

Here are the top 5 most popular types of cichlids to look out for considering they are your best bet at adding a Victorian Cichlid to your fish tank. Of the Cichlids that are native to Lake Victoria I find Haplochromis to be the most easily accessible, which may be due in part to their striking colors and visual appeal. They are also considered more docile and easier to maintain in comparison to their Lake Malawi cousins, in my opinion, the equally as beautiful Mbuna.

1. Statoreochromis Alluaudi

Figure 1(Bauman)

2. Haplochromis sp. #44 "Thickskin” 

Figure 2(Bauman)

3. Haplochromis sp. "Blue Obliqidens" 

Figure 3(Bauman)

4.Haplochromis sp. "Red Tail Sheller"

Figure 4(Bauman)

 5. Haplochromis sp. "Kenya Gold"

Figure 5 (Bauman)

This list of 5 stand out in popularity because of the allure of having freshwater fish that can be easily mistaken for their saltwater counterparts, and when comparing the upkeep required for maintaining a saltwater tank it’s easy to see why they are in such high demand.

Which out of this list of Victorian Cichlids you like most?

Steps Needed To Set Up and African Cichlid Tank

Being able to take care of your pets is a necessity and must be learned before getting any new pet. Fish are no different. A very important aspect of caring for fish is knowing how to set up your aquarium and fish tank is essential to being able to maintain it.

There are many aspects of maintaining an aquarium and the first part of setting up your aquarium is to make sure that your tank is thoroughly cleaned, as well as the props and features that you will place in your tank. This is when you can add the rocks to the bottom of the tank. After you have made sure that everything is clean you can add your water to the tank. Make sure that the water is de-chlorinated before you add it to the tank, as chlorine is safe for humans but can be fatal for fish. Now you connect the air-lines to the outlets in your aquarium. After you place the different decorations you can set up the filter, heater and thermometer for the tank. Now you are ready to add the main incrediant to any good aquarium, FISH! 

How is your aquarium set up?

My Top 10 Malawi Mbunas,Peacocks,Haplochromines

Generating a top 10 list of Lake Malawi cichlids was definitely a challenging task. With all the different types of cichlids there was just far too many to choose from.  Considering the African cichlids of Lake Malawi are categorized into three differentiating groups: Mbunas, Peacocks and Haplochromine’s, I have made a list for each of them.

TOP 10 MBUNAS	TOP 10 PEACOCKS	TOP 10 HAPLOCHROMINES
·         Yellow Labs (Labidochromis Caeruleus) ·         Demasoni (Pseudotropheus Demasoni) ·         Powder Blue Cichlid (Pseudotropheus Socolofi) ·         Yellowfin Acei (Pseudotropheus sp. “Acei”) ·         Kenyi Cichlid (Maylandia Lombardoi) ·         Red Zebra (Maylandia Estherae) ·         Maingano (Melanachromis Maingano) ·         Auratus (Melanchromis Auratus) ·         Afra Cobue ( Cynotilapia Afra Cobue) ·         Saulosi (Pseudotropheus Saulosi)	·         Sunshine Peacock (Aulonocara Baenschi) ·         Eureka Red (Aulonocara Jacobfreibergi) ·         Ngara Flametail (Aulonacara Stuartgrantin “Ngara”) ·         Flavescent Peacock (Aulonocara Stuartgranti “Usiya”) ·         Steveni (Aulonocara Stuartgranti “Kandee Is.”) ·         Masons Peacock (Aulonocara Masoni) ·         Mbenji Peacock (Aulonocara Koningsi) ·         Longnose Peacock “Aulonocara Rostratum” ·         Blue Neon (Aulonocara Stuartgranti Wikhi” ·         Blue Orchid (Aulonocara Kandeense)	·         Trout Cichlid (Champsochromis Caerleus) ·         Malawi Hawk (Aristichromis Chrysti) ·         Malawi Eye Biter ( Dimidiochromis Compressiceps) ·         Threespot Torpedo (Exochromis Anagenys) ·         Malawi Sand Diver (Fossochromis Rostratus) ·         Yellow Lepturus (Buccochromis Rhoadesi) ·         Euchilus (Chilotilapia Euchilus) ·         Malawi Gar (Lichnochromis Acuticeps) ·         Yellow Blaze (Otapharynx Lithobates) ·         Giraffe Cichlid (Nimbochromis Venustus)

Although it may not show but generating my list took some time and was honestly quite challenging. I’m sure if I were to do it again I would not be able to duplicate my thoughts. Of all the African Cichlid species in Lake Malawi I can honestly say each one of them have their own special personalities and that’s what makes them so different from other species of fish. What are your favourite African Cichlids? Are you able to make a top ten list?