The German blue ram or otherwise commonly known as the butterfly cichlid is another of the beautiful dwarf cichlids often desired by the aquarist. This is a stocky fish with bright grey/blue flanks. Yellow, gold and black with blue are the coloration of the head and chest with a red patch on the belly. A black vertical line runs across the eye and red patch around it. It has a large yellow dorsal fin with black at the front edge and red marking the upper and lower lobes of the tail and dorsal fin. The pelvic fins are mostly red with blue.

These cichlids come from the rivers of Venezuela, and Columbia. They require a temperature of 72 - 77F (22-25C) but will do fine in higher temps around 80 °F and a pH 5.5 - 7.0. Soft water is best for them but it is known for some of them to adapt well to moderately hard water. Aquarists generally find it is not 'easy' to keep this fish, as they often die soon after purchase. This is because they need well established water to feel comfortable enough in and they can be picky eaters at first. Introduction to an established tank is essential as they are likely to die if the water is not 'old' enough.

As with other cichlids, hiding places should be provided with decorations, plants etc. for shelter when there is aggression especially during the breeding period. They grow between 2 to 3 inches (5 - 7.5 cm), the female being the bigger of the two with a life span of approximately 3 years. A minimum tank size of 20 gallons (75.5 liters) is needed for each pair that is kept.

Most fish can be kept as tank mates as long they are not extremely aggressive fish or fish that are big enough to eat them. Other male dwarf cichlids shouldn't be kept with them unless the tank exceeds 40 gallons. If the tank is less than 30 gallons it won't be a good idea to have more than one male ram as there may be territorial disputes.

German blue rams are omnivores. They will accept most food, however frozen or live foods are preferred more. Rams that are newly introduced to the aquarium sometimes tend to picky eaters, refusing food or just nibbling. Frozen bloodworms/brine shrimp and live foods are best fed at this time. As it is observed that they are starting to eat more freely, slowly, pellets, flakes and other foods can be fed.

Identifying the gender in rams is not as difficult as might be expected. An adult female is stockier built, her tail has a more round edging and the red patch on her belly is bigger and bolder than the male. With males, the back of their dorsal and anal fins have more of a pointed edge, their tails have a V shape, are more sharp edged and they have a elongated 2nd ray in their dorsal fins. For more info on sexing your rams - Sexing Ram Cichlds

Pairing off rams does not often result in just having a pair together in a tank. Best results come by having a few rams together from a young age and letting them grow up together, pairing of their own accord. A pH of 5.5 - 6.5 is best for the pair, eggs and fry. German Blue rams can reach maturity at an early age, sometimes between 4 - 6 months. Once they have paired it is generally easy to get them breeding. However, the first few times may not come out right and it may end up with the pair fighting, especially if they are a young pair. Having different lighting times every day can distort their breeding. When ready to breed the red patch on the female's belly will be distinctly brighter and bigger in comparison with the male. A space on a rock will be cleaned or a pit created in the gravel by either of the pair, in which the eggs are layed. They will begin to show more interest in one another, by nudging or twirling. Every so often the male may suddenly dart away or slide his body against the female. The female can lay between 20 - 200 eggs. Both parents will tend to the eggs. Or, they may eat them, especially unfertile ones. They may spawn many times before they get right.

 

The Cockatoo cichlid is a member of the apistogramma (South American Dwarf Cichlid) family. It is from the streams and backwaters of the Amazon River. The bottom the of the river is usually littered with leaves and slow moving. They prefer soft and slightly acidic water with a pH from 6.0 - 7.0 with a KH (carbonate hardness) of 2 - 15 and a temperature of about 79 - 84 F (26 - 29 C).

The males can get to 2 - 3.5" (5 - 9 cm) long and the females are usually smaller than the males like most cichlids. The first 3 - 5 fin rays of the males is elongated, like the German Blue Ram (apsitogramma ramerzii), and the end of the dorsal fin is pointed. The male's tail fin is forked and the anal fin is long and pointed. Like some other cichlids, the male is more colorful then the females.

The tank for these little fish should be full of plants and plenty of hiding spots for them. Unlike larger cichlids, they won't dig up the plants in the tank. The darker the substrate, the more colorful the males will appear as well as make them feel more at home. They also like driftwood and plants with lots of roots above the bottom. The water should be clean and regular partial water changes are needed. They like medium sized live food like brine shrimp with flakes/granules and also frozen food as a main food.

They can get really territorial when spawning or if there are too many males in the tank. If you want them with other dwarf cichlids, make sure that they have plenty of space in the footprint (the area of the base) and lots of hiding places like caves or live plants.

The Convict Cichlid is probably ranked number 3 out of all cichlids as far as popularity goes, with Angelfish and Oscars being 1 and 2 respectively. They have the common name of "convict cichlid" because of the white and black contrasting patterns they sport. Males may be larger than females of the same age and the females may have a pink or orange tint to the belly region. There is an Albino Convict Cichlid as well. This fish can get to be about 4 inches (10 cm) and should do fine in a 20 gallon (78 liters) or larger aquarium.
This is a fascinating species that is known as being a profilic breeder. If you have a male and female, chances are you're going to get some baby convicts soon. All they need are stable water parameters and a cave or flower pot for securing the eggs. They will get quite aggressive in protecting their territory and they should not be kept with peaceful community type fishes. The great part about breeding convict cichlids is watching the parental care given to the fry. This can provide hours of enjoyment.

Keeping a pair in a community tank is just asking for trouble. If you have only one, you may be able to get away with keeping them with peaceful species but caution is still advised.

They should eat nearly everything offered including flakes, frozen and live foods. Look for cichlid pellets which can give them all the vitamins and minerals they need.

 

The Discus is known as the "King of the Aquarium". Perhaps the most beautiful of all tropical fish, the Discus is also one of the more difficult tropical fish to keep and is not recommended for beginners. They require excellent water conditions, frequent water changes and higher water temperatures than most other tropical fish. Most successful keepers house them in a species only tank because of the high water temperature requirement.
There are many color varieties to choose from with many more being introduced all the time. If you are interested in this fish, be prepared to spend some jack on this one of a kind tropical fish. If you're on the market to buy Discus, there are many online websites that specifically sell Discus. Shop around and get recommendations from others for good places to buy them.

Many fishkeepers will only get the best available foods for this fish. Vitamin enriched flakes and live, frozen and freeze dried foods can be given.

 

This is often recommended as a great first cichlid for beginners to cichlid keeping. The Firemouth Cichlid can be extremely hardy and will tolerate a wide range of water parameters. Obviously, they are great adapters but try to maintain them at recommended parameters (see below). If you're interested in this cichlid it should be relatively easy to locate them at a local fish store and since they are so common they should be inexpensive.
They get to be around 6 inches or so as adults. Flat rocks formed into caves can be a good idea and it can help make them feel secure. Keeping them with live plants can be challenging since they sometimes will dig in the substrate. If you're interested in breeding them, you will need to provide an over turned flower pot, pvc pipe or something similar for them to deposit their eggs in.

The get their common name "firemouth" because of the display of the males in this species around spawning time. They develop a red coloration on the bottom side of the body and can extend the red area under the gills to warn other fish to keep out of their territory. Many hobbyists keep them in tanks with other species but it is recommended that you use caution if you plan on doing the same. While they are not as aggressive as some other cichlids, they can still get territorial around breeding time.

The Firemouth cichlid is not picky when it comes to fish food. Flakes, live and frozen foods are taken with gusto. There are many fish foods (pellets, sticks) made especially for cichlids that can be a great source for most of the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients they need to thrive.

 

Named after the famous boxer from the 1920's, the Jack Dempsey fish is a fairly popular Central American Cichlid. The common name for this fish may make you think that this fish is a bruiser. But, given the right setup, it can be a good tank mate if kept with similar cichlids. They will get more aggressive the more cramped they feel, especially if you have a mated pair. They will hold their own against more aggressive tank mates. Provide them with a cave or other territory they can call their own and they should settle in quickly.
The Jack Dempsey can be very hardy once acclimated to your tank and should live for a very long time if properly fed with a varied diet. Also, please keep in mind that they have no problem eating smaller tankmates.

If you have a mated pair you will soon find out that they breed easily and are remarkable parents. They will need a sandy or smaller sized gravel bottom so that they can dig a pit to transfer the fry to once they hatch. The adults will then guard their fry against any and all comers! You may need to remove the other fish from the tank if they become too dangerous to the other fish in the tank. Or use an aquarium divider to prevent any aggression.

The Jack Dempsey Fish can be a very cool fish to keep if you have the space and compatible tank mates. It's a very nice looking fish and they have great personalities.

 

The Jewel Cichlid originates from Africa where they live in streams and river systems with mud bottoms. This cichlid has a wide range of common names with some pet stores calling them the Blue Jewel Cichlid, Green Jewel, Jewel fish, etc. Their coloration in pet store tanks can be a little drab, but with proper feeding and a suitable aquarium, they should color up nicely. They are very hardy and should tolerate a range of water conditions, but may only breed in tanks with water on the acidic side and slightly elevated tank temperature. See the table below for more parameters.
This cichlid can be quite aggressive, even more so when they form pairs and start breeding. They will not tolerate other fish in the tank when this happens. A tank divider is needed if you plan on stocking them with other fish. Given their nature, a separate tank is advisable if you want to keep a pair of these beauties. Once they have babies, like other cichlids, these are great parents and will defend their fry against any and all comers.

Feeding them should be a breeze since they will accept nearly all fish foods you give them. Give them a varied diet of frozen, live, flakes and pellets and they should reward you with great health and colors.

Again, think twice before putting them in a tank with less aggressive fish species. If you're keeping only one Jewel you might be ok, but keeping pairs will be a problem when keeping them with other fish. They also like to dig, so keeping them with live plants may be difficult.

 

One of the most popular of the cichlids, the common Krib is considered a great beginner cichlid because it can tolerate a range of water conditions. They stay on the small side and are considerd a dwarf cichlid, reaching about 4 inches (10 cm) as adults. They are can be very colorful even though they may not look that way in the tank at the store. They should color up nicely with good care. They develop a red or even a purple looking region on the stomach area.
Although you'll hear about folks keeping them in community type tank setups we would urge you to use caution if you plan on doing this. They can become very territorial when in breeding mode and will not tolerate tank mates in their territory.

Breeding them is fairly easy and if you're interested in breeding something besides livebearers you might be interested in getting a pair of kribensis. They are fantastic parents and will look after their young. See below for more information on breeding them.

They need a varied diet with a good flake food or cichlid pellet serving as their primary diet. Supplement with live or frozen foods periodically. This becomes even more important if you want to breed them.

Regarding disease, most are now being farm raised but that doesn't mean that they can't contract something while passing through the various holding tanks before reaching your tank. Use a quarantine tank for a few weeks before introducing into your aquarium.

 

Also known as the Red, Albino and Tiger Oscar.
Originating in the waters of the Amazon, the Oscar fish is another extremely popular tropical fish. Their popularity stems from their personality, which has been compared to that of a puppy. Many keepers experience begging around meal times or the seemingly playful greetings they receive from their fish when they get home.

There are a few color varieties including albino, olive-green, brown and dark gray. They can get quite large, usually 12-14 inches and should be kept in a 55 gallon or larger aquarium. The Oscar is also known for being one of the more messy tropical fish to keep. Try to get the best filtration system possible for them and be prepared to perform frequent water changes. They are known to rearrange their environment from time to time and to bash in to filter uptake tubes and heaters. If you are wanting to keep live plants in an aquarium you may not want to get an Oscar because they love to dig up plants. They are also very good jumpers, so a heavy hood is a necessity.

They will eat most flakes, pellets, frozen, freeze dried and live foods including any other fish they share a tank with that are small enough to fit in their mouths.

The Red Devil Cichlid comes from Central America, namely Lake Nicaragua. This is perhaps one of the most appropriate common names of all fishes. It is called the "Red Devil Cichlid" because of it's aggressive behavior. If you're looking for a fish that will terrorize nearly any fish you put in the tank, then this fish is for you! There are many color varieties out there including red, white and variations having both colors. Maybe this is the result of cross breeding with other cichlids?
This is one fish that will redecorate the tank to it's liking. They love to dig and uproot plants, so you'll most likely end up taking the plants (plastic or real) out of the tank to prevent this. After they're done assaulting the other fish in the tank they like to retire to a peaceful cave they can call their own. All in a day's work, I guess. Seriously, this is one mean SOB that you don't want to keep with other smaller or less aggressive fish. Keep them singly or you may be able to keep them as a mated pair in a larger tank.

They will eat most everything you give them. This includes flakes, cichlid pellets, frozen foods, worms, crickets, and live feeder fish. Use caution when feeding feeder goldfish because of the disease element. Try to provide a balanced diet for them and not too much of the same foods all the time.

Males should be larger than females of the same age and may develop a nuchal hump on the head. They can be relatively easy to breed, provided that they get along. They will spawn on a flat rock and should be good parents, defending the fry until they are free swimming.

 

 The zebra cichlid also known as the Malawi blue or Malawi zebra cichlid and it originates from East Africa in the Lake Malawi. This thick cichlid has a swelled forehead and with a tall tail fin. The rear parts of the dorsal fin and anal fins are elongated and pointed. The ends of the anal and dorsal fins have yellow egg spots and in this species there are many color varieties, blue being amongst the most common. Seven or eight blue/black bars run across the body and generally in this color variety the bottom part of the face is black as well. The scientific name for the Red Zebra is Pseudotropheus estherae and the common zebra cichlid is Pseudotropheus zebra.

The minimum tank size recommended for these fish is 50 gallons (180 liters). They require quite hard water with a pH of 8.0 - 9.0 and will do good with a temperature between 72 - 82°F (22-28°C) The zebra cichlids adult size is 6 inches (15 cm) and they normally live for about 5 - 10 years in captivity. A few hardy plants should take their nibbling although more often they will either uproot or destroy most plants. It's worth a try though, as some people have managed to keep plants. Using rocks is a good way of decorating the tank. Be sure to create plenty of caves for those seeking safety from other aggressive tankmates. Another thing to keep in mind is they are diggers and are always piling up substrate/sand.

They are relatively easy to care for, feeding mainly on herbivorous diets although they are omnivores. Dried foods, plant matter, frozen foods and every so often meaty foods and live foods such as earth worms are good to feed. They are also algae grazers.

Tank Mates - Behavior
Tank mates should be chosen with a lot of care and should consist of other species from Lake Malawi. The jewel cichlid, also from Africa (Rivers - Nile, Niger, Zaire) are thought to be able to be kept with zebra cichlds. These fish are extremely aggressive and if a peaceful view is desired when one glances at the tank, then these fish are definitely not the type to get. More males to females are advised. Males establish territories and defend them, while females tend to school.

Breeding Zebras
Best results in breeding is achieved by having 1 male for every 3 females. A displaying/shimmying male is usually trying to coax the females until they get them to breed. The female spawns on a flat rock or in a cave at the bottom of the tank and as many as 60 eggs can be laid. She then takes the unfertilized eggs in her mouth, following the male closely until he releases the sperm. The egg spots play an important role as it is thought that the female believes these are more eggs and goes to retrieve them and at this moment the male releases his sperm and fertilizes the eggs in her mouth. Unlike the South American cichlids after mating the male and female go their separate ways and the female cares for the eggs/fry herself. The eggs are rich with yolk and take a long time to hatch. Once hatched the yolk sac takes about 20 days to be absorbed. Being mouth-brooders, the female carries the eggs in her mouth until the eggs hatch. Newly hatched fry can be fed daphina and dry foods.