Cichlid
Two big families of the hobby
Cichlids live across Africa, South and Central America and parts of Asia. In the hobby, most people start with either African rift lake cichlids or New World (South and Central American) cichlids. They need different setups, so it helps to pick one direction for your first tank.
African rift lake cichlids
- Lake Malawi: mbuna (rock dwellers like yellow labs and demasoni), peacocks (Aulonocara) and haps. Famous for reef level color.
- Lake Tanganyika: shell dwellers, frontosa, Tropheus, Julidochromis and more. Many have fascinating behavior.
- Lake Victoria: a smaller group of hobby species, often kept by specialists.
Water: hard and alkaline, roughly pH 7.8 to 8.6 (Tanganyika can run a bit higher). Setup: rock piles with caves, sand, strong filtration. Diet: mbuna graze algae in the wild, so they need veggie heavy food. Rich, high protein foods can contribute to Malawi bloat.
South and Central American cichlids
- South America: oscars, angelfish, discus, severums, eartheaters (Geophagus), rams and Apistogramma.
- Central America: convicts, firemouths, Jack Dempseys and many larger "guapotes".
Water: most captive bred fish do fine around neutral, about pH 6.5 to 7.8. Wild caught discus and many dwarfs prefer soft, slightly acidic, warmer water. Central Americans lean neutral to slightly alkaline. Setup: wood, leaves, plants and open swimming room. Diet: varied, and many are omnivores or predators.
Side by side
| African rift lake | South and Central American | |
|---|---|---|
| Water | Hard, alkaline | Soft to moderate, neutral or slightly acidic (Central: neutral to alkaline) |
| Look | Bright, reef like color | Huge range, from tiny jewels to big pets |
| Personality | Busy, colorful groups | Many bond with owners, oscars famously |
| Typical tank | Rock and sand | Wood, plants, leaves |
| Diet | Mbuna: veggie heavy | Varied, many carnivores |
Can you mix them?
It is generally not recommended. They prefer different water, eat different diets, and communicate aggression differently, which often leads to stress and fighting. Pick one region per tank and you will have healthier, more colorful fish.
Frequently asked questions
Which is easier for beginners, African or American cichlids?
Both can be beginner friendly. Hardy mbuna like yellow labs, or a Bolivian ram or firemouth, are all good starts. Pick based on the look you love and your tap water.
Can African and South American cichlids live together?
Usually not a good idea. Different water, diets and aggression styles cause stress. Keep one region per tank.
Does my tap water matter?
Yes. Hard, alkaline tap water suits Africans with little effort. Soft water suits many South Americans. Test your tap water first.
What you will need
- Aragonite or cichlid sand (African tanks)Helps keep pH and hardness up.Check price on Amazon
- Rift lake buffer (African tanks)Raises and holds hardness and pH.Check price on Amazon
- Spirulina based cichlid food (mbuna)Veggie heavy staple for rock dwellers.Check price on Amazon
- Catappa leaves (South American tanks)Natural tannins and cover for dwarf cichlids.Check price on Amazon
- Aquarium driftwoodStructure and territory for New World cichlids.Check price on Amazon
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