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All About African Cichlids Care

By Sally Delacruz


These African fishes are unique and they somehow pose a test in trying to keep them when put into comparison with other fishes. This is mostly due to the need to maintain the original environs of their original location and also their hostile nature. Regardless of these they still are astounding and colorful that it is hard to believe they originate from non-salty lakes. Maintaining fake environs of origin with the right pH, right temperatures among various other factors listed constitute to African cichlids care.

So as to create a healthy environment for the fish, it is essential to maintain the required pH. Single accurate pH for the tank is non-existent and instead ranges with particular species. It is possible to purchase a pH regulator but for a more homemade approach, put corals that are crushed, sand or sea shells in to your tank so as to raise the pH while also raising the capacity of buffering.

Since these cichlids have a territorial nature fighting each other in their original habitats, adding more turf by getting a bigger aquarium will be a good idea. You should also put some rocks and faunas inside the tank since the cichlids mostly use them to mark their territories. Avoid putting live plant because the fishes may uproot them or even die due to high levels of pH.

In making their own ideal environments, these cichlids normally love to move things around and about and also digging. For this reason, it is important to place rocks on over gravel in order to save the fishes from pinning themselves under rocks as they dig.

The delusion that same size fishes are likely to have a reduced aggression against each other on the same tank is not true. In fact the fishes of unequal size are likely to exist unless one is small enough to become food. This aggression is resulted by lack of intimidation and fighting turns the only way to state boundaries.

Feeding the fish is very easy since they consume almost anything though it is a good idea to give them a varied diet. As a staple food you can give them flake food you can also feed them on frozen food or wafers about once a week. Once their stomachs swell, it reflects that you have overfed them and you should stop in order to avoid them getting a Malawian bloat. You should not let flake food to remain at the bottom as it can as it can form ammonia which in turn may turn out toxic.

Weekly change of around quarter of the water constitutes the necessary maintenance which should not be a big deal. In order to be safe from chemicals, ensure a gravel vacuum at the bottom and also do not sterilize the sponge for filtering when about to clean up.

In general, ensuring proper maintenance of the cichlids is very important and they being the cheapest to tame, this should not be a hustle. They are very hardy and resistant to many diseases that are got by most fishes. They outlive most fishes and proper care can probably even elongate their usual lifespan that averages between five to eight years.




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