The Daily Cichlid

Neolamprologus Leleupi or Lemon Cichlid

Water parameters:

25-27 degrees C or 78-81 degrees F

PH 7.9-8.4

Ammonia 0 ppm

Nitrites 0 ppm

Nitrates 10ppm (maximum)

Substrate? 

Sand, white sand will help keep the fry from becoming muddy coloured but if the parents were muddy coloured it wont mater.

Decorations/structures?

Lemon Cichlids require lots of caves and crevices for them to hide and feel secure. If provided with proper conditions they will breed just as well in captivity as most Cichlids.

These fish are a Tanganyikan species but they only inhabit the southern portion of lake Tanganyika in rocky areas.

These fish come in a few different colours, bright orange, bright yellow, and brown or muddy orange. The most sought after fish are the ones with bright orange colouring with as little to no muddy colour on their faces as possible. Personally I like the run of the mill bright yellow ones and I have one. The common bright yellow ones are usually half the price of the orange ones and they are just as beautiful.

Aggression:

Leluepi are highly aggressive and depending on their size and the size of their tank mates they will easily become the dominant fish of the tank. They can be housed with most rift lake species including Mbuna they are a big personality wrapped up in a smaller size African Cichlid. 

Out of the 5 Lemon Cichlids I bought from a local breeder (for 12 bucks) I kept one. No breeding Pairs formed from the group I bought and Leleupi Cichlids are solidary species in the wild with the only exception being when the Leleupi finds a mate. Therefore only one should be kept if housed in a 30-50 gallon aquarium because there is simply not enough territory, In larger tanks there is enough territory for multiple Leleupi but try to keep Leluepi numbers to a minimum because they are a bossy and highly aggressive fish.

Cyprichromos Leptosoma or Blue Flash Cichlid: Pictured- Left, Top Is female.

This is a good example of a free swiming Cichlid. Blue Flash Cichlids are a schooling fish as well. Although they are relatively small in size maxing out around 3-3.5 inches they require ample swimming space. A 30 gallon Long is recommended for a group of 3 and a tank of 50 gallons minimum for a group of 6. 

Blue Flash Cichlids are from the open waters of Lake Tanganyika and require pristine water conditions. 

Water conditions:

PH 7.9-8.4 alkaline

Ammonia 0 ppm

Nitrites 0 ppm

Nitrates 5-10ppm (maximum

25-27 Degrees C 78-81 Degrees F  

Structure and decor:

Because these fish are free swimming they require lots of swimming space and usually hang out around the top and mid sections of the tank. Blue Flash Cichlids do not require large and intricate rock piles but if housed with other species rock piles and sand is usually a good combination. 

Aggression: Semi aggressive. Tolerant of other Cichlid species including Rock Dwelling, open swimming and Shell dwelling varieties the Blue Flash Cichlid makes a great addition to any Rift Lake tank. They are too fast usually to be picked on and they travel in schools.

Breeding: 

Males and females can be distinguished by the colour of their tails, females will be the same colour throughout while males have a bright blue or bright yellow tail.

If you have 6 or more female and male Blue Flash Cichlids and their water/ environmental conditions are met you may witness a weird mating ritual. During breeding time the males surround one female and she decides which one she wants to mate with. When the female has chosen the male she wants to mate with she releases an egg which the male will fertilize in mid water. The female catches the fertilized egg in her mouth this continues until there is a full brode. The female carries the eggs in her mouth until they hatch in roughly 3 weeks. Once the Fry are free swimming she releases them in a rocky area and they are on their own.

In my opinion these guys would make a beautiful species only tank or with other cool additions like a Transcriptus Julie, Leleupi Cichlid, Peacock Cichlids and some Shell Dwelling species. perfect species to house in a nano Tanganyikan setup 30-40 gallon tank with ample filtration Gallons are not as important as territory or length a 36 inch to 48 inch aquarium is best for most African Cichlids.  

Pictured undernieth is a male Blue Flash Cichlid with a yellow Tail. 

Neolamprologus Similis is just one of several Varieties of Shell Dwelling Cichlids of Lake Tanganyika.

A relatively peaceful species it can be housed in aquariums as small as 10 gallons. This type of setup is known as a nano Cichlid setup. This is one of the few species of Cichlid that can be housed with regular community species such as: 

Pigmy Corries, Guppies, Gourami's, or Rams.

Breeding pairs should be kept in species only tanks because although these fish Max out at 2.0 inches males will go to great lengths to protect their territory and take on fish twice their size to protect it. Shell Dwellers Territories consist of the areas that contain shells therefore you can create a small area with many shells surrounded by medium or small rocks where you don't mind them moving sand around. Sand is a must because Shell Dwellers will use it to surround their shells so that the entrance can be hidden or concealed.  

Water conditions:

PH 7.9-8.4

Ammonia 0ppm

Nitrites 0ppm

Nitrates 5-10ppm (maximum)

Substrate and decor:

Shell Dwellers of all varieties enjoy a sand substrate and they like areas where there are lots of shells, snail shells work great and are cheap at a dollar a bag at your LDS - local dollar store. 

The males do not tolerate other males in their territory so if you want a colony/ species only tank it is best to have a long aquarium with multiple piles of shells separated buy sand or medium - large rocks. Of course, these guys can also be housed with other Cichlids - open swimmers or other rock dwellers that are relatively peaceful and who have no interest in shells. I have heard through the grape vine that it is very hard to find this particular species at your LFS but that doesn't mean that there are not other beautiful species to choose from. 

I suggest looking online for Neolamprologus Similis and getting them through local breeders. 

If conditions are met and there is ample shells - territory, this species will readily breed in aquariums. Although males and females are similar in shape and colour, males are slightly larger. 

once the breeding process has begun you will have to remove all male fry when they reach a certain age because the father will kill them, he will also readily breed with his daughters (dirty fecker), so it might be beneficial to remove all fry when sexual maturity has been reached in order to keep the gene pool fresh which helps prevent paling of colours and minimizes the risk of creating harmful mutations and fish that contract disease easily. 

Below is a great example of a nano Cichlid/ Shell Dweller species only aquarium setup, there is a vid on youtube under Bradens fish tank channel. You got to give it to him, he made a perfect Shell Dweller environment. Tank Pictured is only a 14 gallon tall with sand, some rock piles, some easy to care for low light plants spaced here and there, and lots of shells. It is beautiful and simple and most likely very cost effective, with weekly water changes water parameters can be kept without the use of expensive filtration a Aquaclear filter meant for a 30 gallon would be sufficient. Shell Dwellers are interesting to watch, easy to maintain, and beautiful. A great starter fish for anyone interested in keeping cichlids for the first time. 

Transcriptus Julie

Water Conditions?

PH 7.9-8.4

Nitrites 0 ppm (parts per million)

Ammonia 0 ppm

Nitrates 10 ppm (maximum)

78-81 degrees F or 25-27 degrees C

Substrate?

Sand

Decorations?

Rock formations with small crevices or holes

Sexing?

The females are larger than males. Females get to be around 3.5 inches, and males can be around 2.8 - 3.0 inches when adults. Sexing can be achieved by venting with a lot of Tanganyikan Cichlids but it can be stressful on the fish it is best to get a group and let them sort it out and once you have a clear breeding pair separate the extra males and either sell the extra fish or trade them back to the shop where they were purchased if interested in breeding. If you have a set of 6 in a large aquarium and they all seem to be getting along with only minor territorial aggression then keep them. From my experience it is best to separate the submissive Cichlids if you notice that they are being put into the upper corners of the tank or if they are not allowed to claim a rock pile of their own.

Tank Size?

20 gallon long if housed with 1 male and 2-3 females (breeding tank) or 30 gallon long minimum if housed with Cichlids of similar size 3-4 inches example (1 male or female Brichardi - Fairy Cichlid, 1 Lemon Cichlid and 1-2 Shell Dwellers) you can also house them with peaceful free swimming Cichlids that rarely show interest in claiming a specific rock pile as their own such as the Blue Flash Cichlid.

DO NOT house these guys with a breeding pair of Brichardi or Leleupi Cichlids because they will kick the Julies out of their homes and stress them to the point of death. If you have a 50 gallon long, great! There is enough space, but if you want a small and simple but beautiful setup go with 1 Transcriptus Julie, 1 Brichardi, 1 Lemon and maybe 2 shell dwellers, and 3 peaceful open swimmers like the Blue Flash Cichlid at the most in a 30-40 gallon long tank. If the setup is right each fish will have enough territory to claim for themselves. I suggest three equally spaced out rock piles or three large holey rocks spaced out and placed at the back of the aquarium for the rock dwelling species with a handful of different sized shells scattered along the front for the shell dwelling Cichlids. When stocking your tank with these guys it is best to get Transcriptus julies that are the same size as the rest of your tank mates or a little bit larger as they are very shy and don't do well under stressful conditions, size will make all the difference if you have had bad luck with these guys in the past.

DO NOT Put two males of the same species in a small tank like a 30 gallon long because they will kill each other or cause each other undue stress over territory, Transcriptus Julies do not like other fish that look similar to them.

Most Tanganyikan Cichlids do well with the above mentioned conditions.

Brichardi or Fairy Cichlids 

(male top, female bottom) Juvenile breeding pair.

Water conditions:

25-27 degrees C or 78-81 degrees F

Ammonia 0ppm

Nitrites 0ppm

Nitrates 10ppm maximum

PH 7.9-8.4

size: 3.5-4.0 inches

decor:

White or light coloured sand

Several rock piles with tiny crevices on top of or in close proximity of rock rubble (large pieces of river rock.) and Snail shells spread throughout. 

These Cichlids are very different from most African Rift Lake species in behavior and in looks.

If you are looking for a beautiful species for breeding purposes look no further. Brichardi Cichlids  are a colony forming species and If conditions are right a single breeding pair can colonize an entire tank. In lake Tanganyika there have been reports of colonies of Brichardi with up to 100,000 members. They are considered substrate spawners because they will lay their eggs on a spawning bed of smooth rocks or rubble. Idealy you should put a layer of smooth med-lg size river rocks undernieth a layer of top sand and when they are ready they will clear off the sand at the bottom of the rock pile made of large flat stones. once the sand is clear and they have made themselves a tight crevice or tiny cave under larger rocks they will cram themselves in, breed and guard their eggs which may take up to 3 weeks to hatch if in a community Cichlid tank don't worry if you loose your first batch of fry or eggs to other predatory fish, this is what will usually happen in the wild. Be rest assured that the parents will not let it happen again and the aggression will increase dramatically which is also a good reason to set up the lucky pair in their own 30-40 gallon aquarium.   

To create a species only/ colony tank the minimum tank requirement is 20 gallons-long or a 30 gallon tank (highly recommended to over shoot the minimum requirements I would house a single breeding pair in a 50 gallon so your colony can become huge. use dual canister filtration). Once the Brichardi have bred only the members of their colony will be tolerated in the aquarium, they will breed until all territories have been taken over by different generations of fry. The juveniles take care of their siblings once they reach an age or size where they are able to fend for themselves. After a new generation reaches the age where they are able to take over for their juvenile siblings that generation takes care of the new fry while the previous generation expands the rest of the colony's territory. Once all available territory has been taken over the original breeding pair will remain the alpha pair of the colony and all other breeding pairs will not be tolerated unless there is ample space but in the grand scheme of things would you really want the sisters and brothers breeding? probably not. Breeding will slow down and may even stop completely until the colony is transported to a larger territory or if fry are sold etc. 

I've confirmed claims made by several breeders online most fish need 3 key conditions in order to breed. 1. Perfect water conditions that are as close to what they would experience in the wild, 2) Ample territory or territory that does not have too many competitors and 3) Ample and various types of food. In regards to food, live foods have been noted to bring out beautiful colours and promotes breeding in most Cichlid fish if you have a pair that just wont breed despite perfect conditions.

It is very hard to determine the sex of most Cichlids but this can be a little easier with Brichardi's. The male has an elongated body and is usually larger as an adult, growing 4-5inches long.   females reach an average length of 3.5-4inches and have shorter stocky bodies. The colours of the males and females are the same and they both have trailers on the tips of their tail fins, dorsal and anal fins but the male's trailers are longer and more pronounced. 

If you have no interest in breeding but think these fish are cool just get one or two males for a large aquarium or one or two females because breeding pairs are very aggressive (personal note) I had 4 Transcriptus julies of equal size to the brichardi breeding pair that formed in my tank. Once the Brichardi pair formed they systematically took over by killing off all fish in the aquarium except my Leleupi Cichlid who doesn't take crap from anyone  (this happened when I was fairly new to cichlids). I asked the aquarium store helpers why this happened and they told me that I had a breeding pair. I sexed the Brichardi by using guidelines local breeders gave me to confirm that I did in fact have a female and a male. Brichardi's by themselves in a community Tanganyikan setup are semi aggressive to aggressive with a temprament similar to Leleupi Cichlids. I therefore lost two potential breeding pairs of Transcriptus Julie's because I couldn't find enough correct info on the internet about breeding pairs of Brichardi which is a poor excuse right? But when half the sites say they are peaceful even when a breeding pair is formed and half the sites say they are super aggressive when a breeding pair is formed it can be very confusing. So here is a definitive answer based on experience and biology: When a breeding pair forms, their territorial aggression sky rockets because of their colony forming instincts. They want as much territory and food as possible because they know their colony will need all the space and food available once it becomes established. Once this pair has formed they should be separated into a decent size aquarium or sold to someone who wants to breed them otherwise you will lose many fish.  

Julidochromis regani or Convict Julie

Originating from Lake Tanganyika and very similar in appearence to Transcriptus Julie's or Masked Julie's. 

Hybridization should be avoided so other species that look similar should not be kept in the same tank. 

Water Conditions:

PH 7.9-8.4 ALKALINE 

25-27 Degrees C or 78-81 Degrees F 

Pristine water conditions preferred

Ammonia 0ppm

Nitrites 0ppm

Nitrates 10ppm maximum

Substrate and Decor:

Sand is preferable along with lots of rocky structures forming caves.  

Convict Julies are quite similar to Transcriptus julies mentioned earlier but one of the major differences is size, Convict Julie's can reach a size of 4.5-5.0 inches. Like Transcriptus, Convict julie's can be sexed by venting or based on size, females tend to be larger than males. 

Aggression: semi aggressive, highly aggressive to con-specifics. They will keep to themselves for the most part if they are housed with different species especially ones that don't claim rock piles as their home.

If you like these guys a lot you can have 1 in a 30 gallon tank with other peaceful non rock dwelling species such as small open swimmers Like the Blue Flash or get a group of 4-6 Convict Julie fry and see if any pair up. If you have a pair sell the rest and see if your pair will breed, if so you will be happy to see the parents leading their fry around the aquarium when they are large enough. here is a weird fact, I read that if you have a breeding pair you need to have at least one other fish in the aquarium as well (Preferably durable and quick) because if the parents don't have to protect their fry from other fish they turn on each other which seems strange and pointless lol. If any of you fish fans have witnessed this please share a vid link or let me know in a private message.   

The Peacock Cichlid Hailing from Lake Malawi the southern most rift lake in Africa is one of thousands of different species of Cichlids that live in the lake.

Peacock Cichlids come in a variety of different colours, shapes and sizes because there are 22 different Peacock species they are widely available in pet stores and in local breeders

Juveniles do not colour up until they reach between 2 and 3 inches many beautiful versions of peacocks are overlooked at pet stores because they have a dull translucent colour, which keeps them cheap and sometimes if you are lucky and have meds sitting at home you can pick some awesome ones up at the bargain bin or assorted cichlid tank at petsmart because they have no idea what they have. I picked up a high quality red zebra and female cobalt blue cichlid for $3 bucks each and they are 3 inches, used the existing medication I have lying around cure ich, and some form of hexamita and now they are a vibrant healthy addition to the main tank. 

Water Conditions:

PH 7.9-8.6

24-29 degrees C or 75-84 degrees F

Ammonia 0ppm

Nitrites 0ppm

Nitrates 10ppm (maximum) 

Substrate and decor:

Natural colored sand or white crushed coral sand, rock piles with open swimming areas. 

Peacocks are highly sought after and rarely will you find wild caught Peacocks directly from Africa because Lake Malawi has been converted to reserve status since 2011. Most Peacocks are bred at fish farms and through the hobby and because of this their are various interesting colour morphs out there such as the Red Peacock Cichlid or orange blotch peacock (OB Peacock). Although it is rare you do find wild caught species in stores but you have to wonder if they are telling the truth. Personally I can't tell the difference between wild caught and run of the mill aquarium bred except for the price. $80 For one adult wild caught peacock and $8 for one 3-4 inch aquarium bred Peacock. On another personal note, if Lake malawi is a nature reserve how just is it of us aquarium keepers to steal more fish from this beautiful habitat just because the fish might be rare when there are ample or over stocked supplies of aquarium bred Cichlids out there that cost less and are just as beautiful? As an outdoorsman and fisherman I believe wholeheartedly in the catch and release program for fishing because I know all too well how overfishing and pollution has taken a huge toll on the fish and wild life of our country. The next time you pass by a wild caught Cichlid tank and think "I got 80-90 bucks to spend on one of these guys", think about what you are actually doing and realistically you could over stock a 100 gallon tank with various and cool looking Cichlids bought from local breeders with the amount of money you would spend on one wild caught Cichlid. You are not just adding a rare and beautiful fish to your aquarium, You are promoting overfishing and natural resource depletion when there is already an ample supply of the same fish (less rare maybe) readily available through local breeders. LFS's have enough suppliers (fish farms, local breeders etc) they don't need wild caught suppliers it is a useless and unnecessary practice and its only purpose is to make the store keeper more money.   

Aggression:

Peacock Cichlids are considered to be relatively peaceful and they enjoy rock dwelling exploration and open swimming. You can keep more than one male at a time in the same tank as long as there is enough room for each of them to claim their own territory and it is recommended that if you are breeding them you need 3-4 females per male to keep things civil. My Peacocks will readily swim with other fish of similar size and shape and I rarely see them attack first. They do defend themselves or hold their ground if provoked or threatened. 

Peacocks in most circles are considered a hardy or beginner fish in the Cichlid aquarium keeping hobby. I have to call bs on this because 1) they need the same water conditions every other Cichlid needs for them to be happy, healthy and for their colours to really come through and 2) They are a semi aggressive fish and a Dwarf Cichlid that maximizes out at 5-6" isn't one that your other fish want to piss off lol. most cichlid species require to be introduced to a fully cycled tank which is easily achieved by using healthy feeder fish which can be moved to a smaller tank if you get attached to them or as a welcome gift to your new predatory and large cichlids lol.  

Breeding your Peacocks is relatively easy  and they are a mouth broding species. Providing that you have pristine water conditions and If you have multiple females for each male, Peacock Cichlids will readily breed in captivity. The fry need newly hatched brine shrimp when they are free swimming. Males and females look alike and are relatively the same colour and within close proximity of size. You can tell if you have a male by his size, the males are a little bigger (not much) when they become adults, the males also have brighter colours and what is referred to as egg spots on his tail which he will flash and display for the female during breeding time this is the easiest way to determine their sex.  

Tank size:

It is recommended to have a tank that is 50 gallons for this species simply because they need territory and lots of swim room. if you want 3-4 go 50 gallons with one male and 3 females if you want 6-8, 2 males and 6 females you will need a 75 gallon tank minimum. Once you get into Lake Malawi  species tanks there seems to be no limits on the amounts of diverse and unique species your tank can have. 

Pseudotropheus crabro or Bumble Bee or Hornet Cichlid 

Most commonly known as the Bumble Bee Cichlid can grow up to 8-9 inches and has an average life span of 8-10 years. Best suited for large aquariums of 55 -75 gallons. they are considered an aggressive Lake Malawi species other wise known as a Mbuna Cichlid.

Considered a hardy species but again all Cichlid species should be considered advanced because of their water requirements and because the owners require a  good knowledge base in regards to curbing territorial aggression. It is also an asset to understand and follow preventative maintainence steps to avoid disease. Cichlids are not cheap in fact they are some of the most expensive fish on the market if you buy at aquarium stores and having a reasonably advanced understanding of tank maintenance, nutritional, and behavior requirements will go a long way to help keep healthy and long lasting fish. Most Cichlid species live 9-10 years if treated well and taken care of properly in aquaria so it is a commitment you must be willing to make.    

Water conditions:

Ammonia 0ppm

Nitrites 0ppm

Nitrates 0ppm  

Ph 8.0-8.4 

Substrate and decor:

Sand, tan or white in colour. 

Large rock piles with various caves. 

These fish are beautiful and brightly coloured species known to be able to change their colour rapidly at will from bright yellow, orange to almost completely black. They are a mouth broding species which means that they will breed and fertilize their eggs in rock caves and crevices and then gather them up in their mouths until the fry hatch and are old enough to explore on their own. As with most breeding pairs it is advisable that once a pair has formed to remove the pair from the main aquarium and place them in a breeding tank but if the main aquarium is large with ample territory they can remain. Male and females can be determined by colouration and by size. Males will be larger than the females and be darker in colour with a number of egg spots on their anal fin. 

In the wild Bumblebee Cichlids are known as specialized eaters or cleaner fish that eat parasites attached to larger fish.  Particularly the catfish Bagrus meridionalis, which apparently recognises the species as a cleaner. The Bumblebee Cichlid has also been found preying upon the eggs of the bagrus catfish, but will change colour to a dark brown while doing so. In the aquarium they will eat what ever you give them and are not picky. In the aquarium it is advisable to feed most mbuna's a varied diet high in vegetable matter to avoid the dreaded malawi bloat disease which is caused by poor water conditions, food that has too much protein and stress. The only known cures (low rate of success) are clean water conditions and medications such as clout and metronidazole. these medications are most successful when they are ingested through medicated food.  

Like most Cichlids the Bumblebee Cichlid is fairly intelligent my bumblebee has learned how to "pound it!" when I place my fist on the glass before feeding he will swim very close to the glass, peck at it, then up and around the fist and then wait at the top for food or his treat. Often I will find him staring out the front glass at me if I am doing things close by, he will also follow me from side to side. My BumbleBee also enjoys rearranging the tank and will get upset with you if you move the giant sand piles he has created back to their original placement which is why I am glad that I placed the rocks directly on the glass bottom. Check out the Weird Cichlids section for an explanation of this behavior I am sure you will find the video quite entertaining as well. I have had the fish for 2 months now and have finally given up moving the sand back except during water changes lol.  

Astatotilapia aeneocolor (male)

aka yellow belly albert)

The Convict Cichlid

Convict cichlids are beautiful and easy to find, one of the easiest Cichlids to breed and to care for they make an excellent addition to any South American Cichlid setup. 

Water conditions:

PH 7-8.6

Ammonia 0 ppm

Nitrites 0 ppm

Nitrates 0-10 ppm

The Convict Cichlid ranges from 3-4.5 inches with males residing at the larger end of the spectrum. females are usually dull in colour with a rosey coloured belly and are small at 3 inches. The convict pictured is a female.

Environment and substrate:

You may house them in a tank with other south american varieties or in a species only tank of 30 gallons or if housed with larger varieties of south american cichlids such as oscars and red devils you can keep them in 55-100 gallon south american community setups. Convict Cichlids enjoy caves or clay pots, plants, drift wood or submerged tree roots and natural coloured sand or gravel substrates. I have one in my mixed African Rift Lake tank that seems to like to hang out in the planted areas and will from time to time explore the rock piles.   

Aggression: semi aggressive