Cobalt Blue Zebra Cichlid
Common Names: Cobalt Blue Zebra Cichlid, Cobalt Blue Cichlid
Scientific Name: Pseudotropheus Zebra
Family: Cichlidae
Maximum Size: 5-6 inches
Life expectancy: 10 years
Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 82°F
pH Range: 8.0 - 9.0
Water hardness: 10 - 18
Temperament: Aggressive
Origin: Lake Malawi
Aquarium Setup:
The Cobalt Blue Zebra Cichlid loves sandy substrates for digging and burrowing. Laterite based substrates work really well as they will also help in maintaining the required alkalinity.
They need caves and rock structures to have places to claim as their own territories. But, they are very active swimmers so make sure to leave them plenty of open room.
You should also include lots of small smooth gravel if you plan on breeding them. They will pick up the gravel and move it to a chosen spot to build their nest. Read more
Buttikoferi Cichlid
Common Names: Buttikoferi Cichlid, Zebra Tilapia, Tiger Talapia
Scientific Name: Tilapia Buttikoferi
Family: Cichlidae
Maximum Size: 14 inches
Life expectancy: 10+ years
Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 82 °F
pH Range: 7.8 - 8.5
Water hardness: 10 - 15
Temperament: Aggressive
Origin: West Africa
Aquarium Setup:
If you use a dark gravel, the Buttikoferi Cichlid will be a darker color! You can try to use live plants, but they will eat almost any type of plant including Duckweed! Plastic plants are a better choice with heavily weighted bottoms.
Use small or medium sized gravel only, most Buttikoferi’s will pick up the gravels in their mouth and shoot them at the glass. Large size gravels could end in a cracked tank. Read more
Demasoni Cichlid
Common Names: Demasoni Cichlid, Midnight Demasoni
Scientific Name: Pseudotropheus demasoni
Family: Cichlidae
Maximum Size: 3 inches
Life expectancy: 8 years
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Temperature Range: 72-82°F
pH Range: 8.0-9.0
Water hardness: dH 10.0 - 18.0
Temperament: Aggressive
Origin: Lake Malawi
Aquarium Setup:
Communities of a dozen or more fish are recommended to keep aggression at a minimum, so the Demasoni Cichlid needs a really large aquarium! There should be lots of free space for swimming, but also some rock formations to provide hiding places.
To help keep the pH at the required level sand or crushed coral intended for salt water tanks can be used. But, gravel is also an acceptable substrate.
Demasoni’s are very curious fish, providing lots of caves and crevasses will give them places to explore. It will also provide them with places to claim their own territories. Read more
Banana Plant
Common name: Banana Plant, Big Floating Heart
Scientific name: Nymphoides aquatica
Care Level: Moderate
Lighting: Moderate
Placement: Foreground
Temperature: 68-82° F
Alkalinity: dKH 3-6
pH range: pH 6.0-7.2
Propagation: Adventitious Plants
Max. Size: 6″
Color Form: Green
Supplements: High Quality Aquarium Fertilizer
Origin: Farm Raised
Family: Menyanthaceae
The Banana Plant named for it’s banana shaped roots is a very unique aquatic plant. At it’s largest size of just six inches it fits perfectly in a small tank and also works as a great accent plant in large tanks.
This amphibious plant can grow while either partially or fully submerged and is often seen just laying on the top of the substrate. Although, one fourth or less of the plants roots should be gently pressed into the substrate.
These small plants should be used in the foreground of the aquarium and look much better when a single plant is used in different areas. They look wonderful when used as filler plants with other aquatics.
Adventitious plants will form and become pressed into the substrate that can be removed for propagation. You can also induce propagation by pressing a fully formed leaf into the substrate and remove it once it’s started to root into a new plant.
Orange Leleupi Cichlid
Common Names: Orange Leleupi, Firecracker
Scientific Name: Neolamprologus Leleupi
Family: Cichlidae
Maximum Size: 4 inches
Life expectancy: 8 - 10 years
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 82°F
pH Range: 7.8 - 9.0
Water hardness: dH 12 - 14
Temperament: Semi-Aggressive
Origin: Lake Tanganyika
Aquarium Setup:
The Orange Leleupi Cichlid prefers a sandy substrate, white aragonite is highly recommended to maintain the alkalinity and pH in the water. This will help them to keep their bright colors, the fishes color will darken if the substrate used is a dark color!
They love to build caves, so shells, rocks and driftwood should be generously added to the tank. Leleupi’s dwell in crevice’s so lots of shelters should be provided. Read more
