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.
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.
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.
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.
Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid
Common Names: Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid, Crested Dwarf Cichlid
Scientific Name: Apistogramma cacatuoides
Family: Cichlidae
Maximum Size: 3 – 4 inches
Life expectancy: 5 years
Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
Temperature Range: 72 – 80°F
pH Range: 6.0 – 7.8
Water hardness: dH 5-18
Temperament: Peaceful
Origin: Amazon River
Aquarium Setup:
To mimic their natural habitat, of the Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid use very small gravel or dark sand for the substrate. Use lots of rocks to make as many caves and crevices as you can so they can have their own territories and have hiding places.
Driftwood is another well liked addition to the tank. Small flower pots can be over turned to provide them with more territories. These small cichlids are very plant friendly, but be sure to leave them plenty of open swimming space.
Boesemani Rainbow Cichlid
Common Names: Boesemani Rainbow, Rainbow Cichlid
Scientific Name: Melanotaenia boesemani
Family: Melanotaeniidae
Maximum Size: 5 inches
Life expectancy: 6+ years
Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
Temperature Range: 72 – 77°F
pH Range: 6.5 – 7.2
Water hardness: dH 5-10
Temperament: Peaceful
Origin: Asia, Australia
Aquarium Setup:
The ideal tank for the Boesemani Rainbow Cichlid will be wider than it is tall as these fish like to swim horizontally. They won’t disturb plants so add plenty of plants leaving them open spaces in the middle and front of the tank for swimming. Moss should also be added for spawning.
The substrate can be gravel or any other material you choose. But, it’s thought that a dark colored substrate will help develop their vibrant colors.
Firemouth Cichlid
Common Names: Firemouth Cichlid, Firemouth
Scientific Name: Thorichthys Meeki
Family: Cichlid
Maximum Size: 6 inches
Life expectancy: 10 – 15 years
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Temperature Range: 70 – 80°F
pH Range: 6.7 – 7.3
Water hardness: dH 10
Temperament: Semi-Aggressive
Origin: Yucatan, Guatemala
Aquarium Setup:
Firemouth Cichlids like to burrow so a substrate that is very fine, such as sand works best. Hardy plants can be used in the tank, but they should be in pots to protect the roots as Firemouths like to uproot them.
You should also provide them with lots of hiding places with rocks or wood. Make sure there aren’t any sharp edges on any of the tank decorations. Firemouths will dart through the water when they get scared and can injure themselves on sharp rocks.
Jaguar Cichlid
Common Names: Jaguar Cichlid, Jag, Mang, Aztec Cichlid
Scientific Name: Nandopsis managuensis
Maximum Size: 10 – 16 inches
Life expectancy: 15 years
Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons for one pair
Temperature Range: 77 – 97°F
pH Range: 6.5 – 7.5
Water hardness: dH 10 – 15
Temperament: Aggressive
Origin: Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Lake Managua
Aquarium Setup:
Jaguar Cichlids will rip plants apart and even uproot plastic plants. If you use any plants in the tank you will need to glue gravel to the base to keep them from floating to the top. They also prefer low lighting to a brightly lit tank.
Lot’s of rocks and caves will give them places to hide and sleep. If they don’t have the proper places, they will dig really large pits in the substrate. This can also help prevent them from digging up the plants as bad.
Black Lace Angel Fish
Common Names: Angelfish, Black Angel, Lace Angel
Scientific Name: Pterophyllum Scalare
Maximum Size: 6 – 8 inches in length; 12 inches in height
Life expectancy: 10 years
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Temperature Range: 75 – 82°F
pH Range: 5.8 – 7.0
Water hardness: dH 1 – 5
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Origin: South America
Aquarium Setup:
Black Lace Angel Fish need large tanks due to their sizes and fin spans, but the tank should also be tall. Angel’s like to swim up and down, but they can reach as much as ten inches in height with their long fins. They love well planted aquariums and lot’s of plants will also help in keeping the water clean, adding oxygen and preventing the growth of algae.
Broad leaf plants such as Sword plants should be…
Moorii Cichlid
Common Names: Moorii Cichlid, Dolphin Cichlid, Hump-Head Cichlid
Scientific Name: Cyrtocara Moorii
Maximum Size: 9 inches
Life expectancy: 12 years
Minimum Tank Size: 70 gallons
Temperature Range: 72 – 82°F
pH Range: 7.8 – 8.5
Water hardness: dH 10 – 15
Temperament: Peaceful
Origin: Lake Malawi
Aquarium Setup:
Moorii Cichilds should have a sandy substrate to burrow in. Several rocks and caves should also be provided to give these timid fish a place to hide when they feel threatened.
Care should be taken when choosing rocks or tank accessories, avoid anything with sharp protruding edges. While they don’t eat plants, they will often uproot them.
Due to their large size, Dolphin’s need lots of open space for swimming. Water conditions aren’t crucial for survival, but for breeding the requirements should be maintained.