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.

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.

Frontosa African Cichlid

Scientific Name: Cyphotilapia frontosa
Maximum Size:  15 inches
Life expectancy: 15 years
Minimum Tank Size: 70 gallons
Temperature Range: 72 – 82 °F
pH Range: 7.8 – 8.5
Water hardness: dH 10 – 15
Temperament: Semi-Aggressive
Origin: Lake Tanganyika

Aquarium Setup:
Because of their large size Frontosa’s need at least a 70 – 100 gallon tank. Tank length is more important than the height, as it will give them more swimming space.

Substrate can be either fine gravel or sand and several caves should be added for hiding places. Never use rocks with sharp edges, when scared Frontosa’s will dart through the water and they will injure themselves on sharp edges.

Electric Yellow Lab Cichlid

Common Names: Yellow Lab, electric yellow lab, Canary Cichlid, Lemon Drop
Scientific Name: Labidochromis caeruleus
Maximum Size: 5 inches
Life expectancy: 10 years
Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons
Temperature Range: 72 – 82 °F
pH Range: 7.8 – 8.5
Water hardness: dH 10 – 15
Temperament: Semi-Aggressive
Origin: Lake Malawi

Aquarium Setup:
Yellow labs will claim their own territories and fight to protect it. Longer tanks are more suitable than tall ones, as this will provide more space for territories.

Having a lot of rock formations and caves in the tank so each fish can claim their own area will help in preventing fights. It will also provide hiding places for fish that feel threatened.

The aquarium should have a sandy bottom as these Cichlids love to dig. They will also dig up plants and eat most types…

Brichardi Cichlid

Common Names: Fairy Cichlid Brichardi, Lyretail Cichlid
Scientific Name: Neolamprologus brichardi
Maximum Size: 6 inches
Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
Temperature Range: 72 – 77°F
pH Range: 8.0 – 9.0
Water hardness: dH 9 – 19
Temperament: Peaceful to Aggressive depending upon tank mates
Origin: Lake Tanganyika

Aquarium Setup:
The Brichardi Cichlid likes an aquarium with a lot of decorations, especially those that provide cave like hiding places, where each fish can stake out a territory. In the wilds of Lake Tanganyika the Brichardi inhabits small caves near the shoreline along a rocky bottom. You should also provide plenty of open water space for swimming as they like to move around a lot. Keep this in mind when you arrange your aquarium.

Brichardi Cichlids have a tendency to dig so be sure that larger rocks are well anchored or…

Blue Peacock Cichlid

Common Names: Blue Peacock Cichlid, African Peacock, Peacock Cichlid, Blue Cichlid
Scientific Name: Aulonocara
Maximum Size: 6 inches
Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons
Temperature Range: 72 – 80°F
pH Range: 7.4 – 8.6
Water hardness: 10 – 15
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Origin: Lake Malawi, East Africa

Aquarium Setup:
These cichlids need a lot of open space for swimming. Tank decorations should be placed to allow adequate room at both the bottom and middle sections of the tank. The freshwater tank should include a sandy bottom, some rocks and plants.

Electric Blue Cichlid

Common Names: Electric Blue, Electric Blue Ahli, Blue Hap
Scientific Name: Sciaenochromis ahli
Maximum Size: 8 inches
Minimum Tank Size: 70 gallons
Temperature Range: 72 – 80°F
pH Range: 7.8 – 8.5
Temperament: Aggressive and territorial
Origin: Lake Malawi

Aquarium Setup:
The Electric Blue needs plenty of room in which to swim and prefer to be in open water. It is OK to have a few rocks for decoration, just remember that they like a lot of space. Once the Electric Blue gets to be about three inches long it will begin digging up any plants you may have as well as overturning rocks or ornaments.

The best setup for an Electric Blue Cichlid is one or two medium to large rocks on a substrate of medium sized rocks, gravel should not be used.