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.

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…

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.

Cabomba

Common name: Cabomba, Carolina Fanwort
Scientific name: Cabomba caroliniana
Care Level: Moderate
Lighting: Moderate
Placement: Background
Temperature: 72-82° F
Alkalinity: dKH 3 – 8
pH range:  pH 6.5-7.5
Propagation: Cuttings
Max. Size: 1′ 8″
Color Form: Green
Supplements: C02 Fertilization
Origin: Farm Raised
Family: Cabombaceae

The Cabomba is a beautiful aquatic plant with long feathery fronds that will float freely through the water. It’s a dense plant that adds a touch of nature to any aquarium.

If the water conditions aren’t correct, the Cabomba will begin to lose it’s leaves. Frequently transplanting or trimming the plant can kill it or cause it to look really bad until it gets stabilized again.

This tall flowing plant makes a good back drop and also works well at the ends of the tank. Propagation is easy, just trim off some…

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.

Clown Loach

Common Names: Clown Loach, Tiger Botia
Scientific Name: Botia macracantha
Family: Cobitidae
Maximum Size: 12 – 16 inches
Life expectancy: 15 years
Minimum Tank Size: 50  gallons
Temperature Range: 72 – 86°F
pH Range: 6.0 – 7.5
Water hardness: dH 5.0 – 15.0
Temperament: Peaceful
Origin: Indonesia

Aquarium Setup:
The Clown Loach loves lots of caves, holes and any other place that it can hide. The substrate should be fine textured as Loach’s poke around in the substrate with the barbels looking for food.

You don’t have to include a lot of plants, but some are needed to provide hiding places. Clown Loaches don’t like bright lights so keep the tank dimly lit or provide floating plants for cover.

Anacharis

Common name: Anacharis, Brazilian Waterweed
Scientific name: Egeria densa
Care Level: Easy
Lighting: Moderate
Placement: Background
Temperature: 59-82° F
Alkalinity: 3 – 8 dKH
pH range: pH 6.5-7.5
Propagation: Cuttings
Max. Size: 1′ 8″
Color Form: Green
Supplements: CO2 Fertilization, High Quality Aquarium Fertilizer
Origin: Farm Raised
Family: Hydrocharitacea

This is a great aquatic plant even for a beginner. Anacharis will grow roots into the substrate or live freely floating in the tank. The beautiful flowing fronds of shades of green from light to dark will compliment any tank.

It can be included in either cold water or tropical aquariums. In a tropical setting it will need regular fertilizing and moderate lighting. This hardy plant can survive even in hard water if C02 fertilization is used. It’s an excellent addition to control nutrients and produce oxygen for any fresh water tank.

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