Mike Hickmon asked: When it comes to cichlid care, there is a lot you need to know before you even consider starting your own cichlid aquarium. There are many different species of cichlids and they can grow to quite a substantial size. Cichlid care is a lot like the care of discus fish, they can be difficult to look after and to maintain, but in the end the effort which you put into your cichlid care will be well worth it, especially when it comes to breeding these amazing fish. If you would like to know a few tips on cichlid fish care, then read this article to find out more so that you can get started today!
Before you purchase your cichlid, or fish of any species, you should first prepare their new environment. Various species of cichlids grow to different sizes, so you should check with your local pet store before purchasing a tank to make sure that you pick a suitable size for your fish. A twenty to twenty seven gallon tank, however, should be sufficient for most sizes of cichlid fish to give them plenty of room to thrive and grow, although if you are planning on breeding them in the future then you might want to think about picking a larger tank.
Your cichlid fish tank should contain plenty of places for your fish to hide and rest. These refuges can include large sections of drift wood, inverted flower pots as well as rock caves. Larger species of cichlids tend to dig up substrate material so you should avoid including plants in a cichlid aquarium. You should also consider the water temperature when it comes to cichlid care. It is important to maintain the correct water temperature for all species of fish, but when it comes to cichlids, they prefer a temperature around the mid seventies.
Before you decide to buy your cichlid, you should also become familiar with the type of diet which they exist on. It should be a varied diet, however you should never over feed fish because it could result in premature death, but cichlids like to eat a mixture of frozen and live food including a staple food of large fish flakes. If you are planning to purchase a larger species of cichlids, then you can also feed them garden crickets, earth worms and even kitchen left over’s! Some species also need an extra diet supplement of plant material such as the geophagus species.
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