Cichlids Care Guides
Intelligent, territorial fish ranging from nano apistogramma to large American and African species.
German Blue Ram
Mikrogeophagus ramirezi
A jewel-like dwarf cichlid with electric-blue spangling and gentle ways.
Angelfish
Pterophyllum scalare
A tall, elegant, disc-shaped cichlid and a true aquarium centrepiece.
Bolivian Ram
Mikrogeophagus altispinosus
A hardier, larger ram with soft gold tones, great for beginners to cichlids.
Electric Blue Ram
Mikrogeophagus ramirezi
A dazzling all-blue line-bred form of the German blue ram.
Apistogramma Agassizii
Apistogramma agassizii
A colourful South American dwarf cichlid with a spade-shaped tail.
Apistogramma Cockatoo
Apistogramma cacatuoides
The cockatoo dwarf cichlid, with spiky red-tipped dorsal fins.
Kribensis
Pelvicachromis pulcher
A hardy, colourful West African dwarf cichlid and a model parent.
Keyhole Cichlid
Cleithracara maronii
An exceptionally peaceful, shy cichlid named for its keyhole marking.
Discus
Symphysodon aequifasciatus
The majestic king of the aquarium, demanding warm, pristine water.
Severum
Heros efasciatus
A large, intelligent disc-shaped cichlid with a calm, dog-like character.
Oscar
Astronotus ocellatus
A large, intelligent 'water dog' cichlid that recognises its owner and rearranges its tank.
Firemouth Cichlid
Thorichthys meeki
A hardy cichlid that flares a brilliant fiery-red throat when displaying.
Convict Cichlid
Amatitlania nigrofasciata
An extremely hardy, prolific black-and-white striped cichlid and a model parent.
Jack Dempsey
Rocio octofasciata
A muscular, pugnacious cichlid spangled with electric-blue flecks.
Green Terror
Andinoacara rivulatus
A stunning metallic-green cichlid with bright orange fin edges and a big personality.
Electric Blue Acara
Andinoacara pulcher
A peaceful, glowing electric-blue cichlid that suits a community of larger fish.
Jaguar Cichlid
Parachromis managuensis
A large, predatory Central American cichlid patterned like a jaguar.
Red Devil Cichlid
Amphilophus labiatus
A powerful, brightly coloured cichlid with huge personality and serious attitude.
Flowerhorn
Cichlid hybrid
A man-made hybrid prized for its vivid colour and large head 'kok' (nuchal hump).
Frontosa
Cyphotilapia frontosa
A majestic, slow-growing Lake Tanganyika cichlid with bold stripes and a nuchal hump.
Peacock Cichlid
Aulonocara stuartgranti
A dazzling Lake Malawi cichlid whose males glow in metallic blue, yellow and red.
Electric Yellow Lab
Labidochromis caeruleus
One of the most peaceful and brilliantly yellow Mbuna, perfect for a first African tank.
Saulosi Cichlid
Pseudotropheus saulosi
A Mbuna where males are blue-barred and females bright yellow - a dwarf African gem.
Demasoni Cichlid
Pseudotropheus demasoni
A small but feisty electric blue-and-black striped Mbuna best kept in large groups.
Geophagus Tapajos
Geophagus sp. 'Tapajos'
A peaceful red-headed 'eartheater' that sifts sand for food in graceful groups.
Geophagus Sveni
Geophagus sveni
A large, peaceful eartheater shimmering with iridescent spangles.
Geophagus Altifrons
Geophagus altifrons
A stately, peaceful sand-sifting eartheater for large soft-water tanks.
Apistogramma Borellii
Apistogramma borellii
A hardy, cool-tolerant dwarf cichlid with a beautiful yellow-and-blue sheen.
Apistogramma Macmasteri
Apistogramma macmasteri
A colourful red-and-blue South American dwarf cichlid for soft-water tanks.
Rainbow Cichlid
Archocentrus multispinosus
One of the most peaceful Central American cichlids, glowing gold with a dark band.
Festivum Cichlid
Mesonauta festivus
A calm, elegant flag cichlid with a bold diagonal stripe, a great angelfish companion.
Salvini Cichlid
Trichromis salvini
A stunning yellow-and-black cichlid that becomes very territorial when breeding.
Texas Cichlid
Herichthys cyanoguttatus
The only cichlid native to the USA, a hardy pearl-spangled powerhouse.
Vieja Cichlid
Vieja melanura
A large, colourful Central American cichlid with bold personality.
Red Terror Cichlid
Mesoheros festae
A spectacular red-and-black barred cichlid and one of the most aggressive in the hobby.
Blood Parrot Cichlid
Cichlid hybrid
A popular round, bright-orange hybrid cichlid with a permanent 'smile'.
Cuban Cichlid
Nandopsis tetracanthus
A striking pearl-and-black predatory cichlid from Cuba.
Black Belt Cichlid
Vieja maculicauda
A large, hardy cichlid with a bold black mid-body band.
Ellioti Cichlid
Thorichthys ellioti
A colourful, blue-spangled relative of the firemouth with a calmer streak.
Polleni Cichlid
Paratilapia polleni
The 'starry night' cichlid from Madagascar, black scattered with gold star-like spots.
Altum Angelfish
Pterophyllum altum
The majestic wild altum angel, taller and more demanding than the common angelfish.
Auratus Cichlid
Melanochromis auratus
A striking but very aggressive Mbuna; males turn black, females golden.
Kenyi Cichlid
Maylandia lombardoi
A feisty Mbuna where dominant males turn bright yellow.
Red Zebra Cichlid
Maylandia estherae
A popular orange Mbuna, hardy and colourful for a rocky African tank.
Acei Cichlid
Pseudotropheus acei
A peaceful-for-an-Mbuna purple cichlid with yellow fins.
Venustus Cichlid
Nimbochromis venustus
A large giraffe-patterned Malawi predator for big African tanks.
Electric Blue Hap
Sciaenochromis fryeri
A dazzling electric-blue open-water Malawi cichlid.
Red Empress
Protomelas taeniolatus
A spectacular rainbow-coloured Malawi Hap for larger tanks.
Malawi Eye-Biter
Dimidiochromis compressiceps
A sleek, laterally-flat ambush predator from Lake Malawi.
Brichardi Cichlid
Neolamprologus brichardi
An elegant Tanganyikan that breeds in colonies, with lyre-tail fins.
Multifasciatus Shell Dweller
Neolamprologus multifasciatus
The tiniest cichlid, living and breeding inside empty snail shells.
Julidochromis Marlieri
Julidochromis marlieri
A chequered, eel-like rock-dwelling Tanganyikan cichlid.
Calvus Cichlid
Altolamprologus calvus
A slow, stately pearly-spotted predator that hunts among rocks.
Leleupi Cichlid
Neolamprologus leleupi
A bright lemon-yellow Tanganyikan rock cichlid.
Tropheus Duboisi
Tropheus duboisi
A striking Tanganyikan; juveniles are black with white spots.
Buffalo Head Cichlid
Steatocranus casuarius
A quirky bottom-hopping cichlid with a big nuchal-hump 'forehead'.
Golden Dwarf Acara
Nannacara anomala
A small, easy dwarf cichlid; females turn boldly chequered when breeding.
Checkerboard Cichlid
Dicrossus filamentosus
A delicate, peaceful dwarf cichlid for soft, acidic blackwater tanks.
Uaru Cichlid
Uaru amphiacanthoides
A large, peaceful 'triangle' cichlid that loves a vegetable-rich diet.
Chocolate Cichlid
Hypselecara temporalis
A big, gentle red-brown cichlid with a calm, curious nature.
Port Acara
Cichlasoma portalegrense
A hardy, adaptable acara that tolerates cooler water.
Pike Cichlid
Crenicichla sp.
A torpedo-shaped predatory cichlid that will eat smaller tank mates.
Apistogramma Trifasciata
Apistogramma trifasciata
A dazzling dwarf cichlid with extended blue dorsal rays, for soft water.
Apistogramma Hongsloi
Apistogramma hongsloi
A red-and-blue South American dwarf cichlid, a colourful soft-water gem.
Flag Acara
Laetacara curviceps
A peaceful, hardy dwarf acara with a calm temperament, great for communities.
Nannacara Neon Blue
Nannacara anomala
An easy, electric-blue dwarf cichlid; females chequer up boldly when breeding.
Neolamprologus Similis
Neolamprologus similis
A charming shell-dwelling Tanganyikan that lives in colonies among snail shells.
Cyprichromis Leptosoma
Cyprichromis leptosoma
A graceful open-water 'sardine cichlid' that shoals in colour in big tanks.
Cynotilapia Afra
Cynotilapia afra
A small, vivid blue-and-black Mbuna with bold barring.
Yellow Tail Acei
Pseudotropheus acei 'Tanzania'
A peaceful-for-an-Mbuna purple cichlid with bright yellow fins.