Cichlids

A good number of the cichlids in this list stay under 3 inches (8 cm), and several are genuine community fish. The kribensis is the easy starting point: 3.9 inches (10 cm), 20 gallons (75 liters), peaceful outside its cave. The cockatoo and umbrella cichlids and the other apistos want soft water, a pair or a small harem, and caves to claim. The cockatoo and umbrella cichlids list 18 gallons (70 liters), and apisto tanks start at 15 gallons (55 liters). The Bolivian ram is steadier than its German cousin. The keyhole cichlid is one of the gentlest cichlids kept. For hard water there are the Tanganyikan shell dwellers: the multies live in a colony of empty snail shells and stay under 2 inches (5 cm).

Malawi cichlids are the bright ones in the shop, and they are hard-water fish first, at pH 7.5–8.5. Most sit within 75–82°F (24–28°C) and want rock piles for territory. The sunshine peacock, blue dolphin, afra and rusty cichlids, the eureka red peacock and the red fin hap list 77–84°F (25–29°C). Mbuna such as the red zebra are aggressive and are kept in crowded, well-filtered groups so no single fish can hold a territory. Peacocks and haps are milder and larger; an all-male peacock tank gives the colour without the breeding fights. The electric yellow cichlid is one of several mbuna marked easy. The powder blue cichlid, saulosi mbuna, ice blue zebra, zebra mbuna, rusty cichlid and clown labidochromis are marked easy too. The sunshine and OB peacocks are easy peacocks. The blue dolphin cichlid is a mild hap at 9.8 inches (25 cm) for 66 gallons (250 liters). The venustus cichlid reaches 11.8 inches (30 cm), lists 74 gallons (280 liters) and is marked mostly peaceful. It is a predator that eats any fish small enough to swallow, so it needs robust tankmates.

The bigger Central and South American cichlids run from a 25 gallon (95 liter) convict tank to fish that need a room. Most South American dwarfs need less. Angelfish, the firemouth and the rainbow cichlid are the approachable ones, all around 6 inches (15 cm), the rainbow cichlid the most peaceful of the three. Convicts are the same size and easy to keep but breed constantly and defend the fry against anything. Severums reach 7.9 to 11.8 inches (20 to 30 cm) and oscars 11.4 to 13.8 inches (29 to 35 cm). The oscar wants 75 gallons (284 liters) to itself. Discus are the exception in the group: soft, very warm water at 79–90°F (26–32°C), spotless conditions, and a difficult rating that is earned.

A small set of cichlids grow to 13.8 inches (35 cm) and well beyond, and belong in tanks most homes cannot hold. The Central American red devil, midas and trimac cichlids reach 13.8 inches (35 cm) and list 75 to 90 gallons (284 to 340 liters). The flowerhorn, a man-made hybrid, reaches 15.7 inches (40 cm) and wants 90 gallons (340 liters). The wolf cichlid reaches 27.6 inches (70 cm) and lists 250 gallons (946 liters). The Tanganyikan emperor cichlid reaches 31.5 inches (80 cm) and lists 528 gallons (2,000 liters). The speckled peacock bass is the largest cichlid of all at 39 inches (99 cm). The other peacock bass run from 14.2 to 29.1 inches (36 to 74 cm) and list 317 gallons (1,200 liters) or more. Every profile lists adult size and minimum tank size; check both before the fish is in the bag.