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~General Guide To Keeping Cichlids~ (*Videos & Pics*)
'My Buddy, Madrox!' 
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(121 votes)
Published: Nov 09, 2007 6:05 p.m.
In 3 Favorites Lists
Viewed 918 times |
ORlly? You thought it was going to be Alle with another fishy egg? Nope guess again!!! Nos is here to post an egg about proper care of Cichlids.
I will be posting pictures of my Jack Dempsey’s (Archocentrus Octofasciatus) Cichlids.
And Texas (Herichthys cyanoguttatus) Cichlid.
This is a guide to merely introduce you to keeping these wonderful amazing pets, if your not interested at all then don’t read it, simple as that.
This guide is just a quick summery and if I get into everything that needs to be said then you would be reading this egg for about an hour no lie.
This is not an "In-Depth" quide but a general one. Most of this guide is a good rule of thumb and good basic knowledge to get you started.
Introduction
Cichlids are very aggressive fish, South American Cichlids are much more aggressive then the central American Cichlids as well.
Cichlids are relatively easy to care for due to there tough nature. Cichlids come in all shapes and sizes and colors from gray to yellow to blue to green.
Cichlids are great fish to have and can be trained, for example I tap on the top of my aquarium and they come out of hiding to the surface, I then feed them.
Also when they are out chasing each other around I can also shake the canister of food in front of the glass and they go to the surface and wait.
Cichlids have a high temperament and are good for beginners......no matter what they experts say, because I am a beginner in some ways.
My Cichlids
This is my largest Cichlid, He is about 9 inches.
It’s the biggest Jack Dempsy Cichlid I have seen in person but Jack Dempsy’s can get up to 12 inches in length, but it is very rare. I am taking pictures of them out of water, they were not harmed during or after these pictures. The flash was on but I wasn’t about to retake the picture
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Given Name: Madrox. Common Name: Jack Dempsy. Scientific Name: Archocentrus Octofasciatus. Sex: Male.
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This is My second biggest Jack Dempsy, I think it is about 6-7 inches, so it is about average.
It fights with Madrox all the time and they normally lock jaws and rip each other around, but Madrox wins because he is a beast. I feed them and usually they go back to there space in the aquarium. They will fight for space and things of that nature......more to come on that though, but here it is, I actually tuned the flash off for this one.
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Given Name: Monoxide . Common Name: Jack Dempsy. Scientific Name: Archocentrus Octofasciatus. Sex: Female.
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This is my smallest Cichlid, it is a Texas Ciclid but it lives in with my Jack Dempsys....I have no idea why they don’t bother him but they just don’t. He holds his own in the tank and is on the same compatibility level so he is cool with the Dempsey’s
I have tried to put Firemouth Ciclids and Black Convict Cichlids in the tank with him and thought that they would co-exist with the Texas Ciclid no problem, I was more worried about The Demspsy Destroying them, Namely Madrox my biggest.
But nope, The smallest Texas killed them I was pretty shocked.
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Given Name: Phil. Common Name: Texas Cichlid. Scientific Name: Herichthys cyanoguttatus. Sex: Male.
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Feeding & Diet
Cichlids are Omnivorous (Not all Cichlids but most), which means they are both Carnivorous and Herbivorous.
This means they eat both plants and meat.
I almost feed my fish 3 to 4 times a day, but only what they can eat in about 20 to 30 seconds.
Diet is an important part, If you fish has lots of color to it like my Madrox, then you will want to feed it food that will bring out it’s colors. Pellet’s and commercial food items like that specially formulated for Cichlids will be best bets.
The food they eat and the pigment in it will actually be put right into it’s skin, so if has a bad diet it will look bad and discolored. But also stress can do that to a fish as well.
They like live foods as well, Sometimes I’ll find a Cricket out in the yard and throw it in there and watch em eat it, its pretty cool how they just come up, grab it and snap back down.
(I always wash off live food just in case of pesticides and bacteria and such.)
Feeding is mostly just common sense, The more food you give them the less threatened they will be around each other and in turn less aggressive, but make sure not to feed them too much. Your water will become disgusting and the ammonia in the tank will skyrocket killing your fish after a short period of time.
Cichlids will eat all kinds of things, almost
anything they can fit in there mouth.
I won’t go into detail but do not feed your Cichlids these items:
Tubifex Worms: You are possibly exposing your fish to the diseases that the worms carry.
Beef Heart: They can’t digest animal fat, namely warm-blooded animals, if ya do it will build up in there liver and the liver will eventually fail due to deterioration.
Water Conditions & Setup
P.H. Level: The P.H. Level for a Cichlid Should be between a 7.5 to 8.5 on the P.H. Scale, My water comes out of the faucet that level so it makes it great for me. But always make sure that you add some Aquasafe.
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It is important to keep metals like iron and lead ECT. out of the aquarium, These metals are harmful to your fish and can kill them. Aquasafe also pulls the chlorine out of your tank and neutralizes it so it is no longer harmful to your fish.
Temperature: It has gotta be between 74 F and 82 F, but not in my case. My fish do not need a heater but don’t count on your fish being like mine.
Filtration: In my years of experience I have found out that sponge filters are the best, if they are cleaned at lest once a week, but when you have to start cleaning them everyday it is time to clean your tank so do a Waterchange!!!
Never use Carbon in the tank, Carbon in the tank can lead to a disease called "HITH" or "Hole In The Head" AKA "lateral line erosion".
I have heard and done study on this, The theory is called "the carbon theory".
Alot say that it is the dust and the rubbing of the carbon together creating a dust that will get into the tank causing the disease. But prolonged use of carbon can actually cause the disease, dust or not.
Hiding Places:
Now, not only are Cichlids very aggressive but they are also very territorial, so its best for them to have there own spots. It is good to buy drift wood and stuff like that for the tank, places to hide in.
My biggest Cichlid (Madrox) chills in this all the time, I would say it’s fit for the king of the tank.
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Here is a video of my fish and Madrox just chilling in the log. ya really can’t see him in the log, he will be the one in front when you first start the video. It gives you an idea of how the tank is set up. I think its pretty funny to.
http://tinypic.com/player.php?v=8dy8en5&s=1
A place to hide gives them comfort and peace of mind and keeps them out of view of the other Cichlids that might want to pick on em. This will also reduce stress on your fish giving it a much longer life.
A place to hide is not only there place they subside and rest, it also defines territory in the tank and will help your fish establish dominance and other fish will understand. Stuff like slate rock and natural looking things are really good.
Substrates:
Substrates to my understanding is just gravel.
Stuff like Limestone and Crushed Coral will help keep the P.H. level balanced, but I would use sand.
Cichlids like to dig so I would put 3 to 4 inches of substrate in the tank.
I Won’t get into breeding the fish and all the sickness’s it can get and how many different types there are As stated above:
Quote: This guide is just a quick summery and if I get into everything that needs to be said then you would be reading this egg for about an hour no lie.
I am not getting into a lot of detail, but here are some more pictures and a video of Monoxide, thing is quick!
http://video.tinypic.com/player.php?v=6lkcj0w&s=1
A Rare Glimpse Of Madrox out of hiding, isn’t he Beautiful?
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Phil, Look at him just chillin in the rock face, lol looks like he is lying down, this one cracks me up because he will swim upside down and do stupid stuff all the time...ahhhhh phil, his name is different from the others because is random.
I swear he is psychotic, he killed the Firemouth Cichlids and Black Convict Cichlids I bought with him lol, I guess he is racist against Indians and black’s? lol
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Madrox again....
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Thanks For taking the time to read this, worked hard getting the right pictures because there skittish and jumpy (Look at second video).
Hope this will make you want to get into the hobby of keeping these fish. Madrox Only cost around 4 dollars when I first got him, look at him now.
It is well worth it to have them, But thanks again for reading!!! |
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 | Nov 09, 2007 6:07 pm -
lol Some of the coding doubled over, gives it a unique look I guess lol |
 | Nov 09, 2007 6:13 pm -
5 stars. Why does it say i can delete the egg. |
 | Nov 09, 2007 6:24 pm -
5* i hate seafood but fishies are the shit 5* when will the spam end? |
 | Nov 09, 2007 6:26 pm -
Too bad an egg like this has to be pushed off of the frontpage because of the spam...5* from me though, good job. |
 | ov 09, 2007 6:44 pm -
5 |
| Nov 09, 2007 6:51 pm -
Should of looked before I posted this lol
Thanks guys, also look out and don’t click any weird links, you will be hacked.
Be careful. |
| Nov 09, 2007 7:03 pm -
That’s why every egg I’m gonna make from this day forward I’ll back it up as a .txt |
 | Nov 09, 2007 9:52 pm -
I’m not interested in fish whatsoever but this is a good egg...so 5*s |
 | Nov 10, 2007 12:10 am -
dude fuckign sucks to have this in the midle of that spam. 5s cuz the fish is named madrox. not gunna lie i didnt read ti but i will sumthing maybe |
| Nov 10, 2007 11:05 am -
5*.
The only fault I can find is you listed a bad pH.
South/Central American cichlids prefer a low pH with soft, alkaline water. Seeing as a pH of 7 is considered neutral, 7.5 would be moderatly high, and 8.5 is VERY high.
African cichlids from lakes Malawi (both haps and mbunas), Victoria, and Taginyaka prefer a high pH of about 8.0 with lake salt buffers.
However, if the fish are used to the natural pH you get, don’t try to use "Blackwater Extract" or peat moss to lower the pH. Fish would rather have a constant pH then a pH that varies along the scale.
Great looking jacks. Tank looks nice too. |
| Nov 10, 2007 11:10 am -
Thanks Alle^ |
 | Nov 10, 2007 11:16 am -
great egg i love fish, i only have tetras, makes me wanna get another tank, but o well. Have u tried the NLS (New Life Spectrum) food, i’ve heard great things, but i guess u cant use variety if u use that food because it makes them look worse, but anyways great looking fish and tank! 5* |
 | Nov 10, 2007 11:21 am -
nice 5* i recently got a Red Devil Cichlid. huge mother, but nice red colour |
 | Nov 10, 2007 4:00 pm -
oops! I voted a 4* instead of 5*, sorry. |
| Nov 10, 2007 4:26 pm -
Goddamn Alle, you know your shit! |
 | Nov 10, 2007 5:11 pm -
5*s |
 | Nov 10, 2007 7:03 pm -
good beginners egg 3**
but those jack’s can get up to a 11-12 inch regularly with a tank that can support it (120s) and those caves/wood decor should be a little bigger, i can see that the jacks havin trouble getting in there
your texas is a beat man ! nice pearls and fins !! imagine the fry of that hot fish !
and texas are usually known for their hostility. not sure why urs havent killedd off the jacks !! lol |
| Nov 11, 2007 12:30 am -
If your gonna rate leave a comment so you can be in my good graces and i’ll know to return the favor when you guys have a good one! |
 | Nov 11, 2007 9:30 am -
I accidently rated this low so I made this for you to make up for it...
[This Member can not display images, they need to upgrade Member Level] |
 | Nov 11, 2007 11:56 am -
5* |
 | Nov 11, 2007 2:30 pm -
5 nice egg |
 | Nov 11, 2007 6:07 pm -
5* good egg. Plenty of pics and good explanation. |
 | N v 12, 2007 9:35 am -
5*s good egg. My Dad uses a activated carbon filter for his cichlid, it has been that way for about 2 years. So now I’m worried about that disease you were talking about. Care to elaborate a little on it? |
| Nov 12, 2007 1:52 pm -
the green fern, HITH (HOLE IN THE HEAD) disease comes from very dirty water conditions, i use carbon in one of my two filters just for some chemicals otherwise, my other filter is just mechanical and biological (biomax and rings)
HITH also called hex by fish hobbyists are caused my a virus in the water, if there is HEx viruses in the water (already holes in head) THEN remove the carbon, since the carbon contains little holes for the hex virus to live.
the best way to treat hex is putting out of misery.
or treating the fish with melafix of paragon. (or metronidazole tablets)
dissolve those tablets into water and then mix it in with regular tank water
repeat the metro again after two days
usual treatment is 10-15 days,, observe poop if it gets better change 25-30% water and then add metro again for two dosages.
metro is sold as Flagyl..
look out for next week, an egg of fish diseases |
| Nov 12, 2007 7:40 pm -
Thanks blizz86 now I’m no longer worried as much, I’ll be eagerly awaiting your egg. |
 | Nov 17, 2007 6:51 pm -
Fish are kick ass. |
 | Nov 23, 2007 4:34 pm -
5* |
 | Dec 14, 2007 3:20 pm -
I have to five this u did to good of a job. |
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