Guide to African Cichlid Care
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ต.ค. 2024
- This is a look into African cichlids from Lake Malawi that are popular in the aquarium hobby. This guide to African cichlid care was made to help educate people that are new to keeping African cichlids and want to learn more about some of the common fish from Lake Malawi, specifically peacocks (Aulonocara) and Mbuna.
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Just got a 100 gal tank and plan to get these fish right here
As a Rift Lake Cichlid noob, I found this very informative! Thanks to you and Richelle of Quebec Cichlides, Steve Poland and Ryan of Lucky Schmuck's fish cave, I'm looking forward to my first mbuna tank. A 40B with either Labidochromis caeruleus or Pseudotropheus saulosi. Great video as usual!
I am proudly Malawian and Thanks for making this video. You are very right.. Lake malawi is one of the lake that have clean water and cylisto clear with the very testy fish called chambo.. 🐟🇲🇼✔️💯🐠👍💦
Thanks for this video, I have one female abuna african cichlid and this encouraged me to get her a lot of hiding places, now she is always playing when I come up to the tank!
Thank you so much! I have been wondering what was the difference between these different kinds of cichlids. This was so informative!
Excellent, informative and very relaxing to watch the lively aquariums!
Very informative as always. I especially loved the off camera commentary and accompanying soft music. Professionally done.
I enjoyed it tremendously!!
I love the quality u always have in your video. Quality content n lots to learn
Hi ! Hope you are having a great day , I have a 90 gal bowfront aquarium with peacocks , mbumas, & some haps ! They seem to coincide well together 🐟👍 like your videos , 👍 they have been very helpful in my fish keeping 😃🐟🐟🐟
Thank you for this video because I am getting African cichlids soon
Very nice video. Can I keep angelfish, monofish, scats and gourami with cichlid fish.
No, that would not be a good mix due to aggression and water parameter requirements.
Another great video Zenzo! Keep up the good work, see ya at the next meeting!
Thank you for this video good Info
Loved this video.. Very informative... Thank you!! 😊😉👍
This is an EXCELLENT review. Your description of the lake was almost as though we are there! Your contrast and comparison between the Peacock and the Mbuna is legit! I'm gonna listen again and again. I wonder if you did one on the Princess Lyre. I love the rock background. Where did you get that?
The background in the peacock tank is from Universal Rocks.
@@TazawaTanks Oh Thank You! I'll research them:-) I saw your Brichardi cichlids!
Hi Zenzo, great introductory video. Question if I may... is your peacock tank an all male tank? It's just that the dorsal fins on most of them suggested they were male but there are a couple I wasn't sure of. Very nice tanks dude, what are those pink Mbuna? They are gorgeous.
Yes, all male. A couple of them have developed muted colors. The mbuna are albino zebras. They look a little pink under the light. Thank you!!!
Love it thanks man the fish look amazing. 👍😎⛄🎄🎅
Just so you know I can't get notified on you're videos because the button says network error 404.
Where do you get your background for your tank it looks very natural
Different video editing. I like it 👍🏽, especially with the relaxing background music.
Here’s a question, other than dragonbloods, how you do tell the difference between the female peacock species? ie, jacobfriebergi vs sunshine females...
Nice intro. Love the Mbunas. More info on safe bottom dwellers would be great. Thanks.
Thank you. I may make a video about tank mates in the future.
I just discovered your channel and it's awesome...I recently bought more cichlids for my 80gal tank which has small stones, and fluorite substrate...should I cap with sand or completely replace the subtrate with sand?? I hope to breed some of these cichlids....thanks!!!
It really doesn’t matter. You can have whatever substrate you like. If you use something like aragonite or crushed coral, it will help with buffering. Otherwise, it doesn’t matter. Thanks for checking out my channel!
Hey Zenzo, great job with the care guide in this video. I really enjoyed it. Keep up the great work 👍!
Thanks buddy!
Another great video. Always cool to revisit some of the basics. Merry Christmas may you and your family have be blessed this holiday season
Very nice fish!
I always see lots cichlids in huge tanks. Is it possible to just have only 2 or 3 cichlids in a 10-20 gallon tank? so the peacock, the mbuna, each fish tank only contains that species of fish right. you're not mixing mbuna with peacock? thanks for the video. great music. my favourite is the music when you start talking about the mbuna.
Love the video!!
Your tank is AMAZING! Your fish are A++++
Lisa KGTropicals Thanks Lisa! I appreciate it!!!
Very informative. Great job!
Thanks buddy!
Enjoyed. Thank you.
Wow what a great vedio big big help thanks chuck Norris..👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Great video Zenzo! Usefull information. What is the best way to feed a mixed tank with both mbuna and peacocks?
It is tough, as the mbuna will eat the food you feed the peacocks. I would suggest feeding the mbuna food first, earlier in the day. Then, later in the day you can feed the peacocks. The mbuna will still eat the peacock food, but they will at least eat some vegetables earlier in the day.
Great information zenzo. Loved it. ❤️
Nice malawi tank you got there!!!
Asom tanks man im setting up a 75 gallon tank
Great video! I have a Mbuna tank and like the color of some of the Peacock/Haps...can I mix the species, if so what are your recommendations in doing so? Thank you!
It can be done. The main thing is to make sure to get some veggies or algae in the diet of the mbuna once in awhile. I made a video about it: th-cam.com/video/TDj3nmZeS6w/w-d-xo.html
@@TazawaTanks Thank you very much for the information! The link to the video was very informative...I appreciated it!
@@momansil glad to help!
Hey I’m thinking of getting a peacock and Mbuna tank and I don’t know how many I can put in my 55 gal everything I read says only 4 or 5 put it seems you have so many in your tanks if you could get back that would be appreciated
Beautiful fish. Great care info.
Thank you!
Please a mbuna Arautus johanni video. I have a tank of mainly these guys. I love them. They are so mean.
In the mbuna segment, were the yellow ones yellow labs or red zebra? Was thinking labs but didnt see the black stripe. Also what species are the off white/ pink mbunas?
Very helpful thanks. I'm starting a ciccilid tank and want to stick with peacocks. How would I purchase some from you?
I only sell locally in the San Francisco area.
I'm trying hard to copy these stocks but so far I only have a pair of 6" Taiwan reef, others are hard to find in 5"+ size.
Hi great videos thanks for updating can you mixed different cichilds for the top breed or you gota have same species
Hey. I love the fish tanks and your page. Where did you get the background for your tanks?
The one in the Malawi tank is from Universal Rocks. The one in The Tanganyikan tank is one that I made.
@@TazawaTanks Thanks for the quick response. Do you have a guide or video to follow on how to DIY that background? Do you make any for resale? Your videos are very helpful
I love this tank!!!
Hi, may I know what is the name (ID) for the white/peach color mbuna?
Love your videos. Keep up the good work
Thanks Chris, I appreciate it!
What is the big yellow fish with a white face? Beautiful fish.
Good day. Is the eye biter safe to keep in a malawi tank. Thank you
So I made the mistake of buying 18 fish all at once. They’re 6 rustiest, 6 yellow labs, and 6 blue dolphins. My tank is fully cycled and has a canister filter and hang on the back. It’s a 75. What can I do to add them without the ammonia spike killing them. I currently have 7 small sized tetras in there that I used to cycle (ofc removing them once the cichlids arrive, I ordered them online already). I don’t have another tank to put them in. I treat the tank with seachem prime and seachem stability
If it is cycled, you can add them all at the same time and don't feed them for 2-3 days. Then, feed them, and do a water change the day afterwards. the beneficial bacteria will increase and you will probably be okay. Just keep testing the water and do a water change if the nitrates increase.
good video . good info . Thumbs up
Interestingly I have a beautiful red peacock living in my community tank with many non cichlid fish. Up to now it is very peaceful and just swims and feeds with the rest. I know it may become a problem when it gets bigger, now about 4 inches.
Do you have fishes for sale ? If yes,what is your website ?
Hi I love your channel! New here 😊 I have a question- Just bought a new cichild and noticed just now that only his top fin looks stringy like little strings loose on top. I thought at first that it was literally little pieces of thread that somehow got into the tank but it's his fin! Also the top fin is short like it's missing length. I've never seen this before. He's a small light blue cichlid, I don't know the name of it. Any idea what this is? Should I take him back and get a new one? Or give him a chance? I'm afraid it's a disease! And it possibly getting my other cichlids sick. Am I worried for nothing? Advice appreciated 😊
It could be fin rot, or it could be due to aggression. I would suggest putting him in a separate quarantine tank to observe for a few days. You can also treat him. I would start with erythromycin or salt.
@@TazawaTanks thank you for the reply I appreciate it, great advice I'm going to do that. 😊
What lights are you using ?What are some lights you recommend for good lighting?
I like the first generation Finnex Stingray lights.
@@TazawaTanks thanks
Wow awsome
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With a 75G tank how many peacocks would you recommend? And what M/F ratio should I try to obtain?
I’d start with this short video that I made: th-cam.com/video/Bu80xaPM_po/w-d-xo.html
Hey Zenzo, thanks for the videos. I am currently about to setup my 75g with Mbuna, my question would be, I know there are many variety of Mbuba, could you suggest some of those that you particularly like and I would like for them to be able to bread, not to sell but just for me to keep, is that possible with having different varieties? Thanks Zenzo
Great info. Love it. Could you please do a video on Tanganyika lake. Especially on Frontosa and Calvus
Maybe one day. Thank you!
How many do you think I could fit in a 1000 gallon heated pond? Your help would really be great 😅
100 and they will have babies and you’ll end up with a lot more.
I give my mbuna shelled green peas every few days to ensure healthy digestion... other than that just a good algae based flake or pellet.
Peas are a great food for mbuna.
@@TazawaTanks They are great for many fish - I feed them to my comet goldfish, guppies, endlers, severum, silver dollars, mixed tropicals and bristlenose. A bag of frozen peas in the freezer is a great standby for reducing feeding cost when the finances are struggling.
Got any information on blue lips cichlids?
Thank you🙏🏾
Any species you'd recommend that I could keep with a rainbow fish school? Or is this gonna cause problems.
It's been about 10+ years since I've had Peacock Cichlids. Is it normal for most juvenile males/females to be very muted in color? I remember back in like 2013 setting up a Cichlid tank and buying from a fish store that was selling smaller Cichlids that were the same color/pattern as they would be at full maturity. I found this odd because it seems like they were dyed or something. I bought like 15-20 of these fish for $5 a pop and they all died.
Usually when they show a lot of color when they’re small, it’s because they are fed hormones at the farms.
Hey man so I’ve had a problem with my African cichlid aquarium all of my water parameters are fine and I have a wavemaker in my 75 gallon aquarium but I lost four. All of a sudden they swam up gasping for air and fell back down and died I only have 3 left and they seem to be stressed all the time I’m afraid to get more fish I would appreciate your help a lot please
It might be a stray electrical current from a heater, wave maker, or filter. It could be lack of oxygen too. Make sure that you have plenty of surface agitation or add an air stone. Otherwise, it’s something else as far as water parameters that you haven’t caught (high ammonia, nitrite, etc.).
I hesitate to ask because sometimes there is no answer. How did you come to settle on these fish? I even find them growing on me now, which scares the heck out of me! I originally only planned three aquariums!
I fell in love with them around 15 years ago.
@@TazawaTanks the more I watch your videos, the more I like them.
I have six Mbunas. How often should I change the water? My tank is relatively small.
Hi, i have a big problem with my malwi cichlids, some of my malawi cichlids are not eating they are getting bigger eys, and very big belly, pleas help!!!! They will diy if i dont get the help they need, thank you very much !
Hi can you please tell me haps and peacock eat same food?
I would like to breed the young strawberry peacocks I just bought, but I may have to move the females away from the males, and I don't have another tank in which to put the girls unless they are much less aggressive than the males...any input on that one?
Do you have a site with fish for sale
which food is better for peacock and mbuna cichlids.tell i have 2 varaties in single tank
Could I do a 75 g tank with all male blue acara like 6-8 maybe more?
Hi , great video like always ^^
I'd like to hold some malawi's in a new tank from 75 gallons.
I really don't know wich fishes i could buy and mix in my tank but i'd rather like some peaceful fishes.
I really like the aulonocara ( hans)baeshi wich seems to be quite peaceful ans the classic labidochromis caereleus.
So could I mix these two species without expectating too many problems and which other peacefull m'bunas coul I add without also expecting too many problems ?
Is it also possible to keep together only male peacocks ?
Tanks a lot for reading my message ^^
The biggest issue you will have is their diets. They have different dietary needs. You can mix them, but I would suggest feeding the mbuna earlier in the day with plant-based foods.
@@TazawaTanks Ok I wasn't indeed thinking about their dietary needs ^^
About the m'bunas , some mix with peaceful fishes to advise ?
And possible to keep only male peacocks ?
Yes, keeping all make peacocks is a good way to keep them. As far mbuna, yellow labs, and acei are good options.
@@TazawaTanks Ok , thx a lot for your advices , it's a lot clearer for me now , i'll be able to look after some fishes from now ^^
What kind of food should i feed for african cichlid to help for the color on them stay better, i don't know why my african cichlid fish's color fading and not really look like when i just bought them
They may have had hormones in them when you bought them. Try some quality pellets mixed with Blood Parrot food from Hikari.
What kind of Algae fish eater's can you keep with Malawi Cichild's?
A pleco would be fine if it is not too small.
i have heard some people say if we feed peacocks and haps high protein foods (like shrimp), they can get malawi bloat..
i know thats true for mbuna, who are veggie grazers.. but is it true for peacocks and haps too?
ty
peacocks and haps are just fine with a higher protein food. Never use land-based protein. Shrimp actually helps their digestive system because it acts like fiber.
You didnt cover male / female peacock ratio, and how many for tank size.
I want the exact fish you have in this tank, would you mind sending me a list of what you have and how many?! I have a 125 I’m about to stock!
Same here. I got a 48 x 24 120. Did you stock yet??
Can I purchase from you?
How many mbuna will you recommend for a 60 gallon (4ft) tank? Yellow lab and Socolofi for example. I know overstocking will reduce aggression but how many of them is minimum to avoid aggression (like on the lower side).
I have over 50 in a 110 gallon. Here is a great website to explore that will help you estimate how many and what type of mbuna, including a 'cookie cutter setup' guide (how many fish per gallon): www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/quick_reference_list.php
In a 60 gallon, I’d probably suggest around 15. Maybe more if you are really good with water changes.
Hi sir,
I need some advise from you..my africain cichlids are not so colourfull so pls what can i do to upgrade their colour.tks.
Watch my video on how to get color in African cichlids.
Do you add ph buffers and some type of salts to the water ..also what size peacock/hap tank are you showing on these vedios
75 gallons, and yes, I do add just a little bit of salts/buffers. I already have high pH.
What do you use for salts and how much you dose on your 75 ...I have a client with a 180 peacock tank and I want to start doseing salt and buffer ...I’m in cali
What type of cichlids on your video pic?? Please
Is the substrate in that tank sand or gravel? Looked like larger grain than sand.
Aragonite
Can i mix mbuna with peacocks? Thanks
Watch this video: th-cam.com/video/TDj3nmZeS6w/w-d-xo.html
Nice vid one pro tip from my experience never jump from mollies and other simple small fish to a large fish xd i have no regrets because since i jump really for away from my easy to care to a Oscar and im enjoying him one question how fast can oscars grow i want to know howl long i got before he out grow the 10 gal
Black Fang oscars really should be kept in a tank around 60 gallons because they can get big and grow quite quickly
Im a father, i had a cross between a mbuna pseudotrophiusm demonson,i and a cobalt blue zebra well see how they look.
Is it earlier to have cichlids than Discus?
Easier? Not really. Discus are a type of cichlid from South America. African cichlids are probably easier as far as care. They are more aggressive though.
Sorry to be off topic, but I tagged you in a tweet of an African Cichlid I picked up from my LFS in their "assorted tank." I can't ID it for the life of me and neither could the employee. It was cool looking so I grabbed it. I'm thinking some kind of accidental hybrid. If you could take a look at twitter and respond here or there, I'd greatly appreciate it.
Thanks again for all your vids!
Maybe a Victorian Cichlid? It doesn’t look like anything I’ve seen from Malawi.
@@TazawaTanks Thanks so much for taking a look. Yeah I can't place it either.
@@TazawaTanks Bro! You absolutely nailed it. I googled "Lake Victorian Cichlids" and came across the Rock Kribensis. I'm 99% sure that's what it is.
Awesome! Glad to help!
Looking Good!!!!
what is the best lighting for cichlid tank?
There are a lot of great lights available. I prefer LED, as the colors are sometimes customizable, are often brighter, and use less energy.
Are you for sale??
how did the fishes get oxygen when we use canister filter?( I mean water coming and going through the tank and there is no bubbles)
Surface area is how water exchanges gases. On a canister, have the output ripple the surface. It will increase the surface area for yah. Or you can get a power head and point it up like shown in this video
@@ahniiso5642 it means if we are not seeing the bubbles but oxygen is always coming right?
Exactly what Shawn wrote. 👌🏾
Here is an old video of mine on the subject: th-cam.com/video/pYhaohUo8Zo/w-d-xo.html
@@TazawaTanks Thanks a lot
What are all the fish called in the first tank? are they all peacocks. are they all males?
they are peacock cichlids. Most of them are males in that tank
Can mbuna and peacocks be in a tank together?
They can but mbuna are more aggressive. If you were going to add mbuna I would go with yellow labs and yellow tail acei as they tend to be more docile in my experience.
Yes. The only concern I would have is diet.
@@TazawaTanks Makes sense. Thanks.
What light fixture is that?
UZIGaming Fluval Marine LED. If you follow the link in the pinned comment, you can see them for sale there.
Tazawa Tanks okay thank you. Can you also do a dedicated video on feeding ur cichlids
Tazawa Tanks also do you have another light that looks like yours but cheaper? Because the fluval light is very expensive
The cichlid boss
Do you know any podcasts on African cichlids
i have a black sand its hard to find fish poop any help guys
Feed new life spectrum red the pop terns red 😊
I'm setting up a 300g turtle tank and I want a couple ciclids