Platinum lyretail mollies require a heavily planted tank that is at least 30-gallons as the fish can grow to a length of up to 5 inches. Their natural habitat has plenty of wood and rocks for them to use as a place to hide in between feeding. They grow to about 5 inches long. Con… These are all Lake Malawi cichlid species that grow to about 4 inches long. They may be cheap, and they are certainly hardy and easy to breed when kept correctly, but in many ways they are not ideal fish for the community aquarium. But carefully chosen cichlids given the right environment can get along with other species like platies in a community tank. The Lemon cichlid is a peaceful semi-aggressive cichlid and can be housed with non-identical cichlids native to Lake Tanganyika in a 50-gallon tank with a high rate of water flow and efficient filtration. A Friendly Online Community For Cichlid Enthusiasts. They are fascinating to watch and engage because they move whenever they sense any movement outside their tank. They are capable of jumping so high that they can jump out of their tank. With a little research and careful planning, you can find a group of species that will live together in harmony and turn your tank into a thriving aquatic paradise. Jewel cichlids grow to about the same size. crystal clear water teaming with cichlids and live bearers and the odd turtle. However, demasonis are highly aggressive toward fish that look like themselves. What a blast to watch! Large, healthy cichlids are very likely to do just fine from not eating for that long. When setting up your freshwater aquarium it is better to seek professional consultation. Dwarf Cichlids: With sufficient hiding spaces like shells or rock formations they can be kept with most fish except piranha and overly aggressive fish. 3. They also like fish tanks with a lot of rock work and caves akin to their native environment. Dropped some of my buddy Keith's Mollies into my tank of African Cichlids to watch them feed! Great or species only tanks like dwarf cichlid tanks (apistogramma’s, Ram’s and kribensis are all good) but no male with male - bad idea. Tips and tricks for taking care of African Dwarf frogs. The genus Mollienesia , from which the name mollie was derived, has been re-classified as Poecilia and is considered to be in the same genus as the guppy. Platies make excellent "beginner fish" because they're hardy and can adapt to different water temperatures and pH levels. Most people recommend to keep a cichlid only tank, but a lot of people add other fish and make it work. The Livingston (Nimbochromis livingstonii) grows to 8 inches long and is known for eating smaller fish, so it is definitely not a good match for the diminutive platy. Copyright 2021 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. A few species of cichlids can live comfortably with platies, but they're exceptions to the rule. The high mineral content of cave water attracts the Molly. Convict cichlids (Amatitlania nigrofasciata) are a freshwater species of cichlid that come from Central America. As you would expect, they are the ultimate tropical fish and do best in water temperature from the higher 70s to lower and mid-80s (Fahrenheit). Keep reading to learn about the best cichlids for a community tank. In one study, juvenile Mayan cichlids … They grow to about 5 inches long. Kribensis Cichlid – This easy-natured fish is bright red in color and needs a minimum of 20+ gallon aquarium to live. It was pretty neat seeing a barracuda down below and beautiful sailfin mollies at the surface. You can provide the cichlid greens, such as spinach, once in a while also. Much research has been performed on salinity tolerance in the Mayan cichlid due to its potential as a food fish. Their different types can be found in countries all along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts such as Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. A few species of cichlids can live comfortably with platies, but they're exceptions to the rule. African cichlids do better when crowded with other African cichlids, but they should be monitored for aggressive behavior and removed if needed. Some African cichlid species to avoid include the bumblebee (Pseudotropheus crabro) and the auratus (Melanochromis auratus), which is considered one of the most aggressive cichlid species. The temperament of both fish clash as well with goldfish being passive and cichlids more aggressive meaning they will not share a tank peacefully together. Changing 25 percent of the water weekly along with a strong filtration system will keep water within the ideal pH range for both fish types -- between 7.5 and 8. Live plants help create an all-natural and self-sustaining ecosystem that can be perfect for your molly fish. One of the most common statements made about these fish is that they need to be kept in brackish water to do well; yet in the wild they are largely f… One of the important things that attract aquarists to cichlids is the fact that they are very active. Feeding Schedule for Jack Dempsey Cichlids→. Care Guide for Convict Cichlid Most African cichlids grow quite big and are therefore able to eat all tetras. All rights reserved. In the wild, they live up to 5 years. Like most mollies, they have the ability to adapt to a variety of salt levels in aquariums and hence can live in either a freshwater or saltwater fish tank. Live plants will feed on the CO2 released by your fish along with nitrates, while molly fish will consume the oxygen released by the live plants in your aquarium. They also grow to about 5 inches long. Cichlid; Danios; Guppies; Molly Fish Behavior. Besides, they are omnivorous and algae eaters so they can help you to keep your aquarium clean. Even defining 'a molly' is difficult, and things become even more complicated when trying to determine the ideal water conditions for these fish. Mollies can be raised in pure freshwater with success, but the occasional addition of salt will prove beneficial for these and most other freshwate species. Depends on what you mean with parrot fish. Feeding Ram Cichlids. Complete incompatibility with catfish, cichlids, mollies, angelfish, yellow lab cichlid, clownfish. Among aquarium fish, livebearers are nearly all members of the family Poeciliidae and include guppies, mollies, platies and swordtails.. Welcome to Live Fish Direct where you have the unique opportunity to buy Live African Cichlids and other Freshwater Tropical Aquarium Fish direct from the source, where retailers across the United States order from. Frontosa Cichlid – This hump-headed fish is found in the flower shape and relatively calm in nature. These would be fish such as Live-bearers, Tetras and Danios. A 55 gallon tank can house up to 15 African cichlids depending on species, maximum size and temperament. ... Will African Dwarf Frogs be good to live in a 1gallon tank ? The best part about Black mollies is that they can live in almost any water condition. Having a Cichlid aquarium is a bit more challenging, as not all Cichlid species can live together, and not all freshwater fish can live in the same water condition as Cichlids. Platies -- small, easy-going fish -- are in many ways the cichlids' opposites. If you want to have several males, divide the tank into several territories and provide hiding spaces. Don’t assume that because many cichlids are aggressive that they must be omitted from the community tank. Kuhli Loaches have good compatibility with fish that live in the upper or middle layers of the water. But this large size fish needs 200+ gallons aquarium to live. Goldfish are coldwater fish whereas cichlids are tropical water fish and therefore require warmer temperatures. You can pair up the ram cichlids with different genders. They need water between 75 and 80 degrees F. Platies do well in water between 65 and 78 degrees F, so water kept at 75 degrees F should appease both species. More aggressive species like most African Cichlids and other predatory fish do not mix well with docile species that tend to explore multiple water columns in a tank setting. These fish originate from South and Central America and can be found in slow-moving waters just like a lot of their relatives in the cichlid family. Brine shrimp and bloodworms are favorites of African Cichlids. Dempsey, ‘Cichlasoma’ octofasciatum, cichlids can live with low concentrations of salt. This is ideal as an alternative to live foods, it does not transform the tank water into a dusky state, can function quite well with an auto fish feeder and it comes with large enough size so it could last for a while. She graduated from Elizabethtown College with a Bachelor of Arts in English. Rainbow Fish & Mollies. We have experienced aquarium fish breeders with the main focus on African Cichlids, particularly Lake Malawi Cichlids. Madeline Masters works as a dog walker and professional writer. Therefore, one can not keep African cichlids together with tetras. If these cichlid species show aggression toward your platies you'll need to separate the fish right away. Livebearers are aquarium fish that retain the eggs inside the body and give birth to live, free-swimming young. They're considered to be one of the least aggressive cichlid species, so you shouldn't keep them with aggressive fish. Cichlids are also excellent swimmers, and they are also perfect jumpers. Cichlids and goldfish cannot live together in most conditions. If you mean a blood parrot cichlid then sure. However, cichlids don’t just jump unnec… Jewel cichlids grow to about the same size. There was one called casa cenote that had salt water about 15 feet down and fresh water on top. Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Yucatan, ocean water has a salinity of 34 ppt (Martinez-Palacios et al. Although the combined content of black and white mollies looks very impressive. reply #4. Place live or frozen food in the tank and allow the cichlid to eat as much as they can for a few minutes, then clear away any uneaten food. 1990). I'm doing sand substrate, some rocks, and some live plants. And all this goes to show they can be kept together in one way or the other. ... Keyhole Cichlids, and Bolivian ram cichlids. Can Gouramis live with angelfish. Most cichlids are known for their aggression but the Electric Blue Acara is the well-behaved child in the family. When choosing tank mates, fish pairings are usually classified into three categories: good, OK with caution, and not compatible. Many species of cichlids are highly aggressive and shouldn't be paired with other types of fish. Mollies are most compatible with each other inside a tank with just a small number of males and several females. If you want to maintain a clean line of white mollies, then you should not combine them in the same tank with other color forms. Compatibility of African Cichlids and Platies, Live Aquaria: Freshwater & Brackish Compatibility Chart, Rate My Fish Tank: Freshwater Fish Compatibility Chart, Fishlore: Platy, Platies - Xiphophorus maculatus, CichlidAdvice.com: African Cichlid Species, CichlidAdvice.com: Fish Tank Requirements & Cichlid Care Tips, All About Aquarium Fish: Platy Care and Breeding, Cichlid Recipe: African Cichlid Compatibility Chart, CichlidAdvice.com: Resolving Fighting Between Cichlids, Aquatic Community: Selecting Community Tank Fish. This active movement probably explains why they are always looking for food because they expend so much energy. Mollies, like guppies, are capable of acclimating to full strength sea water temporarily, but it is not their natural environment by any means. Despite their familiarity, mollies are much misunderstood fishes. Some cichlids are not overly aggressive and may get along with platies, but pose a greater risk than the tamest cichlids. These can be gourami fish, zebrafish, tetras, guppies, swordtail, Apistogramma, Tiger Barbs.. Ram cichlids are omnivores, and they need a varied diet of plants and meat. Keeping different types of Cichlids together will be beneficial for both the water and the plant life inside the aquarium.. You may want to use natural breaks and plants to separate the Cichlids and you should ensure that water flow in the aquarium is slow, to help the Cichlids adjust. The zebra obliquidens (Astatotilapia latifasciata) is minimally aggressive and can thrive in schools of its own species. Three examples of less aggressive cichlids are the yellow lab (Labidochromis Caeruleus), the peacock cichlid (Melanochromis Johanni), and the demasoni (Pseudotropheus demasoni). Most fish can be … The compressiceps (Altolamprologus compressiceps) from Lake Tanganyika is nonaggressive and would get along with calm fish like platies. You should not keep your white mollies with large predatory fishes like Oscar Fish, Flowerhorn Fish, Parrot Cichlid. In the past she has worked as a fitness columnist, fundraising copywriter and news reporter. Mollies are capable of living a long time! Adding different Cichlids to your tank will brighten it up and keep the fish happy. Veggies can be left for two hours before they have to be cleared away. All in all, this fish food for cichlids is a certified great yet very affordable option worth-buying. Dwarf African cichlids may also be peaceful enough to live with platies. But it might have said a bad compatibility if you had listed too many mollies, and your tank was at, say, 125% capacity, for example. Although the Lemon cichlid can be fed fish pellets in an aquarium, it should also be fed a regular diet of live food to maintain optimal health. The zebra obliquidens (Astatotilapia latifasciata) is minimally aggressive and can thrive in schools of its own species. It will really appreciate the addition of fresh fish to it’s diet and enjoy the mollies. Cichlids are often tough fish to pair because most of them are highly aggressive. What Kind of Fish Can You Keep With Cichlids, What Bottom Feeders Can Live With Cichlids, Synodontis multis (Cuckoo squeaker catfish), Synodontis petricola (Pygmy leopard catfish). In captivity, they tend to live 3 to 5 years! Masters won two Pennsylvania Newspaper Association Awards in 2009. Typically this means rivers, deep streams, and lakes (usually near a tributary). A good rule of thumb for African Cichlids is to get at least a 4-foot-wide aquarium. Most tropical fish can survive several days without eating, in fact the food bottles are probably instructing you to feed them too much. Bristlenose Pleco. They gobble them up super fast!! A male and female cichlid will not generally mate in your tank. Most cichlids are captive-bred and can also adapt to their environment better than their wild-caught counterparts. Keeping African cichlids with other fish is a challenge. These fish come from lakes and streams in this region with a moderate amount of current.