Help with Cichlids

Hi all

So I am not new to the game, but for the first time in my life I have an African Cichlid....

The water and diet I have (I think, fiddling a little to make certain but standard trial and error for me).

What I am not sure of and was hoping for some help with...

1) I have a fine black gravel in my tank - the tank wasn't set up for a cichlid, it was an emergency rehoming. Is this an issue? Should I consider capping the gravel with something larger?

2) Thanks to lockdown I only have one java fern in the tank - do I consider getting more greenery or will it get munched?

3) I have some extra driftwood I am going to be adding in, but should I consider a rockery instead? And if so - should I be siliconing it together before adding it in?

4) Any recommendations for a tankmate that will be good with algae and/or cleanup crew? I have a very large apple snail in there already, but would love to also see a little more movement in the tank as I am not the "showpiece and that's it" kinda guy.

I feel really stupid asking some of these because I think I actually know the answers but I would rather get some extra input before I screw up...

Thanks in advance

 

Hi there!

No such thing as a stupid question - the more questions you ask in this hobby, the further you'll go.

I'm going to start off and ask what cichlid you have. The cichlids are a really diverse group, with Africa having its fair share of species too. If you're not too sure on the specific identity of your fish, try to get a photo. Even a blurry shot will help in a direction towards getting a name on that fish.

Still, I'll try answer some of your questions broadly:
1) Some cichlids do like to dig and redecorate, but this is mostly associated with breeding and feeding. If it's just a single fish, it won't dig pits for breeding, but may still stir up the top layer of gravel with it's mouth. Generally a finer gravel is quite alright for this, as it makes it easier for your fish to behave more naturally.

2) Some cichlids eat plants, some don't. The biggest issue is usually that they uproot plants. In any case, Java fern has quite bitter leaves, and very few fish bother eating those. The safety of any additional plants you get will be dependent on the species of cichlid you have.

3) Woodwork can stain the water a slight tea colour and drop pH, although this isn't necessarily a bad thing in general, it's not ideal for certain species of African cichlid. Rockwork is a safer bet, as it'll provide some cover should your fish feel like retiring behind something, as well as helping define territories. A word of caution to make sure that any rockwork is securely placed (pressed into the substrate), as if you fish does dig around the base of the rock, it is in danger of toppling.

4) Algae and cleanup are best dealt with by you, the keeper. While many aquarium inhabitants may eat algae, they don't necessarily deal with all types of algae and/or waste, and cannot be sustained on this alone. Still, there are some nice options for some fish that occupy the lower levels of the tank. However I won't recommend anything just yet until we can be sure exactly what species of African cichlid we're dealing with.

 

Thanks so much!

Thought I put it in - it’s a yellow Mbuna I believe?


Sadly his now alone in the tank as the convict wasn’t able to hold up to the fighting.

With regard decoration - I have one piece of driftwood in there and a second I’m going to probably cut and use on the opposite side of the tank, both pieces are close in on 2 years in a tank so not worried about any leaching from them anymore. Will try get hold of some more smooth rocks too as the stuff I have from my previous setups may be too rough for cave making.

With regards the digging - I don’t think it’s a breeding thing that has caused the monster hole he’s dug for now - I think it’s more to create a better hiding spot, using the filter intake sponge and the wood he’s made an awesome little cave.

I keep saying him - it is a male if I’m not mistaken?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

It's Labidochromis caeruleus, or yellow lab. Hard to tell if it's male or female, I usually observe behaviour in order to sex them. Sometimes the males have thicker black edging to the fins.