Cichlids
The most behaviourally complex fish in the hobby and the ones most often bought at a tenth of their adult size. Ranges from a 5 cm Apistogramma to a 35 cm Oscar, with territory and breeding aggression as the axis that decides almost every stocking question.
42 species, separated by adult size. Part of the freshwater fish catalogue.
Small — 4 to 8 cm (7)
The core of most community tanks.
- Congo dwarf cichlidNanochromis transvestitus7 cmSpecialist
- German blue ramMikrogeophagus ramirezi7 cmDemanding
- Hongslo's dwarf cichlidApistogramma hongsloi7 cmDemanding
- MultiesNeolamprologus multifasciatus4.5 cmModerategroup of 6+
- Panda dwarf cichlidApistogramma nijsseni7 cmDemanding
- Panduro's dwarf cichlidApistogramma panduro6 cmModerate
- Similis shell dwellerNeolamprologus similis5 cmModerategroup of 6+
Medium — 8 to 15 cm (25)
Needs real swimming length. Frequently sold as juveniles into tanks that will not suit the adult.
- African butterfly cichlidAnomalochromis thomasi8 cmUndemanding
- Agassiz's dwarf cichlidApistogramma agassizii8 cmDemanding
- Auratus cichlidMelanochromis auratus13 cmDemanding
- Bolivian ramMikrogeophagus altispinosus9 cmUndemanding
- Buffalo head cichlidSteatocranus casuarius12 cmModerate
- Checkerboard cichlidDicrossus filamentosus9 cmSpecialist
- Cockatoo dwarf cichlidApistogramma cacatuoides8 cmModerategroup of 3+
- Demasoni cichlidPseudotropheus demasoni9 cmDemandinggroup of 12+
- Electric yellow cichlidLabidochromis caeruleus13 cmModerategroup of 4+
- Fairy cichlidNeolamprologus brichardi10 cmModerategroup of 6+
- Flag acaraLaetacara curviceps9 cmModerate
- Golden dwarf cichlidNannacara anomala8 cmUndemanding
- Keyhole cichlidCleithracara maronii12 cmUndemanding
- KribensisPelvicachromis pulcher10 cmUndemanding
- Lemon cichlidNeolamprologus leleupi12 cmModerate
- Macmaster's dwarf cichlidApistogramma macmasteri8 cmModerate
- Ornate julieJulidochromis ornatus9 cmModerate
- Redbreast acaraLaetacara dorsigera8 cmUndemanding
- Rusty cichlidIodotropheus sprengerae11 cmModerate
- Saulosi cichlidPseudotropheus saulosi9 cmModerategroup of 6+
- Spotted checkerboard cichlidDicrossus maculatus9 cmSpecialist
- Striped kribensisPelvicachromis taeniatus9 cmModerate
- T-bar cichlidAmatitlania sajica12 cmUndemanding
- Umbrella cichlidApistogramma borellii8 cmModerate
- Zebra acaraNannacara adoketa9 cmDemanding
Large — 15 cm and above (10)
Specialist tanks. Check the adult size and the lifespan before buying.
- AngelfishPterophyllum scalare15 cmModerategroup of 1+
- Blue acaraAndinoacara pulcher18 cmUndemanding
- Calvus cichlidAltolamprologus calvus15 cmModerate
- Convict cichlidAmatitlania nigrofasciata15 cmUndemanding
- DiscusSymphysodon aequifasciatus20 cmSpecialistgroup of 5+
- FestivumMesonauta festivus15 cmModerategroup of 5+
- Firemouth cichlidThorichthys meeki17 cmUndemanding
- OscarAstronotus ocellatus40 cmDemanding
- SeverumHeros severus25 cmModerate
- Trewavas's mbunaLabeotropheus trewavasae15 cmDemanding