There are over 160 genera and more than 900 species of Cichlids [photos], with newly discovered
species reported on a regular basis.
This group offers a huge diversity of color, behavior, size, and body
shape. Cichlids are widespread throughout the world, including Africa, South America, Asia, Central
America, and even North America. All these Cichlids come from only one family, Cichlidae, and thus are separated in this
book by the geographical area from which they are found. Most Cichlids kept in captivity come from the
Great African Rift Lakes, Lake Malawi or Lake Tanganyika; various African rivers, the Amazon Basin in South America,
or Central America.
SOCIAL BEHAVIOR
The Cichlid Family includes a huge, diverse group of fish. Thus, it is difficult to make generalizations
about this family. However, it is safe to say that many cichlids have a tendency towards aggressive behavior. This
conduct can be attributed to cichlids' highly developed brood care. Other cichlids are shoaling fish which
are best kept in groups.
PAIRING
Several different types of bonds are formed between male and female cichlids. These
include:
·
Monogamy-The female and the male remain together after spawning.
·
Polygyny- The male stays together with several females
·
Polyandry- The female bonds with several males. This
form of pairing is rare.
·
Agamy- No lasting bond is formed between the pair. They
separate right after spawning.
BROOD CARE
Cichlids take care of their young in several different ways. Six "family" forms are common
among cichlid parents.
1. Nuclear
or Parental Family: Both parents equally share the duties of caring for the young. Nuclear families are usually formed
by monogamous, open-water brooders, although exceptions are common. It is generally very difficult to distinguish
between the sexes.
2. Matriarch/Patriarch
Family: The female watches over the brood, while the male defends the territory. When the fry become free-swimming, the
parents bear the tasks of parenthood equally.
This family form is usually formed by monogamous, open-water brooders. Sexual
dimorphism and dichromatism is common.
3. Patriarch/Matriarch
or Male-with-Harem Family: The male defends a large territory, which includes multiple spawning sites of several females. Each
female assumes the responsibility of her own brood.
The male is polygamous, and clear sexual dimorphism is present. This
form takes place among cavity brooders.
4. Matriarch
Family: No bond is formed between the pair.
The female cares and guards the eggs and the fry. In this family pattern, the fish are
agamous, and usually the female is an ovophile mouthbrooder.
5. Patriarch
Family: As with the Matriarch Family, no bond is formed between the parents. The male carries the eggs and
the fry. No sexual dimorphism or dichromatism can be found. Only one mouthbrooder forms a true patriarch
family, Sarotherodon melanotherow.
6. Extended
Family: The parents as well as the offspring of previous spawning care for the young. Extended Families are formed by cavity
brooders of Lake Tanganyika, including the fish belonging to the generaJulidochromis andNeolamprologus.
BREEDING
Cichlids have highly developed brood care and reproductive behavior. Nearly all Cichlids lay their eggs on
some substrate, whether it be rocks, plants, or sand.
Cichlids are now characterized into two breeding groups; Open and Shelter
Brooders.
·Open brooders lay eggs on an open surface, such as rocks, sand, and plants. The
eggs can number as high as 10,000 from one laying.
These eggs are usually small and clump together. Clear sexual dimorphism and dichromatism
is usually evident. Examples of open water brooders includePterophyllum, Symphysodon, and most species
ofCichlasoma.
· Shelter brooders can be divided up into
two groups. Cavity brooders and mouth brooders.
In general, shelter brooders lay substantially less eggs, usually not
more than 300, and have larger more colorful eggs.
These fish are easier to sex because males are larger and more colorful.
· Cavity brooders lay their eggs in caves. The
parents participate in brood care and may become aggressive towards other fish while caring for the eggs and the
fry. Examples
of cavity brooders include Apistogramma,
Julidochromis,Neolamprologus, and Pelvicachromis.
· Mouth-brooders are fish that, at some point
during brood care, will take their eggs or the fry into their mouths. Mouth-brooders are divided up into two
further categories depending on when the parents take the eggs/fry are taken into the mouth.
Ovophile or "egg-loving" mouth-brooders - The male makes a pit in his territory,
where the eggs are laid. The eggs are sucked up into the female's mouth usually, but occasionally, during spawning. After
hatching the fry remain in the safety of the mother's mouth until they can fend for themselves. The male, of some of these species,
often has colorful, oval-shaped marks on its anal fin.
These spots serve an important role in the fertilization of the eggs
and are known as egg spots or egg dummies. After the female has laid her eggs and sucks them into her mouth. She
sees the eggs spots on the males, and thinking they were eggs she missed, will try to suck them up. At
this moment the male releases sperm which the female sucks up into her mouth, thus fertilizing the eggs. Examples
of Ovophile mouthbrooders include;
Aulonocara, Haplochromis, and Pseudotropheus.
Larvophile or "larvae-loving" mouth-brooders lay their eggs on a substrate. After
the eggs hatch, the female picks up the fry and keeps them in her mouth. Sometimes the parental protection stops
after the fry are released from the mouth.
Examples of Larvophile mouth-brooders areGeophagus andSarotherodon.
DUMMY-EGG SPOTS
Many cichlids, especially those of Lake Malawi, have colored patches on the anal fin which
serve to aid spawning. These patches are known as egg-spots, dummy eggs, egg dummies, or false egg spots. These
spots are especially important in the fertilization of the real eggs. When the female takes the real eggs
into her mouth, the male spreads his anal fin, displaying his egg spots. The female sees these and sucks at them
assuming that they are real eggs. At that moment the male releases sperm, which the female sucks into her mouth, thus fertilizing
the eggs.
FEEDING:
Since there is such a variety of cichlid species, cichlids have a wide range of feeding
habits. However most cichlids have an enormous appetite and are easily fed.
· Omnivorous cichlids make up the greatest
majority of cichlids. In nature, these fish feed mostly on insects, crustaceans, and worms, but at times also
eat plants. Thus in aquaria these species should be offered a mixed diet of live foods, flakes foods, and plant
or vegetable matter. Examples of omnivorous cichlids include Cichlasomines, many West African species, Angelfish,
andHerosspecies.
· Carnivorous cichlids are predatory species
which are specialized for eating other fish.
Generally these species will eat small tank mates, although not fish
of a similar size. In aquaria, carnivorous cichlids can be fed live fish, worms, insects, insect larvae, and
crustaceans, but also some will accept pellets, tablets, and large flakes. Examples of carnivorous cichlids
are many Haplochromines, Pike Cichlids (genusCrenicichla), andCyphotilapiaspecies.
· Herbivorous cichlids are species that prefer
to feed on plant matter. These fish will eat live aquarium plants. In aquaria, herbivorous cichlids feed
on plant-based flake and pellet foods, plants, and vegetables. Some species will also feed on live foods. Examples
of herbivorous cichlids include someTilapia species.
· Some species of herbivorous cichlids feed
on the thick algae that grows on rocks.
Living in the algae are micro-organisms and crustaceans known as Aufwuchs. Types
of cichlids that consume the algae and the Aufwuchs living within include Lake Malawi Mbunas and Lake Tanganyika
Tropheus.
Shark-repelling fishing gear in the works
(4/23/2008) Fishing gear that produces an electric field in sea water could help prevent sharks from becoming accidental bycatch, say scientists at NOAA.
Feds flood the Grand Canyon to save endangered fish
(3/5/2008) Federal government officials unleashed a flood of water from Glen Canyon Dam in northern Arizona to help restore the Grand Canyon's ecosystem which has suffered as a result of changes caused by the dam.
The copy for fish.mongabay.com was written in 1994-1995. Therefore some information such as scientific names may be out of date. For this, I apologize. Feel free to send corrections to me.
