Aquarium hobbyists and KZitemrs familiar with African cichlid fish keeping often describe these fish as aggressive. However, with more experience and knowledge in African cichlid fish keeping, it becomes clear that African cichlids are more of a territorial fish than an aggressive fish. The term territorial behavior differs significantly from aggression. Aggression entails attacking someone for no reason, whereas territorial behavior in fish occurs when a fish tries to enter another fish's territory and is met with an attempt to push the intruder out of the established boundary. This behavior is often misunderstood as aggressive behavior in a home aquarium setup that is typically 50 gallon or smaller
It is important to note that African cichlids are originally from Lake Malawi, which is the 5th largest freshwater lake in the world. Keeping these fish in a typical home aquarium setup, which is often 50 to 70 gallons, can be quite challenging. The success of African cichlid fish keeping largely depends on the size of the fish tank. If a fish tank of almost 120 to 150 gallons is arranged, it can help to reduce the territorial instinct in African cichlids to a minimum. Each fish will have enough space to establish its territory, and weaker fish can easily swim away from the dominant or alpha male in the tank setup if bullied.
In African cichlid fish keeping, a normal aquarium hobbyist usually acquires their cichlid fish when they are between 6 to 8 months old. At this age, the fish start to display color in their body. Once introduced to a home aquarium, it can take up to three months for the fish to become familiar with their new environment. During this time, they will also continue to grow. When the fish reach the age of one year old, they will start to display their unique characteristics in the tank setup.
In a well-established African cichlid tank, a hierarchy is usually established, with the most colorful and noticeable fish being the alpha male cichlids in the tank. Other fish in the tank follow this hierarchy, with the alpha male controlling up to 30 percent of the tank territory. If any fish tries to encroach upon their territory, the alpha male cichlids will chase the intruder away to maintain their dominance in the tank.
African cichlid fish keeping can often show two types of alpha male cichlids in a fully established tank. One fortunate scenario could be having a good alpha male cichlid, which helps to control aggression among other fish in the tank, maintains peace and does not nip or damage the fins of other cichlids. Unfortunately, this is a rare sight. The more common scenario is having a dominant cichlid that is aggressive, fights with all the fish in the tank, causes damage to their fins and potentially kills other cichlids, causing stress to both fish and fish keepers. Even if the African cichlids tank setup is running smoothly, we cannot predict when it will turn into a war zone. To achieve success in African cichlid fish keeping, it is crucial to set up a tank large enough for these fish to swim and provide enough hiding spots for weaker fish to move away from dominant fish in the tank. It is also important to avoid small or big things that can trigger aggression in these fish.
Keeping African cichlid fish requires a significant investment of time and attention. It's crucial to take the time to understand each fish's behavior and personality in the tank, especially the most colorful and dominant fish. Understanding their potential aggressiveness, such as whether they might nip the fins of other fish, is important. In addition, maintaining an African cichlid fish tank involves frequent water changes due to the heavy bio-waste production resulting from their large appetites. Overall, it can be said that successfully running an African cichlid tank requires significant effort and dedication from the fish keeper.
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