Article From SubmitYOURArticle.com: Cichlid Behavior - Is It Always Aggressive?

Purchasing a cichlid for your new tank may seem
like a great idea on many different levels.
However, it is important to have a firm
understanding of typical cichlid behavior before
making a final purchase. Knowing the typical
behavior patterns of a cichlid before making a
purchase will help you make a more informed
decision as to whether or not you are really up
to the task.

One of the first things any potential owner
should realize about cichlid behavior is that
they can become aggressive fish. They show signs
of aggression in three different ways. First,
the aggressive is displayed when a cichlid
spreads his fins and flares out his gills. If
this does not deter the other fish, a cichlid
will begin pushing water at his enemy with his
tail, in order to show dominance. If the attempt
was unsuccessful, face to face combat will ensue.

If your cichlid is acting aggressively then there
are some things you can try. Check to make sure
that the aquarium environment is close to the
cichlid's natural environment. This includes
water temperature, water chemistry, substrate,
decorations and plants. Do some research if you
are unsure of your cichlid's natural environment.
The vast majority of cichlid species come from
the African Rift Lakes: Lake Malawi, Lake
Tanginika and Lake Victoria. Of course, there
are some cichlids that will always be aggressive
no matter how well you match their natural
environment, these include: the Green Terror
Cichlid, the Red Devil Cichlid and the Jaguar
Cichlid. Often the cichlid's name will tell you
whether or not they are aggressive or peaceful.

In addition to being able to identify typical
cichlid behavior when aggressive, it is also
important to be able to recognize breeding
behavior. This is hard to recognize, because
there are three types of cichlid breeding
associated with these fish. These three types of
breeding are open breeding, cave breeding, and
mouth brooding. Open breeders breed out in the
open, while cave breeders prefer to breed in
hidden areas. Mouth brooders carry their eggs
and later, their fry, in their mouths until they
feel it is safe to let them out. Typical cichlid
behavior will depend on the specific type of
cichlid species.

While there are known typical cichlid behavior
patterns, there are also behavior patterns that
are unique to each individual fish, these
patterns are often called personality. The
longer you have your cichlid, the more you will
discover about his individual behavior patterns.

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Understanding cichlid behavior is critical to
becoming an experienced cichlid keeper. If you
can read their behavior, you will be able to give
your cichlids exactly what they want or need.
Having this skill also helps a lot with cichlid
breeding.
http://www.cichlidfishcentral.com/cichlid-fish-art
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