Article From SubmitYOURArticle.com: Cichlid Care - What You Need to Know

There are over 1,500 different cichlid species in
the world that come from the same Cichidae
family. They are found in different countries
including Africa, the United States, and parts of
Asia and South America. Cichlid care is rather
easy, since most breeds in this species are known
to be hardy fish.

One of the main guidelines to follow, when caring
for a cichlid, is to try to replicate their
original habitat. When they are in the wild,
they care for themselves. However, when in
captivity, they depend on their owner for
survival. The main objective to cichlid care is
to get your aquarium as close as you can to its
native home. If you are able to mimic their
natural habitat then a lot of the cichlid care
will take care of itself and you will also be
able to keep cichlid aggression in check this way.

When caring for cichlids, water temperatures are
very important. Most breeds of cichlids thrive
in water that is kept at a constant 82 degrees.
The reason water temperatures are so important in
relation to cichlid care is because it can
directly affect your fish's metabolism and
activity. Cichlids kept in warmer tanks will
generally be faster than those kept in cooler
tanks and they will most often eat more, as well.
A heating element for your aquarium is necessary
for a healthy cichlid. You should get an
electronic heater so that you can set a
temperature and the heater keeps the aquarium at
that constant temperature. Also make sure that
your aquarium is not in direct sunlight during
any part of the day because that will make it
very difficult to regulate water temperature. On
the same token, make sure that you do not place
the aquarium in a part of the house that has
drafts since that will cause the digital heating
element to work harder than it should need to.

Most cichlids prefer regular water, or alkaline
water for their habitat. This is the opposite of
other fish species, including goldfish. Goldfish
prefer slightly acidic water, and neutral pH.
Testing your aquarium water regularly is
essential to good cichlid care. Levels of 8 to 9
pH are ideal.

Cichlid care can take a lot of time and devotion.
If you are not willing to put forth the effort
that it takes, you should not reconsider
purchasing this species of fish. However, if you
do put in the time, keeping cichlids can be very
rewarding. Especially since they are the most
vibrant and colorful freshwater fish.

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Discover more specifics of cichlid care on my
website. On my site you can also learn about
specific species, like the African Cichlid.
http://www.cichlidfishcentral.com/cichlid-fish-art
icles/essentials-cichlid-care/

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