Corals

North and Central American Cichlids

Together with the South American cichlids, the Central and North American cichlids form a group known as New World Cichlids. Almost all the Central and North American

cichlids are monogamous substrate breeders. Unlike the South American cichlids, a majority of the Central and North American cichlids originates from one single

lineage – the Cichlasomine. The Central and North American cichlids that do not originate from Cichlasomine are found in Panama and have probably developed in South

America and later reached Panama.

Since Central and North American cichlids inhabit various environments in a large region of the world, they have naturally adapted to different conditions and their

preference will vary when it comes to water chemistry, temperature etcetera. Compared to South American cichlids, the Central and North American cichlids display

smaller variations when it comes to soft and acidic waters. In South America you will find cichlids in the exceptionally soft and acidic blackwaters, but such

environments do not exist in Central and North America. It should be noted that comparatively soft and acidic waters can be found in Central and North America, but the

hardiness and pH-levels are less dramatic in that part of the world. In Central and North America you will on the other hand find some waters that are extremely hard

and alkaline.

One of the most well known species from the Central and North American cichlid group is the Convict cichlid, Archocentrus nigrofasciatus. This is a suitable beginner

cichlid for aquarists with no previous cichlid experience, since it is comparatively sturdy and will adapt well do various water conditions. They will also breed in

aquariums. If you want to keep at Convict cichlid you should provide it with an aquarium of at least 100 liters (24 gallons). The name Convict cichlid is derived from

the black stripes found on this fish, which resembles the striped garments worn by prisoners. These stripes have given Archocentrus nigrofasciatus another aptly chosen

name: Zebra cichlid.

For the more experienced cichlid keepers, Parachromis managuense can be an interesting choice. This cichlid is an aggressive predator that can reach a size of 55

centimeters (22 inches). You will need an aquarium of at least 540 liters (120 gallons) to house this cichlid. If you have an even larger aquarium it will be easier

too keep Parachromis managuense and it will also be easier to find suitable tank mates. Parachromis managuense should never be kept with small fishes since they will

be considered prey. Parachromis managuense have gotten an undeserved reputation as being impossible to keep with other fishes, but this is not true. Yes, Parachromis

managuense is an aggressive fish and it will naturally eat small fish since it is a predator. A Parachromis managuense will however work well in an aquarium with other

large cichlids that can fend for themselves. Make sure that you form natural borders when you decorate the aquarium, and create a lot of different sheltering places

where the fish can stay out of each others sight. This is extra important if you want to breed Parachromis managuense and therefore keep a male and a female together,

since the male will harass the female.
Cichlid Fish

Cichlids are fish species belonging to the Family Cichlidae. Some of the most well known cichlid species are Angelfish, Oscar, Jack Dempsey and Discus. You will find

more detailed articles about these species and about a wide range of other cichlid species as well, if you scroll down this page. The Family Cichlidae is an extremely

diverse family and cichlids inhabit a multitude of different environments. The different cichlid species have developed in order to fit their own specific niches and

different cichlid species can therefore vary significantly when it comes to size, temperament, feeding habits, preferred water quality, etcetera. Cichlids live in

fresh and brackish waters and can be found in Asia, Africa and south of 30 degrees N in America.

Aquarists usually divide the cichlid species into three main groups: African cichlids, Central and North American cichlids, and South American cichlids. In Africa, the

Great Rift Valley region is home to a wide variety of different cichlids that have been extremely popular among aquarists since the 1960s and a lot of the species are

endemic to the lake where they live. African cichlids are accordingly divided into four subcategories depending on which lake they live in; Lake Malawi cichlids, Lake

Tanganyika cichlids, Lake Victoria cichlids, and Other African cichlids. Dwarf cichlids are sometime counted as a special group even though they technically belong to

one of the African or American cichlid groups. Today, there are more than 2000 described cichlid species and this number will most likely increase significantly in the

future. Cichlids inhabit waters that have not been thoroughly researched by scientists. Some cichlid species might unfortunately become extinct before we have a chance

to find them. The introduction of new food fish in African lakes has for instance severely disturbed delicate ecosystems.

As mentioned earlier, cichlids have adapted to a life in a wide range of different habitats and their degree of specialisation can be astonishing. This also means that

some cichlid species will be more difficult to keep in aquariums than other. The mere sizes of some cichlids make them unpractical or impossible to keep for most

aquarists. The largest known cichlid species can reach a size of 50-100 centimetres. An example of such a large cichlid is the Boulengerochromis microlepis. This can

be compared to the smallest cichlids - the dwarf cichlids in the Apistrogramma group – that never grows larger than 3 centimetres. Dwarf cichlids are popular among

aquarists since they do not require very large aquariums, but dwarf cichlids are more sensitive than their larger counterparts and crowding a small aquarium with dwarf

cichlids simply because the “fit in the box” is therefore not a good idea. These small cichlids can actually benefit from a larger aquarium, since it is easier for the

aquarist to keep up the water quality in a big aquarium with plenty of water.

Even though the different cichlid species can look and act very differently, they all share some common anatomic characteristics. All other known fish species have

small intestines that leave the stomach from the right side, but with the cichlid species the small intestine leaves the body at the left side. The cichlids are also

equipped with no more than one nostril. This is a characteristic that they share with the Damselfishes. Another interesting fact is that cichlids have teeth in both

the upper and the lower jaw – and in the throat!
Clownfish

clownfish

The movie Finding Nemo has had people going crazy over Clown Fish and more Clown Fish facts have thus come into the open. The articles below will help you learn more

about clown fish. The Clown Fish is found in the sea and comprises of about 30 different species. These fish are very colorful with coloring that ranges from yellow

and maroon to shades of orange. The most common coloration found is a bright orange intermingled with white stripes.

Clown Fish are commonly found in the warm waters. The Pacific Ocean, the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean are some places where Clown Fish abound. The peculiar name of the

fish comes from its cheerful coloring and its active disposition. Many people mistakenly believe that the Clown Fish is really fooling around with all his antics. But,

in reality the Clown Fish is an aggressive fish and they are very territorial. They go to great lengths to protect their territory.

The most common home for the Clown Fish is among the tentacles of the Sea Anemone. It’s a curious quirk of nature that the tiny Clown fish is able to live without

getting stung by the tentacles of the Anemone. The fish actually uses the Anemone to save it from predators. The fish continuously loops through the waving tentacles

of the Anemone and is moving around all the time. It is believed that the Clown Fish develops a kind of slimy covering around its body that helps it to withstand the

Anemone\'s stings. The Clown Fish is dependent on the Sea Anemone for its daily bread. After the Anemone paralyzes and eats a fish, the Clown fish will polish off the

remaining uneaten bits and pieces. In return, the Clown Fish helps to keep the Anemone free of dead tentacles by eating these. The Clown Fish also helps the Anemone

get food by using its bright coloration to lure unsuspecting fish into the vicinity of the Anemone. This symbiotic relationship with the Anemone makes the Clown Fish

one of the most curious creatures living in water.

A little known but fascinating ability of the Clown fish is its ability to switch sex. This Clown Fish Fact makes this fish even more of a rarity. On the top of the

hierarchy is the reproducing female followed by the mating male. Below them are a bunch of non-mating males. But, if the female dies, the whole hierarchy gets

disrupted. The predominant male then morphs into a female and chooses a partner from the various non-mating males.

Clown Fish form a very strong bond with their mates. They lay their eggs in large batches. These eggs are laid on a coral or a rock adjacent to the Anemone. Both the

parents then guard these eggs for a span of 3-5 days. Once the eggs are hatched the male may stay to take care of the young till they reach sexual maturity.

Clown Fish are usually not eaten by other fish because they are kept safe by the stinging tentacles of the Anemone. Since they live within the quiet corners of the

Coral reef they were never hunted. But recently, these fish have become very popular inhabitants of salt-water aquariums. The colors, the antics and the beauty of this

fish have fascinated men. They are especially sought after in Europe and the United States. Many Coral reefs have been destroyed in order to procure prime specimens.

Rearing Clown Fish in aquariums have met with spectacular success. It is not necessary to keep the Clown Fish with its host Anemone. It is difficult to care for the

Anemone. The various species of the Clown Fish should not be mixed. They are generally very peaceful, but may become territorial and fight. When they are born, all

Clown Fish are males. As they grow, the predominant male will morph into the female, and this fish will be the primary defender of the territory.
Corals

Corals are a beautiful addition to any saltwater aquarium and they can also have beneficial effects on the miniature semi-ecosystem that exists in a well functioning

aquarium. Further down on this page you will find more detailed articles about coral keeping and different coral species and their requirements. Corals are more

complicated to keep than many saltwater fish species, and can for instance require more intricate currents, powerful lighting and supreme water quality. Many corals

are incapable of removing their own waste products, and in an aquarium with no current, or with a constant current that moves the water in one single direction, such

corals will eventually become covered in waste products and die.