Diversity has created cichlid fish to be as sought-after as aquarium inhabitants. There are a lot varieties, as well as they're available in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors. Also there's the thrill of cichlids' behavior! In the early days of aquariums (around the year 1900) the aquarium had a small listing of New World cichlids being kept. The Chanchito ("Cichlasoma" facetum) was the first as was the fish called port cichlid (Cichlasoma portalegrense) as well as the Brazilian pearl eartheater (Geophagus brasiliensis).

1. Cichlids in the Home Aquarium
Diversity has created cichlid fish to be as sought-after as aquarium inhabitants. There are a lot
varieties, as well as they're available in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors. Also there's the
thrill of cichlids' behavior! In the early days of aquariums (around the year 1900) the aquarium
had a small listing of New World cichlids being kept. The Chanchito ("Cichlasoma" facetum) was
the first as was the fish called port cichlid (Cichlasoma portalegrense) as well as the Brazilian
pearl eartheater (Geophagus brasiliensis).
In the meantime, a growing number of cichlids from the western part of Africa as well as the
Americas have made it to the tanks of avid fish enthusiasts. This comprised New World
examples, like the convict cichlid and severum, firemouth and freshwater angelfish in addition to
in Africa including the jewelfish, the kribensis, and Egyptian mouthbrooder. Each of them offered
colors and fascinating behaviors for aquarists in the early and mid-twentieth century.
In the 1950s, and particularly in the 1960s and 1970s there was a steady infusion of cichlids
with stunning colors from the huge rift lakes of Africa. The first Lake Malawi (then called Lake
Nyasa) was awash with Cichlids that were like the sea reef fish. Cichlids were in a boom! In the
wake of Lake Malawi came cichlid fish from Lake Tanganyika and Lake Victoria. In the present,
African rift lake cichlids are the most sought-after cichlid fish -- as well as possibly fish within the
hobby of aquariums.
When imports from Africa increased, the range of cichlids that were taken for export from South
America and Central America during the 1980s, and the 1990s was also a significant increase.
"American" cichlids were more than convicts and oscars and we are now at what is known as

2. the "golden age" of cichlids! Many cichlids, in both New World and Old World are on the market
-- including wild-caught and commercially bred ones. There are cichlids to suit any type of
aquarium whether hard and soft waters, large aquariums or small ones and rockwork
aquariums. Anyone can enjoy the pleasure of observing and raising Cichlid fish.
Click to know more about fish species, visit our website Creature Companion.