Unraveling The Cichlid Conundrum: Are They Pan Fish?

Cichlids are one of the most popular fish to keep in an aquarium. They come in various colors and are easy to keep, making them the perfect fish for your tank. However, choosing suitable tank mates can be tricky since not all fish work well with cichlids. Smaller fish are often seen as prey by cichlids, and they would be nipped or even eaten.

Carnivorous cichlids eat other fish, fry, larvae, and eggs

Carnivorous cichlids are piscivorous and molluscivorous, meaning they eat other fish, fry, larvae, and eggs. Some species of carnivorous cichlids eat the offspring of mouthbrooders by head-ramming, where the hunter shoves its head into the mouth of a female to expel her young and eat them.

Carnivorous cichlids can be further divided into piscivorous and molluscivorous, since the morphology and hunting behavior differ greatly between the two categories. Crenicichla species are stealth predators that lunge from concealment at passing small fish, while Rhamphochromis species are open-water pursuit predators that chase down their prey.

Carnivorous cichlids come in various colors and are easy to keep, making them the perfect fish for your tank. However, choosing suitable tank mates can be tricky since not all fish work well with cichlids. Smaller fish are often seen as prey by cichlids, and they would be nipped or even eaten.

Carnivorous cichlids can be further divided into piscivorous and molluscivorous, since the morphology and hunting behavior differ greatly between the two categories. Piscivorous cichlids eat other fish, fry, larvae, and eggs.

Carnivorous cichlids can be further divided into piscivorous and molluscivorous, since the morphology and hunting behavior differ greatly between the two categories. Piscivorous cichlids eat other fish, fry, larvae, and eggs.

Cichlids are easy to keep and come in various colors

Cichlids are one of the most popular fish to keep in an aquarium. They come in various colors and are easy to keep, making them the perfect fish for your tank. However, choosing suitable tank mates can be tricky since not all fish work well with cichlids. If you want to find companions for your cichlids, this article could give you some ideas.

Cichlids are carnivores, herbivores, omnivores, planktivores, and detritivores and come in a wide range of food consumption. Carnivorous cichlids can be further divided into piscivorous and molluscivorous, since the morphology and hunting behavior differ greatly between the two categories. Piscivorous cichlids eat other fish, fry, larvae, and eggs. Some species eat the offspring of mouthbrooders by head-ramming, wherein the hunter shoves its head into the mouth of a female to expel her young and eat them.

Cichlids with more peaceful natures, such as most Rams, Apistos, Kribs, Electric Blue Acaras, Yellow Labs, Keyholes, etc, are generally fine with most fish that aren't too small for them to eat, provided you put some care and thought into their tank and tankmates, as they still can get territorial. Some other cichlids may be semi-aggressive but generally be fine with larger fish of a peaceful or defensive nature, such as Plecos, Larger Loaches, Bichirs, Eels, other large Catfish, and larger Cyprinids. With very aggressive cichlids it may be best to keep them solo, with only other cichlids, or do your research on a case-by-case basis.

Cichlids are stealth predators that lunge from concealment at passing small fish, while Rhamphochromis species are open-water pursuit predators that chase down their prey. Paedophagous cichlids such as the Caprichromis species eat other species' eggs or young, in some cases ramming the heads of mouthbrooding species to force them to disgorge their young.

The Blue-Eyed Panaque, also known as the Blue-Eyed Plec, is a South American catfish that makes an excellent cichlid tankmate. It has a peaceful demeanor and is not aggressive like most cichlids. The Blue-Eyed Panaque has a unique look due to its striking blue eyes, which scientists think is because of its low-visibility natural habitat.

Cichlids are one of the most popular fish to keep in an aquarium

Carnivorous cichlids can be further divided into piscivorous and molluscivorous, since the morphology and hunting behavior differ greatly between the two categories. Piscivorous cichlids eat other fish, fry, larvae, and eggs. Some species eat the offspring of mouthbrooders by head-ramming, wherein the hunter shoves its head into the mouth of a female to expel her young and eat them.

Cichlids with more peaceful natures, such as most Rams, Apistos, Kribs, Electric Blue Acaras, Yellow Labs, Keyholes, etc, are generally fine with most fish that aren't too small for them to eat, provided you put some care and thought into their tank and tankmates, as they still can get territorial. Some other cichlids may be semi-aggressive but generally be fine with larger fish of a peaceful or defensive nature, such as Plecos, Larger Loaches, Bichirs, Eels, other large Catfish, and larger Cyprinids. With very aggressive cichlids, it may be best to keep them solo, with only other cichlids, or do your research on a case-by-case basis.

Cichlids are carnivores, herbivores, omnivores, planktivores, and detritivores

Among the more unusual feeding strategies are those of Corematodus, Docimodus evelynae, Plecodus, Perissodus, and Genyochromis spp., which feed on scales and fins of other fishes, a behaviour known as lepidophagy. Along with the death-mimicking behaviour of Nimbochromis and Parachromis species, which lay motionless, luring small fish to their side prior to ambush.

Cichlids with more peaceful natures, such as most Rams, Apistos, Kribs, Electric Blue Acaras, Yellow Labs, Keyholes, etc, are generally fine with most fish that aren't too small for them to eat, provided you put some care and thought into their tank and tankmates, as they still can get territorial. Some other cichlids may be semi-aggressive but generally be fine with larger fish of a peaceful or defensive nature, such as Plecos, Larger Loaches, Bichirs, Eels, other large Catfish, and larger Cyprinids. With very aggressive cichlids it may be best to keep them solo, with only other cichlids, or do your research on a case-by-case basis.

Cichlids are one of the most popular fish to keep in an aquarium. They come in various colours and are easy to keep, making them the perfect fish for your tank. However, choosing suitable tank mates can be tricky since not all fish work well with cichlids. If you want to find companions for your cichlids, this article could give you some ideas.

When it comes to choosing tank mates for your cichlids, you need to avoid fish that are too small. Smaller fish are often seen as prey by cichlids, and they would be nipped or even eaten. Cichlids are stealth predators that lunge from concealment at passing small fish, while Rhamphochromis species are open-water pursuit predators that chase down their prey.

Cichlids can be territorial and may nip or eat smaller fish

Cichlids are one of the most popular fish to keep in an aquarium. They come in various colors and are easy to keep, making them the perfect fish for your tank. However, choosing suitable tank mates can be tricky since not all fish work well with cichlids. If you want to find companions for your cichlids, this article could give you some ideas.

When it comes to choosing tank mates for your cichlids, you need to avoid fish that are too small. Smaller fish are often seen as prey by cichlids, and they would be nipped or even eaten. Carnivorous cichlids can be further divided into piscivorous and molluscivorous, since the morphology and hunting behavior differ greatly between the two categories. Piscivorous cichlids eat other fish, fry, larvae, and eggs. Some species eat the offspring of mouthbrooders by head-ramming, wherein the hunter shoves its head into the mouth of a female to expel her young and eat them.

Crenicichla species are stealth predators that lunge from concealment at passing small fish, while Rhamphochromis species are open-water pursuit predators that chase down their prey. Paedophagous cichlids such as the Caprichromis species eat other species' eggs or young, in some cases ramming the heads of mouthbrooding species to force them to disgorge their young.

Among the more unusual feeding strategies are those of Corematodus, Docimodus evelynae, Plecodus, Perissodus, and Genyochromis spp., which feed on scales and fins of other fishes, a behavior known as lepidophagy, along with the death-mimicking behaviour of Nimbochromis and Parachromis species, which lay motionless, luring small fish to their side prior to ambush.

Frequently asked questions