African or American - Which is best?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
I'm torn between the two as well...I like the variety of fin and body structures that the new world cichlids have but turned off that to house most of the cool species comfortably, you're looking at 75 gallons for a pair at the minimum. And then like the other poster said, you are looking at a pretty empty tank...

With limited space, I'd say African's win out...however, with a monster tank, New Worlds take the cake...
 
Cheers, I just checked that site out - it was pretty handy.
 
well since i have 4 tanks of africans, i guess i prefer africans lol
 
I have both but i really like the africans best... you can set up a tank duplicate of their natural environment and make all those nooks and crannies for them to hide and chase each other... the more africans usually the less aggression so you would enjoy adding different ones with no problems to a certain extent.. you can have all male tank since male africans are the ones who present the most color or you can enjoy getting into the breeding .. if you like large fish you may like the n.venustus ..{they are my favorites} you can pick and choose lake malawi or lake tanganika or lake victoria and special rare ones from those lakes or just go for the common.. theres much to learn and many many to choose from and they are easy to keep for the most part..but i do like my americans too.. but they offer a limit to how many and how compatable etc..
 
when it comes to colors i think americans have some brilliant colors and at the sametime theyre the most aggressive. ive had one paratheraps bifasciatus kill off a whole tank! that just happened recently. after all are gone i finally gave him up to my lfs. i didnt want to give him up because ive had him since he was alittle over a inch and he had amzing colors red, blue, green, and purple!
 
I pre fer africans as opposed to americans due to the personality as well as color. Ive kept both and think both have great personalitys but the color and interaction with a bunch of african haps and peacocks in a big tank is unmatched .It's like they all are trying to get your attention so they do things to capture it .Plus they are not as aggressive as americans as previously stated.
 
I like Africans because I feel they grow slower (with a good veggie diet) so you can have a stable tank for a long time.

Americans seem to grow so fast, making a hug mess and you need to pull out tank mates to make room in no time.

Americans are much easier to sex, but I have never had any of them spawn. I guess I should have tried convicts.
 
if you are looking for big fish, americans, but in beauty, personality, and easy breeding, malawii africans are the way to go! or if you have money, malawii eye biters get pretty big and look cool and are agressive.
 
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