I write this because there are many questions posed such as, can I put this cichlid with that one(?), or why did this cichlid kill that one (?), etc etc.
Did you notice that in nature, you hardly ever find 2 of the same genus together, or 2 cichlids that share the same feeding strategy.
Or... in certain habitats, that there is only one cichlid found? And that there may be reasons for this?
I realize the argument that our tanks are not nature (or even close) so anything should be fair game.
But to me the fact that our tanks are not nature, makes them even more sensitive to species mismanagement. An example...
In nature, where JDs thrive, there normally are hardly any other species of cichlids found, but where the are other species, the JDs are few and far between, and often torn up. A video below of a cenote in Mexico, where uropthalmis thrive, and JDs suffer.
In a cenote only a few hundred yards away, JDs thrive, but no other cichids were present.
In places where many cichlids live in communities, there are often many different genera found, but often only one species of each genus. This may be because each genus has specialized in a certain food, or niche, and these don't overlap, so a sort of truce or compatibility arrangement is formed.
In Haiti only one species of cichlid is found. This should be a indicator of how the species should be kept.
On the north western slope of Mexico only beani is common, an indicator(?).
In North Central Mexico Herichthys are often found, and in certain places only share habitat with Nosferatu, if any other cichlid at all.
This to me indicates that it might be a mistake to try and keep cyanoguttatus, or carpintus, with a JD, or some other species.
Sorry if I blather, but nature sends us some powerful (and obvious messages), and maybe some of our aquatic woes would lessen if we took heed.
Just randomly putting 4 species of Parachromis together, or a bunch of different species of cichlids together because we like the way they look, often goes against nature.
Did you notice that in nature, you hardly ever find 2 of the same genus together, or 2 cichlids that share the same feeding strategy.
Or... in certain habitats, that there is only one cichlid found? And that there may be reasons for this?
I realize the argument that our tanks are not nature (or even close) so anything should be fair game.
But to me the fact that our tanks are not nature, makes them even more sensitive to species mismanagement. An example...
In nature, where JDs thrive, there normally are hardly any other species of cichlids found, but where the are other species, the JDs are few and far between, and often torn up. A video below of a cenote in Mexico, where uropthalmis thrive, and JDs suffer.
In a cenote only a few hundred yards away, JDs thrive, but no other cichids were present.
In places where many cichlids live in communities, there are often many different genera found, but often only one species of each genus. This may be because each genus has specialized in a certain food, or niche, and these don't overlap, so a sort of truce or compatibility arrangement is formed.
In Haiti only one species of cichlid is found. This should be a indicator of how the species should be kept.
On the north western slope of Mexico only beani is common, an indicator(?).
In North Central Mexico Herichthys are often found, and in certain places only share habitat with Nosferatu, if any other cichlid at all.
This to me indicates that it might be a mistake to try and keep cyanoguttatus, or carpintus, with a JD, or some other species.
Sorry if I blather, but nature sends us some powerful (and obvious messages), and maybe some of our aquatic woes would lessen if we took heed.
Just randomly putting 4 species of Parachromis together, or a bunch of different species of cichlids together because we like the way they look, often goes against nature.
