First of all sorry for such a long post. I do not know How to make a little tab o click on to pop up the page. I am a lot better with fish than some of you guys think. I did not Google anything so far. I started with stuff I knew. I am not done yet. My mom is going to check for grammar before I publish it. Okay guys I am not an expert and I have a long ways to go. But I do know some thing about fish. Please coment. i am pretty shore all my info is right. Can you tell me If something is wrong. I do sometimes ask "dumb' questions. but I just want to learn. please tell me how I am doing. Thanks in advance.. Please do not say anything negative. Cheers!!!!American Cichlids. My name is Italian LOL! The book starts...
A guide for starting an American Cichlid aquarium
By Gianni Costantino
Introduction
Have you come down with American cichlid fever? Have you decided to start a American cichlid aquarium? If so this book will give you lots of information. On starting an American cichlid aquarium.
You will never get bored with an American cichlid aquarium! American cichlids have tons of personality. They are great pets. You can even train some American cichlids to eat out of your hand!
Water Changes
Water changes are very important. You should lots of water changes if you have American cichlids. American cichlids are known for making a real mess. You should do as many water changes as you need. To keep your American cichlid happy and healthy. You should change 30-80 percent of an American cichlid tank. Depending on water quality and filtration.
I recommend you use tap water conditioner. After you change your fishes water. It removes heavy metals ,chlorine and sometimes chloramine Or if you buy a tap water conditioner such as prime. It will also remove Ammonia and build a slime coat on the fish. It is required to use tap water conditioner unless you use well water.
You should add salt to your aquarium after you do a water change or when your fish is sick. You can use table salt. Just do not use iodized salt. You should use 1 tea spoon of salt for every gallon of water. Some fish are sensitive to salt though. But American cichlids are not sensitive to the salt dose I recommended. Just DO NO use iodized salt. You can also buy freshwater aquarium salt. But table salt is cheaper.
Choosing Your American Cichlid
This chapter will give you some information. On different types of American cichlids. This chapter will give you genarel info. On some common American cichlids.
Oscar Cichlid
The Oscar cichlid is a very common cichlid. They can reach lengths of 16 inches on some occasions. But Oscars usually get 11-14 inches. One Oscar needs a 70 gallon 4ft tank. A pair of Oscars need at least a 120 gallon 5-6 foot tank.
Oscars will eat most foods. But you should feed your Oscar high quality cichlid pellets on a regular basis. You can feed your Oscar feeder fish. But it is a risk of introducing a disease.
These guys make a real mess so regular water changes are needed. Oscar cichlids come in many color forums. There are tiger Oscars red Oscar , albino Oscars and lots more. Just do not get a blueberry Oscar. They are died in paint. There blue color comes off very quickly. After it comes off You will have a stressed albino Oscar.
Oscars can be aggressive. But a lot of American cichlids are more aggressive. A red devil or midas cichlid can easily beat up an Oscar cichlid. Oscars can be kept with other fish . But you will need a large tank. Sometimes fish will just not tolerate each other tough. Sometimes people have had luck with putting. Jack Dempseys , Severums , large catfish , and large American cichlid that are just as bad as Oscars.
Oscars are full of personality. You can train them to eat out of your hand! Just remember that Oscars are messy eaters. They also poop a lot. So over good filtration and regular water changes are required.
Firemouth Cichlid
Firemouth cichlid are a very popular cichlid. They usually get 4-7 inches. A single firemouth cichlid needs a 20 gallon tank. A pair needs a 30 gallon tank.
Like Oscars Firemouths will accept most fish foods. But they should be fed high quality cichlid pellets. On a regular basis.
Firemouth cichlid can be a little messy. So you should do regular water changes. You should also have good filtration.
Firemouth cichlid can get along with other American cichlids. That get about as big as a Firemouth cichlid. But convict cichlids might not work unless you have a huge aquarium.
Like Oscars Firemouth cichlid have tons of personality. You can even train them to eat out of your hand! You can have hours of enjoyment! Firemouth cichlids are a cool wet pet.
Jack Dempsey cichlid
Jack Dempsey cichlids are very popular. They usually get 7-10 inches. But on some occasions they can reach 12 inches. A single Jack Dempsey cichlid needs at least a 50 gallon 4 foot tank. A pair needs at least a 70 gallon 4 foot tank.
Jack Dempsey cichlid will accept most fish foods. They will eat feeder fish. Just be cautious because feeder fish can introduce a disease. They should be fed high quality cichlid pellets on a regular basis though.
Jack Dempsey's can be messy. You should do many water changes. You should also have good filtration.
Jack Dempseys can be aggressive. They can be kept with cichlids that are 6-15 inches that are just as bad . They can be kept with large catfish too. Just be careful because catfish can be aggressive. They can sometimes be kept with larger schooling fish such as silver dollars.
Jack Dempseys are very colorful. They also have tons of personality. They are a very popular American cichlid. You can even train them to eat out of your hand. Jack dempsey cichlids are a very cool fish.
Convict Cichlid
Concict cichlid are a very popular American cichlid. One convict cichlid needs at least a 20 gallon 24-30 inch aquarium. A pair needs at least a 30 gallon 30 inch aquarium. Convict cichlid usually get 3-6 inches.
Convict cichlid will accept most fish foods. They should be fed high quality cichlid pellets. On a regular basis.
Convict cichlids make a real mess. So good filteration is required. You should also do regular water changes.
Convict cichlids can be aggressive. So they should be kept with fish that can hold there own. They should be kept with 5-10 inch American cichlids that are just as bad. They can also be kept with large catfish. Just be careful because catfish can be very aggressive.
Convict cichlids have tons of personality. They will even eat out of your hand. They will attack other fish that can not hold there own. Convict cichlid are known for being aggressive. Convict cichlid are a very cool and popular American cichlid!
A guide for starting an American Cichlid aquarium
By Gianni Costantino
Introduction
Have you come down with American cichlid fever? Have you decided to start a American cichlid aquarium? If so this book will give you lots of information. On starting an American cichlid aquarium.
You will never get bored with an American cichlid aquarium! American cichlids have tons of personality. They are great pets. You can even train some American cichlids to eat out of your hand!
Water Changes
Water changes are very important. You should lots of water changes if you have American cichlids. American cichlids are known for making a real mess. You should do as many water changes as you need. To keep your American cichlid happy and healthy. You should change 30-80 percent of an American cichlid tank. Depending on water quality and filtration.
I recommend you use tap water conditioner. After you change your fishes water. It removes heavy metals ,chlorine and sometimes chloramine Or if you buy a tap water conditioner such as prime. It will also remove Ammonia and build a slime coat on the fish. It is required to use tap water conditioner unless you use well water.
You should add salt to your aquarium after you do a water change or when your fish is sick. You can use table salt. Just do not use iodized salt. You should use 1 tea spoon of salt for every gallon of water. Some fish are sensitive to salt though. But American cichlids are not sensitive to the salt dose I recommended. Just DO NO use iodized salt. You can also buy freshwater aquarium salt. But table salt is cheaper.
Choosing Your American Cichlid
This chapter will give you some information. On different types of American cichlids. This chapter will give you genarel info. On some common American cichlids.
Oscar Cichlid
The Oscar cichlid is a very common cichlid. They can reach lengths of 16 inches on some occasions. But Oscars usually get 11-14 inches. One Oscar needs a 70 gallon 4ft tank. A pair of Oscars need at least a 120 gallon 5-6 foot tank.
Oscars will eat most foods. But you should feed your Oscar high quality cichlid pellets on a regular basis. You can feed your Oscar feeder fish. But it is a risk of introducing a disease.
These guys make a real mess so regular water changes are needed. Oscar cichlids come in many color forums. There are tiger Oscars red Oscar , albino Oscars and lots more. Just do not get a blueberry Oscar. They are died in paint. There blue color comes off very quickly. After it comes off You will have a stressed albino Oscar.
Oscars can be aggressive. But a lot of American cichlids are more aggressive. A red devil or midas cichlid can easily beat up an Oscar cichlid. Oscars can be kept with other fish . But you will need a large tank. Sometimes fish will just not tolerate each other tough. Sometimes people have had luck with putting. Jack Dempseys , Severums , large catfish , and large American cichlid that are just as bad as Oscars.
Oscars are full of personality. You can train them to eat out of your hand! Just remember that Oscars are messy eaters. They also poop a lot. So over good filtration and regular water changes are required.
Firemouth Cichlid
Firemouth cichlid are a very popular cichlid. They usually get 4-7 inches. A single firemouth cichlid needs a 20 gallon tank. A pair needs a 30 gallon tank.
Like Oscars Firemouths will accept most fish foods. But they should be fed high quality cichlid pellets. On a regular basis.
Firemouth cichlid can be a little messy. So you should do regular water changes. You should also have good filtration.
Firemouth cichlid can get along with other American cichlids. That get about as big as a Firemouth cichlid. But convict cichlids might not work unless you have a huge aquarium.
Like Oscars Firemouth cichlid have tons of personality. You can even train them to eat out of your hand! You can have hours of enjoyment! Firemouth cichlids are a cool wet pet.
Jack Dempsey cichlid
Jack Dempsey cichlids are very popular. They usually get 7-10 inches. But on some occasions they can reach 12 inches. A single Jack Dempsey cichlid needs at least a 50 gallon 4 foot tank. A pair needs at least a 70 gallon 4 foot tank.
Jack Dempsey cichlid will accept most fish foods. They will eat feeder fish. Just be cautious because feeder fish can introduce a disease. They should be fed high quality cichlid pellets on a regular basis though.
Jack Dempsey's can be messy. You should do many water changes. You should also have good filtration.
Jack Dempseys can be aggressive. They can be kept with cichlids that are 6-15 inches that are just as bad . They can be kept with large catfish too. Just be careful because catfish can be aggressive. They can sometimes be kept with larger schooling fish such as silver dollars.
Jack Dempseys are very colorful. They also have tons of personality. They are a very popular American cichlid. You can even train them to eat out of your hand. Jack dempsey cichlids are a very cool fish.
Convict Cichlid
Concict cichlid are a very popular American cichlid. One convict cichlid needs at least a 20 gallon 24-30 inch aquarium. A pair needs at least a 30 gallon 30 inch aquarium. Convict cichlid usually get 3-6 inches.
Convict cichlid will accept most fish foods. They should be fed high quality cichlid pellets. On a regular basis.
Convict cichlids make a real mess. So good filteration is required. You should also do regular water changes.
Convict cichlids can be aggressive. So they should be kept with fish that can hold there own. They should be kept with 5-10 inch American cichlids that are just as bad. They can also be kept with large catfish. Just be careful because catfish can be very aggressive.
Convict cichlids have tons of personality. They will even eat out of your hand. They will attack other fish that can not hold there own. Convict cichlid are known for being aggressive. Convict cichlid are a very cool and popular American cichlid!
