sa/ca cichlid pros and cons

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shane2sweet1

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Sep 18, 2010
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Standish, MI, USA
Hi all,
I've had an all male African cichlid tank for a little over a year now, but when I first decided on cichlids I had a hard time choosing between africans and south/central american cichlids. My first thought was getting oscars, but then decided with African cichlids.
Just wondering if I ever start another tank what some of the pros and cons of Sa/Ca cichlids are compared to Africans.

Thanks
 
SA/CA cichlids, same as Africans, comprise many different types of fish that can not go into one tank...

Since you have mentioned Oscars, lets take the popular SA/CA mix of

Oscar, GT, JD and the like.

Having kept both...

Pro:

1) they are more "personable"
2) Grows bigger

Cons:

1) more messy(more bioload)
2) less colorful
 
I'm in the same boat. Sorta... I initially went with the Africans primarily for the colors. I have a 125g that sprung a leak a couple weeks ago that had 16 African Cichlids in it. Luckily it wasn't a tank explosion and , although it was a steady stearm, it leaked slow enough that I was able to run out and get a 75g to swap the fish over to so thankfully I didn't lose any. I've just finished resealing my 125 and am hopefully planning on transfering the Africans back to the 125 next weekend.
Then I'd have an empty 75g. I started looking into what to put into it, still haven't decided, but I'm leaning towards SA Cichlids I have to admit mainly because they do grow faster. If I were to come up with one complaint about my Africans it would be that they do grow slow.
 
shane2sweet1;4866295; said:
Hi all,
I've had an all male African cichlid tank for a little over a year now, but when I first decided on cichlids I had a hard time choosing between africans and south/central american cichlids. My first thought was getting oscars, but then decided with African cichlids.
Just wondering if I ever start another tank what some of the pros and cons of Sa/Ca cichlids are compared to Africans.

Thanks
Click to expand...


CA/SA cichlids are the4 pibull cichluids of the both...The African Cichlids are more close to saltwater fish to me..QWhat I mean by this, they need a high PH to thrive.......Every week you do a water change, you have to mix in the proper amount of PH Stabilizer with the new water, making it 7.0...........That may not souind alot, but I got into monster cichlids for their hardiness, not their "special" requirments........Stick to the CA/SA cichlid group..........
 
I find Africans more impressive as a community, where Americans are more impressive as a specimen.
 
ecoli73;4866935; said:
Pending your tank density, CA/SA cichlids need their water changes...I change 35% every 3 days
Click to expand...

How many do you have in what size tank?
 
SimonL;4867009; said:
I find Africans more impressive as a community, where Americans are more impressive as a specimen.
Click to expand...

Well put. Which is why I'm considering Americans and only 2 for my 75g.
 
CA/SA pro... The main one in my humble opinion... Is the mating/spawning/parenting rituals. To me, this is quite a show... From the time that they start fin batting, to the time they decide to chase off/kill everything else in the tank, and then to the actual spawning and getting to see the spray of several hundred fry at once, it's quite stunning.

The best way to handle CAs is to buy yourself 6 (or so) of the same type of fish and grow them out, watching for the first sign of a viable pair. Convicts will do it in about a day, larger fish may take a year or so.

In the 125, you could do parachromis, festea, or almost anything really... in the 75, you'd have to shoot a bit smaller.
 
Thanks everyone,

I don't know, I've heard SA/CA's are more agressive... I don't know if that's something I'm looking for?
What's their agression compaired to Africans?
 
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