what gravel?

[Nicksplosion]

im getting a 30 gallon aquarium with some small cichlids and was wondering if they prefer any specific color or type of gravel.
thanks

 

[MDK500]

I'd personally get sand instead but if you do get gravel get a natrual color.

 

[xFLEAxx]

Hey
No fish don't care about decorations
Decorations are just for the fish keeper
To make it look nicer
As long as they have places to hide and swim over and around
They will be happy and dont care about color
However i propose the smallest kind of gravel because
I find it easier to gravel vac

 

[MDK500]

I think they do care about color because in the wild they don't live with bright neon pink and glow in the dark yellow gravel.

 

[xFLEAxx]

Fish are colorblind.
They can see shadings, reflected light, shape, and movement
which is the reason for different colored lures but in a tank
where no sunlight is reflecting they do not see nor care for the color
Its all about personal preference

 

[Jeox]

Fish are colorblind.
They can see shadings, reflected light, shape, and movement
which is the reason for different colored lures but in a tank
where no sunlight is reflecting they do not see nor care for the color
Its all about personal preference

the vast majority of fish (if not all) are not colorblind.

 

[Cichlaholics Anonymous]

some natural colored gravel looks good, but sand looks better, although harder to keep clean IME

 

[flopping flamingos]

sand. cichlids like to dig, well most of them

 

[oscarluvr]

go to lowes or hone depot and get a 50 lb bag of pea gravel take it home wash it real good and put it in the tank. imo sand is horrible, i switched all my tanks back to gravel

 

[FSM]

Sand looks a lot better I think. Bare bottom looks awful. Gravel looks good, but get the finest stuff you can. Whatever substrate you get, black looks the nicest, but natural (tan/off white) is good too. Bright colored gravel just looks ridiculous.