I have only kept a small ammount in the Cichlid family, but my personal favorite is bar none the Oscar!!!!!!! My Oscar is basically a puppy dog and he knows me from anyone else that approaches his tank!!!!!! I LOVE my Oscar his personality and vigorance make me enjoy him more than any other fish i've kept! But i've loved every fish i've cared for but my Oscar is the only one i know i can care for his whole life!!!!!!!!! So i love my Oscar most although my Dempsey is gorgeous and I've had angels equally gorgeous! I just love my Oscar!!!!!! Funny story BTW hes in a room with a TV and he does not give a dang about whats on TV! (Unless..........if a NASCAR race on tv he is stuck to the corner of the tank watching!!!!!!) LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Anther funny story is that he knows the difference in people coming to his tank! I have a buddy we call "Baby Buddha" (coz he's a BIG boy!!!!!) and he freaked my oscar out the first time he approached the tank!!!! LOL!!!!!! Too large a sillioute (however you spell it) i suppose! Funny situation in my mind lol! Anyone else experience this?