Why am I killing African cichlids?

[notnew2dis]

An African will usually only stay alive for a week or two at a neutral 7.0-7.4 PH.....They need at least 8.0 PH......BUT that will kill your Jack and Green Terror!!!!.....You need another tank....

This may be true if they were wild caught (highly doubtful)
I have been to dozens of fish farms, and none breed Africans in 8+ PH
The Africans in your LFS have been bred and raised in the same water as the other cichlids, koi, mollies, and whatever else the farm breeds.

Please stop repeating this myth. I have kept African and CA cichlids in 7 PH water for 15 years. I have never had a Mbuna or Frontosa die because of this.
In fact, I have never seen healthier fish.

There could be other reasons that your fish died, not just aggression. How is your Ammonia? Your existing fish can slowly acclimate to rising levels of Ammonia, and seem fine. A new fish dropped into the tank would be shocked to death. Same goes for Nitrates.

 

[Danzig86]

Why??? Coz SA & CA cichlids are alot cooler!!! Good Job!!!!

 

[payara 26]

Yeah this is my sons tank at his moms house.I need to test there water. What had me wondering was i bought the bumble bee from the same place at the same time and he didnt last. BLOAT???? They do like to feed lots of feeders and worms

 

[Chaz88]

If all other water conditions are in the correct range and the fish are acclimated I don't find PH to be a big deal. My SA/CA tank and my African tank get the same kind of maintenance. Ph tends to be about neutral on both and my Africans are breading. The only tank I do anything extra for PH on is my saltwater.

 

[alexmuw]

This may be true if they were wild caught (highly doubtful)
I have been to dozens of fish farms, and none breed Africans in 8+ PH
The Africans in your LFS have been bred and raised in the same water as the other cichlids, koi, mollies, and whatever else the farm breeds.

Please stop repeating this myth. I have kept African and CA cichlids in 7 PH water for 15 years. I have never had a Mbuna or Frontosa die because of this.
In fact, I have never seen healthier fish.

There could be other reasons that your fish died, not just aggression. How is your Ammonia? Your existing fish can slowly acclimate to rising levels of Ammonia, and seem fine. A new fish dropped into the tank would be shocked to death. Same goes for Nitrates.

Way to go!!! I have both American cichlids tanks and Afican cichlid tanks. Both have 8.0 pH and are doing GREAT!


Anyways, back to your question. You can't add fish to an already established tank with highly territorial fish without a mess. If the fish you add are smaller than the fish present, they will end up dead or hiding all the time.


Get a bigger tank, they'll be able to hide easier.

Good luck!!!

 

[graves]

This may be true if they were wild caught (highly doubtful)
I have been to dozens of fish farms, and none breed Africans in 8+ PH
The Africans in your LFS have been bred and raised in the same water as the other cichlids, koi, mollies, and whatever else the farm breeds.

Please stop repeating this myth. I have kept African and CA cichlids in 7 PH water for 15 years. I have never had a Mbuna or Frontosa die because of this.
In fact, I have never seen healthier fish.

There could be other reasons that your fish died, not just aggression. How is your Ammonia? Your existing fish can slowly acclimate to rising levels of Ammonia, and seem fine. A new fish dropped into the tank would be shocked to death. Same goes for Nitrates.

I agree. I have had a mix of fish in my 38 gallon, had 1 jack dempsey, 1 texas, 1 yellow lab, and 1 jewel at one time. Ph has been mid 7's since set up and they love it.

 

[Chaz88]

I have had two of my yellow labs stop eating go sit in a corner and two days later die. No external sine of a problem water is good and all other fish go on living and show no problems. When something dies for no apparent reason it is frustrating but you just have to move on.