Cichlid Behavior - Is It Always Aggressive?

Purchasing a cichlid for your new tank may seem like a great idea on many different levels. However, it is important to have a firm understanding of typical cichlid behavior before making a final purchase. Knowing the typical behavior patterns of a cichlid before making a purchase will help you make a more informed decision as to whether or not you are really up to the task.

One of the first things any potential owner should realize about cichlid behavior is that they can become aggressive fish. They show signs of aggression in three different ways. First, the aggressive is displayed when a cichlid spreads his fins and flares out his gills. If this does not deter the other fish, a cichlid will begin pushing water at his enemy with his tail, in order to show dominance. If the attempt was unsuccessful, face to face combat will ensue.

If your cichlid is acting aggressively then there are some things you can try. Check to make sure that the aquarium environment is close to the cichlid's natural environment. This includes water temperature, water chemistry, substrate, decorations and plants. Do some research if you are unsure of your cichlid's natural environment. The vast majority of cichlid species come from the African Rift Lakes: Lake Malawi, Lake Tanginika and Lake Victoria. Of course, there are some cichlids that will always be aggressive no matter how well you match their natural environment, these include: the Green Terror Cichlid, the Red Devil Cichlid and the Jaguar Cichlid. Often the cichlid's name will tell you whether or not they are aggressive or peaceful.

In addition to being able to identify typical cichlid behavior when aggressive, it is also important to be able to recognize breeding behavior. This is hard to recognize, because there are three types of cichlid breeding associated with these fish. These three types of breeding are open breeding, cave breeding, and mouth brooding. Open breeders breed out in the open, while cave breeders prefer to breed in hidden areas. Mouth brooders carry their eggs and later, their fry, in their mouths until they feel it is safe to let them out. Typical cichlid behavior will depend on the specific type of cichlid species.

While there are known typical cichlid behavior patterns, there are also behavior patterns that are unique to each individual fish, these patterns are often called personality. The longer you have your cichlid, the more you will discover about his individual behavior patterns.

Understanding cichlid behavior is critical to becoming an experienced cichlid keeper. If you can read their behavior, you will be able to give your cichlids exactly what they want or need. Having this skill also helps a lot with cichlid breeding.