There are 2 types of cichlids. One species originates from Central and
South America. The other species is from Africa. They are separate types of fish and cannot be kept together.
Their requirements are similar. African cichlids are the most commonly kept species and the most widely
available in pet stores. They also tend to be more colorful which attests to their popularity. Most species
regardless of where they originate in the wild are easily bread in captivity which lowers the price for the
consumer in the end. Certain fancy cichlids can have a large price tag but the majority of species are very
reasonable for the aquarium hobbyist to own.
Originate from the lakes in the Great Rift Valley, which is an ancient valley created by the separation of tectonic
plates. This area is located along the middle-right side of Africa. It's an isolated region, not exposed to the
ocean or other areas so these species of cichlids are only found in this region. The main lakes where they
originate from Lake Tanganyika and Lake Malawi. Both lakes are so large and deep that they are practically
considered inland seas. The are both similar in shape, very long and narrow. Since the lakes were created millions
of years ago, time has allowed the evolution of many different cichlid species which is why there are way more
Africans the South Americans.
Each lake has their own species of cichlids and you can safely mix and match these in your aquarium. They thrive in
various areas, from the rocky shores to the depths among the plants. You will notice this when you stock your
aquarium that some fish will hang out near the plants while others will spend most of their time sitting beside a
rock. This is another reason it's very important to have a large range of aquarium decorations in your cichlid
tank. You will need rocks, plants, ledges open spaces resembling a sandy bottom and hiding spots usually in the
form of a hole in a decoration.
Lake Malawi Facts:
Length: 370 miles
Maximum width: 30 miles
Average depth: 290 meters
Maximum depth: 700 meters
Surface area: 11,400 sq. mi
Countries it borders: Zambia, Tanzania and Mozambique.
It is located south of Lake Tanganyika. The north shore is shallow, the southern section is very deep. There are
sections which are very rocky, some species live only within the rocks. The bottom is wide open and sandy and there
are sections with tall grass which certain species live within.
Lake Tanganyika Facts:
Length: 400 miles
Maximum width: 45 miles
Average depth: 570 meters
Maximum depth: 1,470 meters
Surface area: 12,700 sq. mi
Countries it borders: Burundi, Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia
It is located north of Lake Malawi. It is the second largest lake in the world and is much deeper then it's
northern neighbor and is also less rocky and more sandy.
South American Cichlids
Originate from the Amazon basin and Central American cichlids originate from the rainforest and rivers of
Central America. These 2 types can be mixed together in an aquarium. Most of these species live in plants, along
the sandy shore and in the muddy waters. They are not as common as African Cichlids.
South American cichlids tend to be much larger in size and not as colorful as their African counterparts. Just like
with Africans, you'll need a range of hiding places and plants for these fish to swim about. The South Americans
require less rocks then the African cichlids but this is to your advantage because some get so large that you won't
have room for rocks in your aquarium anyway! Popular types of South Americans that most people don't really
consider to be cichlids are the Oscar fish and the piranha.