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FISH PROFILES

 

Blue Ram
Butterfly Cichlid
Golden Ram

Gender:

The male's front dorsal fin rays are much longer than the female's, forming the telltale "spike." The dorsal fin of the male also tends to have a pointed shape near the caudal fin, where the female's is more rounded. Females are smaller and have a reddish tinge on their pelvic regions, especially when getting ready to spawn. Also, the black spot on the side of the female blue ram may have iridescent blue spangles throughout, and the male's tends to be solid black.

Temperament:

Timid; This fish can be shy at times, and dither fish are recommended. Otherwise, they are very peaceful when not breeding.

 

Bolivian Butterfly
Bolivian Ram
Clown Ruby Cichlid
Ruby Cichlid

Gender:

Hard to tell. Males usually have longer filaments on their fins. Also females have more red in their abdominals.

Temperament:

Peaceful; Usually peaceful, but territorial while breeding. Tend to leave other fish alone.

 

Krib
Kribensis
Rainbow Krib

Gender:

The male is larger, less colourful, has a pointed anal fin and has a longer tail.

Temperament:

Territorial; Females are typically placid and peaceful and mix well with other fish in community , but males in breeding condition can be an entirely different beast, territorial about their preferred dwelling area within an aquarium, they may roughly eject fish and shrimp when annoyed. Males can be highly aggressive with other cichlid species, and it is not unusual for a male to kill females he does not approve of.

 


For this reason watch new introductions carefully for aggression, and be prepared to remove an aggressive male rather than the more placid female, this helps neutralise some of the more brusque behaviour reinforced by having an established territorial area. When keeping several specimens give them plenty of room and enough nooks and crannies to call their own. Allow a cubic foot or more of water for each male, and do not assume they will tolerate females within that area.

Behaviour in this species is highly variable, and to some extent depends on compatible stocking, treat them as individuals rather than assuming a set level of temperament across the board, some are peaceful, and others can be downright vicious. All can be defensive however, and mature males are particularly reluctant to back down over territory if attacked by another territorial species.

 

Firemouth Cichlid

Cichlasoma hyorhynchum
Cichlasoma meeki
Herichthys meeki
Heros meeki
Thorichthys helleri meeki
Thorichthys meeki

 

Gender:

The dorsal and anal fin of a male should be very pointed and start growing fin extensions from about the size of 2". As males get larger they may also develop extensions on the top and bottom of the caudal fin (tail). Females should not have any extensions on the dorsal, anal or caudal fin.

Temperament:

Territorial; Not overly aggressive for a cichlid, but perhaps too territorial and brusque of temperament to be included into general non-cichlid community without a note of caution. Only house with fish capable of mounting a decent level of self defence. May be aggressive enough to kill smaller fish when spawning.

 

 Rainbow Cichlid

Gender:

The males have extended dorsal and anal fins. And generally are slightly larger when full grown.

Temperament:

Unknown; Territorial, but not aggressive unless actually guarding eggs and fry. This species is not the most accomplished digger of spawning pits and the fry may wander, meaning their protected area may increase in size to an area of several feet. When not breeding this species uses excellent colour display and communication to minimise aggression from its own kind and nonspecific’s.

 

Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid
Crested Dwarf Cichlid

Temperament:

Peaceful; Peaceful. Mix with other community fish.

Gender:

Males have brighter colours, and extended rays in the dorsal fin.

 

Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid

Apistogramma agassizi
Apistogramma parva
Geophagus agassizii

 

Temperament:

Peaceful; Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid is a peaceful cichlid apart from when they are breeding.

 

Gender:

They are not difficult to sex. The female is yellow in colour, with a black diagonal stripe below the eye and a black spot on the side of the body, which may show as a longitudinal line when ready to spawn, its fins are somewhat shorter, rounder and more uniform colour. The male is blue/grey top and bottom, with a darker longitudinal stripe, which tapers towards the tail, colouration of its fins varies from a vivid red to a paler orangey yellow, dependant on the morphology, the most striking feature of the male colouration is the almost fluorescent turquoise patterning on the head and body, especially visible under a uv lamp. The male will grow to around 3 inches whereas the female will only grow to 2 inches.