Their caudal fin is forked and asymmetrical, where it develops long flowing filaments. These graceful fish have an elongated body with a continuous dorsal fin. In other species the young are fully independent when they hatch.A post shared by Aquarium Central Eureka Red Peacock, also known as Eureka Peacock or Eureka Red, is certainly a unique fish for appearance. In some cases, these pairs guard their eggs and/or their young. Many species form monogamous pairs, or pairs that only breed with one partner. The number of eggs produced varies based on the species, size, and age of the fish. In the spawning process, the female lays eggs and the male fertilizes them outside of her body. Reproduction of the CichlidĪs a group, this family reproduces via spawning. The level of aggression varies based on the species at hand. Many establish territories, but live in close proximity to their neighbors in a widely spaced school. Some species live in large schools, while others develop territories and behave aggressively towards other fish. This family of fish expresses an immense range of social and reproductive behaviors. However, you must choose a food that best fits the species based on its wild diet. Of the various species, most eat commercially produced fish food. Many social species must also live in schools. Some need extremely large tanks, while others do not reach the same sizes. Cichlid Careīecause people keep so many different species in this family, their care needs vary drastically. It is also important to only purchase captive-bred animals for the safety of your other fish and the health of wild populations. You should always do your research on the specific species you would like before you purchase a pet. Many species in this group make great pets, many species do not. Humans have not domesticated this species in any way. Many species, such as the Tailbar Cichlid, face dire threat of extinction. Some of the primary concerns for these fish and their survival include habitat destruction, climate change, pollution, and collection for the pet trade. Other species face the impacts of human activity indirectly. People interact with some species, like those they keep in aquariums, directly. Human activity varies from one species to the next, as does human impact. Some also feed on carrion, or the carcasses of dead animals. Some of the many types of foods that they eat include algae, underwater plants, plankton, insect eggs and larvae, insects, smaller fish, crabs, shrimp, crayfish, worms, and more. However, some species have incredibly specialized diets, like the bumblebee species discussed above. Most species have omnivorous dietary habitats, and eat both plants and other animals. Diet of the CichlidĪs a whole, these fish eat just about anything. These fish live in North, Central, and South America, as well as Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Others live only in a single restricted region. Some have massive ranges and their populations occupy immense areas. You can find different species in this family across many regions of the globe. This group has an impressively diverse range. A few species even range into saltwater habitats, or brackish water areas with a mixture of salt and fresh water. Some of the different types of ecosystems that you can find these fish in include lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, and more. Other species can survive in an immense range of different habitats. Some species have specialist habits and live only in a single, restricted habitat type. You can find this diverse group in a wide range of different habitats. It primarily forages on the parasites that afflict a single species of catfish! Bumblebee Cichlid – Another species with unique coloration, this fish has yellow scales lined with dark colored, vertical stripes.Tilapia – I bet you’ve heard of a Cichlid before, and I bet you had no idea that your tilapia dinner was in the same family! This species is an important and incredibly common food source across the globe.You can find wild individuals throughout the Amazon and Orinoco River systems. Red Oscar – Another incredibly popular species, this animal is quite eye-catching! Though different color morphs exist, this species usually has red or orange coloration with dark marbling on its scales.

You can also distinguish this fish by the dark stripes that cross vertically along its body. Its name comes from the large fleshy hump on its head. Humphead Cichlid – This species is one of the many that people keep in aquariums.Learn more about a few specific fish in this wide, and still growing, family. Researchers discover new species in this family incredibly frequently. These fish range in size, some measure just an inch long while others surpass several feet in length! Each species is different from the next.

Red zebra cichlid pregnant