African vs South American: Two Different Worlds
The cichlid family splits into two main keeping traditions: African (Lake Malawi, Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria) and South American (Amazon, Orinoco, Rio Negro). They evolved in completely different water and require completely different setups.
African Rift Lake cichlids: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.8–8.6, GH 10–20). Rocky habitats, little vegetation, high mineral content. Examples: Mbuna, Peacocks, Frontosa.
South American cichlids: soft, acidic water (pH 5.5–7.0, GH 1–8). Heavily vegetated, sandy or leaf-litter bottoms, tannin-stained water. Examples: Discus, Angelfish, Apistogramma, Oscar, Geophagus.
Tank Size by Cichlid Type
Shell-dwellers (Neolamprologus multifasciatus): 20-gallon long for a colony.
Mbuna (Pseudotropheus, Labidochromis): 75-gallon minimum, 125-gallon ideal.
Peacocks and Haps: 100-gallon minimum, 180+ gallon for mixed groups.
Frontosa: 125-gallon for a single, 180-gallon for a colony.
Discus: 75-gallon for a group of 6, 125-gallon for adults.
Angelfish: 55-gallon tall for a pair, 75-gallon for a community.
Oscar: 75-gallon for a single, 125-gallon for a pair.
Apistogramma: 20-gallon long for a pair.
Aggression Management
Cichlid aggression is territorial, not malicious. Manage it by: overstocking African Mbuna tanks (dilutes aggression across many targets), providing clear sight breaks (rocks, caves, plants), and pairing aggressive fish with fast escapers.
For South American cichlids, the opposite often works: understocking and giving each pair its own corner reduces stress.
Diet by Region
Mbuna: herbivores. Spirulina-based pellets, blanched vegetables. Avoid high-protein foods (cause Malawi bloat).
Peacocks and Haps: omnivores. Mixed pellet diet with frozen krill, bloodworms occasionally.
South American cichlids: omnivores leaning carnivorous. Quality pellets, frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp.
Oscars and large predators: carnivores. Pellets, earthworms, frozen krill, occasional shrimp.
Filtration and Water Changes
Cichlids produce more waste per inch than most other fish. Filter capacity should be 2× tank volume per hour minimum, 3× ideal.
African Mbuna tanks: 30% water change weekly, sometimes 50% during summer.
Discus tanks: 25% twice weekly minimum, daily during growth phase for juveniles.
Oscar tanks: 30–40% weekly. They are the messiest cichlids in the hobby.