What is a jewel cichlid?
What is a jewel cichlid?
Jewel Cichlids are a group of brightly colored cichlids from Africa. These fish can be very colorful but they are often difficult to keep in the home tank due to their aggression. You may already know that cichlids are some of the most colorful freshwater fish in the world and the jewel cichlid is the crown jewel.
How big does a jewel cichlid get?
six inches
General: The Red Jewel Cichlid (Hemichromis bimaculatus) is native to the slower moving streams of West Africa. This colorful Cichlid will reach a length of six inches, and live over five years in captivity.
What fish can go with jewel cichlids?
Jewel Cichlid Tank Mates Some aquarists have had fantastic luck with keeping Jewel cichlids in community tanks. They have paired them with African cichlids, and even some varying kinds of tetras.
How do you tell the difference between a male and female jewel cichlid?
A male jewel cichlid is larger and more deeply colored than the females of the species. While both the male and female are covered with small spots all over their bodies, the male’s spots are iridescent, often shimmering in shades of aqua and yellow where the female’s appear white or silver.
Can angelfish live with jewel cichlids?
Despite most cichlids being highly aggressive fish in an aquarium community, several species of cichlids are calmer and more docile. Angelfish, for instance, are among the most docile of all cichlid species. A few other species of cichlids can live peacefully with their angelfish cousins.
Will jewel cichlids eat guppies?
Will jewel cichlids eat guppies? Yes, however, we do not recommend guppies as live food for your cichlid.
How many jewel cichlids can I put in a 30-gallon tank?
You can house one Jewel Cichlid in a 30-gallon tank, and another 10 gallons for each additional Cichlid.
Is a jewel cichlid African?
Hemichromis is a genus of fishes from the cichlid family, known in the aquarium trade as jewel cichlids. Jewel cichlids are native to Africa. Within West Africa, Hemichromis species are found in creeks, streams, rivers and lakes with a variety of water qualities including brackish water lagoons.
How do I know if my cichlids are mating?
How to Know if Cichlids Are Mating
- Observe the dominant male cichlid. The dominant male becomes more aggressive to other males before mating with a female.
- Watch the male’s actions.
- Look at the rocks in the bottom of your aquarium.
- Notice the female deposit her eggs.
- Observe a male cichlid that is not a mouth brooder.
Can jewel cichlids live with angelfish?
Even small cichlids like rams, Krib’s cichlids and keyholes can cohabitate peacefully with angelfish. There are two things to watch out for when selecting tank mates for your angelfish. If kept in a tank with aggressive tank mates, your angelfish are likely to become stressed and they may fail to thrive.
Can cichlids live with Mollies?
Generally speaking, most cichlids species are friendly enough to be compatible with mollies, but to be sure it is important to check on the specific species. Some species that make good Molly fish tank mates are Dwarf Cichlids, Rams, Discus, Keyhole Cichlids, and Severums.
Can angelfish live with Jewel cichlids?
Is the jewel cichlid a difficult fish to care for?
The Jewel Cichlid, in addition to being more colorful than the other types of the Cichlids species, have more pointed ventral, dorsal and anal fins than their counterparts. These species may be a little difficult to care for, especially when they are in an aquarium or a community tank as some of these fish have aggressive tendencies.
Where do red jewel cichlids live in Africa?
Red jewel cichlid inhabits in West Africa from South Guinea to central Liberia and can be seen mainly in the rivers where it swims in the middle and bottom waters. The fish feeds on juveniles, small fish, insects and spineless species.
How can you tell the sex of a jewel cichlid?
To tell the difference between the sexes of this species, look for the female which should be relatively plump and during the breeding conditions, the female would be the one which is full of roe (eggs).
How many eggs does a red jewel cichlid lay?
When red jewel cichlid breeding the female lays up to 500 eggs on a surface purified in advance. Sometimes jewel cichlid breeds inside a flowerpot, but more often on a flat and smooth stone. Ich fry appears in 2 days and the parents take care of it.