New World Cichlid Tankmates - Choose Tankmates for Cichlids Wisely
Searching for the best tankmates for South American Cichlids can be difficult at first. But it is not that hard if you make sure not to make any quick decisions when you are in your favorite pet store.
Considering how big your cichlids will be is the first thing that you should think about. Never pick tankmates for your cichlids that look like they are small enough to fit in your fishes mouth. Maybe that will not always work, but you get the idea.
Second, choosing tankmates that do not have the same temperament as each other. Juvenile Oscars and Angel Fish are a good example. These two species make great tankmates when they are little. But when those Oscars start to grow, the Angels will loose every battle very quickly.
Those are a few obvious points about choosing tankmates for your cichlids, but lets get to the issue of this article. So what are the best tankmates for cichlids. Catfish, that’s right, Catfish. But lets get a little bit more specific. What about Corydoras. These little guys are some of my favorite tropical fish, and they make great tankmates for all sorts of cichlids.
Again, you should definitely think about the size of the cichlids that you own. If you have Oscars, you should not choose the smaller kinds of corydoras. The Oscars will think that they are food and scarf them down like little candies. It is best to choose one of the larger varieties of corys like the bronze corydoras.
They will mature at about three inches long and make good tank mates for even the larger varieties of South American Cichlids, when the catfish are fully mature of course.
But consider this fact when choosing tankmates for cichlids, sometimes Oscars don’t play by the rules. It is best to raise Oscars with corys as tankmates so they get used to having them swim about the bottom of the tank. And make sure that you keep at least five or six corys at a time. They are much happier when they have a few buddies.
See this article for more information about cichlid tank mates. Visit cichlid care to learn how to keep cichlids healthy, colorful and happy.
Tags: african cichlids, american cichlids, aquarium fish, cichlid fish, cichlid tank mates, cichlids care, Fish, fish tanks, pet care, pets, south american cichlids, tropical fish