The first thing you need to establish before you begin thinking about what cichlid to breed, is to determine two major factors. First is what size tank you have or will have.
Tank size plays a very important role in cichlid breeding behaviour. However, it's not just about tank volume, but really about floor space. Almost all cichlids are concerned about one thing, especially when it comes to breeding: real estate. Whether its caves, rock piles, shells, or vegetation, all cichlids need some sort of cover to perform their mating rituals, and for some cichlids this will be their nesting grounds for the duration of the incubation period.
Therefore, once you know what your floor space will be, you can select your fish based on size, aggression, and appropriate male-to-female ratio. Ratio's will be discussed further in another blog entry. However, fish size and aggression levels are major considerations when determining what fish would be suitable for your tank. Some smaller cichlids are so aggressive, that larger tank sizes are needed in order to successfully breed then. While other larger cichlids may be slightly more tolerant to cramping. Not getting this aspect right, could mean the difference between successful breeding or a handful of dead fish.
Water Conditions
Another very important factor to consider is water parameters; specifically the hardness, pH, and alkalinity. These can vary dramatically. From the soft acidic water of South America to the hard waters of lake Tanganyika, the habitats of cichlids are very diverse.
It will be easier for you to find a cichlid suitable to your water parameters, as opposed to selecting your fish first and then constantly trying to adjust your water parameters to mimic your fishes native habitat. Most hardness kits and pH kits are relatively inexpensive, but be sure to buy from a reputable brand. Also, it may be possible to find out precisely what your drinking water conditions are from your municipal water treatment website, or published findings on the net or at your local library.
Selecting inhabitants according to your local water conditions will save you much heartache and confusion, make water changes much easier, and will go a long way in making general maintenance simpler and more sustainable. Probably the single greatest reason people leave the fishkeeping hobby is due to frustration over weekly maintenance. Keeping it simple will allow you to gain more joy from your hobby.
Now, it should be said that some species of cichlids have been bred in captivity for so long, that fish have become somewhat adapted to the average tap water conditions. However, one must still be careful, and should try to discover what the breeders water parameters are, just to be sure.
Research
Research in these departments will be your best weapon against failure. This can come in the form of books or hobby magazines. One very well known author is dutch ichthyologist Ad Konings. He's best known for his African rift lake cichlid research, but has also done research in Central and South America. He's released several books, and regularly writes articles for various hobbyist magazines.
Another valuable tool is in the form of local fish clubs and associations. I know I may get lambasted for stating this, but do not rely on pet store or fish store employees for advice in these categories. Are there knowledgeable employees who work at pet shops? Absolutely. Are there also employees who really know nothing about the hobby and tell you what they think based on no real experience? Most definitely. The fact is that if a fish store employee or manager is a real enthusiast, he or she will most likely be a member of the local fish clubs and associations.
With the growing interest in the hobby, forums have now become an excellent source of knowledge AND wisdom. I use the term wisdom because finding "information" on the web is one thing, but what enables a hobbyist to succeed is to be able to communicate with people who've actually put knowledge into practice. Finding a community to share information is an invaluable tool, and now, with the hobby becoming so popular, "special focus" forums have developed (African cichlids, South American cichlids, catfish, shrimps, snails, planted aquariums, etc).
In the next step, we are going to discuss filtration, lighting, and a few other necessary pieces of equipment needed to care for and breed cichlids successfully.
