Cichlid fishes are proof of the fascinating underwater world. They are colorful and have one of the biggest species of variety among fishes. They are mostly found in African and South American freshwater lakes. One of the facts that make them fascinating and evolutionary is their breeding method. Other than these, there are more interesting facts about them, and they are listed below:
Species
Cichlids have a very big family that constitutes of many varieties of species. The variety ranges from 2,000 to 3,000. Currently, around 1,650 species have been scientifically identified and defined. They are the best fish species suitable for a nano African cichlid aquarium.
Habitat
Their natural habitat is the freshwater lakes in Africa, Asia, and southern and central America. One of the lakes in Africa, called Lake Malawi, is filled with cichlids. They prefer staying close to the surface of lagoons, rivers, and lakes as there are sand and rock present.
Two sets of jaws
The cichlids have two sets of jaws, and both have different functionality. The inner jaw is used to mash food, and the outer one is to gather every kind of food. The cichlids have very high adaptability skills as it is carnivore, herbivore, and omnivore.
Size
Cichlids do have some great size variation. The largest one is as long as one’s arm, and the smallest species of cichlids are the size of a thumbnail. So, it can be said that the largest cichlid fish is around 5,000 times longer and larger than the thumbnail-sized cichlid species.
Mating
The mouth breeding and mating is a fact that makes this fish very interesting. The whole mating process involves a lot of spinning, chasing, and dancing. And for fertilization, the female collects her eggs in the mouth, and the male releases the sperm over the eggs.
Adding cichlids to the aquarium will be a great addition as they are beautiful. And during the mating season, the process is very educational and unique to watch. The cichlids are evolutionary fishes, and the list provides the facts that make them so.
