Native to the Amazon region of Brazil, the Threadfin Geophagus does best in roomy, 40 gallon or larger aquariums that offer plenty of shelter amongst rocks and plants. Like other cichlids, this fish is known for its disruptive digging. Therefore, care needs to be taken with the placement of aquatic plants. However, the constant digging does help clean your aquarium substrate. In fact, many aquarists attribute the Threadfin Geophagus with excellent cleaning skills.

Since this fish likes to dig, however, substrate should be soft sand or extremely fine gravel. In addition to its scavenger abilities, feed this omnivorous fish a quality, varied diet of flakes, pellets, daphnia, tubifex, and other freeze-dried foods, such as shrimp, bloodworms, or mosquito larvae.

Breeding Threadfin Geophagus form maternal-paternal pairs, and spawn within the rock caves of properly established aquariums. Differentiating males from females on sight alone, however, is difficult.

Threadfin Geophagus
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The German Gold Ram requires a tank of 20 gallons, minimum. The tank should have several dense plant groups and plenty of open swimming space. The German Gold Ram will also need a few caves in which to hide in and stones to spawn on. Being a peaceful fish, the German Gold Ram makes a wonderful addition to the community tank. However, if kept in an aquarium that lacks hiding places for this fish, they may become aggressive toward small tank mates.

The German Gold Ram is an egg layer that prefers soft to medium hardness, neutral pH, and slightly raised water temperatures (77-82°F). Peat should be added to the water. The female will lay up to 200 eggs on stones and occasionally, in depressions. Both the male and female share the rearing of the fry, and it has been reported that they will take them into their mouths to protect them like a mouth brooder. Care should be taken so that the fry are not sucked into the filter.

German Gold Ram
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Similar to many cichlids, the coloration of juvenile Orange Pike Cichlids changes as they mature. Juvenile Orange Pike Cichlids demonstrate distinct horizontal stripes on a brilliant orange and amber body color. As they develop into adults, the dark stripes along with their dominant orange coloration will gradually disappear to incorporate richer, olive-bronze body color accentuated with areas of deep red.

The Orange Pike Cichlid prefers aquarium setups with rocks or driftwood and hardy plants for them to hide among and use as cover. They also require clean, well-filtered aquariums with ample room to accommodate their size. Though non-aggressive as juveniles, the Orange Pike Cichlid may demonstrate greater territorial aggression as adults. Best kept with similar size fish to reduce the possibility of predation by this cichlid.

Orange Pike Cichlids are omnivorous and will eat most prepared flake food and Cichlid pellets as well as frozen or freeze-dried foods, including bloodworms, tubifex, and ocean plankton. Offer the Orange Pike Cichlid a variety of meaty foods to provide a nutritionally balanced diet.

Orange Pike Cichlid
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In the wild, Keyhole Cichlids inhabit small creeks in coastal zones, often with clear water, lower currents, and ripe with fallen and decaying trees and debris. In the home aquarium, house them in aquariums of 30 gallons or more. They prefer substrates of fine gravel or sand and require open swimming areas with easy access to hiding locations among rocks and plants.

It is difficult to distinguish between male and female Keyhole Cichlids. Males are generally larger than females and boast longer anal fins. Once paired, Keyhole Cichlids form nuclear families. Breeding often results in up to 300 eggs placed on carefully cleaned, flat rocks. Once spawned, both the male and female will protect and fan the eggs to stave off any predators and keep water circulating.

Keyhold Cichlids are omnivorous and will eat most prepared and frozen foods. For optimal health, they should be fed a varied diet of freeze-dried bloodworms, tubifex, crustaceans, shrimp, flakes, and Cichlid pellets.

Keyhole Cichlid
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The Green Terror requires an aquarium of at least 50 gallons, with a sandy bottom, and rock work that will provide plenty of hiding spots. Live plants should be planted in pots to protect the roots from these fish. The Green Terror is generally peaceful with other fish of similar size, but can get more territorial as it matures.

The Green Terror is an open-breeder and will accept a range of water conditions. The Green Terror readily pairs and the female will take the bigger role in raising the fry. The female will lay the eggs on a cleaned, flat rock. They will spawn about every two weeks if the young are removed from the aquarium.

The Green Terror is omnivorous and will eat most prepared and frozen foods, including freeze-dried bloodworms, tubifex, and ocean plankton, as well as flake food and Cichlid pellets.

Green Terror
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The Uaru Cichlid requires a minimum aquarium size of 70 gallons or more with a fine gravel bottom. Plenty of rocks, driftwood and even flowerpots are recommended for hiding. They are a peaceful fish that is territorial and rarely aggressive, except during spawning. It can easily be kept with other medium-sized cichlids such as Convicts, Firemouths, and Parrots.

It is difficult to differentiate between the male and female Uaru Cichlid. It is best to incorporate 4 to 6 juveniles into an aquarium and allow them to pair off. They will form lasting pairs and make a nuclear family. The fry are usually well cared for, but the parents may eat some of them. Water should have a pH of 5.5 to 7.0 with an ideal temperature of 79-83°F. Uaru Cichlid are open breeders and the female will drop from 100 to 1000 eggs. The female will circulate water over the eggs by fanning them with her fins, carefully guarding them in pits. After hatching, the fry will feed upon the slime coat of the parents until they become large enough to accept prepared foods. Feed the fry baby brine shrimp, ground flake foods and other foods designed for freshwater fry.

Uaru Cichlids are omnivores, and will eat most prepared and frozen foods, including freeze-dried bloodworms, tubifex, and ocean plankton, as well as flake food and Cichlid pellets.

Uaru Cichlid
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The Double Full Red Agassizi Cichlid should be kept in an aquarium that is 30 gallons minimum, with densely planted groupings. They require plenty of open swimming areas but also need hiding places. A fine gravel to sand substrate is recommended. Although a semi-aggressive fish, they are also timid and should not be housed with large, aggressive fish. They require good water conditions, and regular water changes are a must.

The Double Full Red Agassizi Cichlid is an egg layer that prefers to spawn within a cave. Once the female has laid her eggs, the male will follow to fertilize them. After fertilization, the male then leaves the brood for the female to tend to. The fry will be free swimming within seven to ten days, at which time they should be fed newly hatched brine shrimp. They are a fast growing species, and the fry will reach sexual maturity in about five months.

The Double Full Red Agassizi Cichlid is a carnivore, and will consume a wide variety of foods. Freeze-dried bloodworms and tubifex, flake food, and both frozen and live brine shrimp and worms will make excellent food for these fish.

Double Full Red Agassizi Cichlid
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The Red Oscar requires a large aquarium of at least 70 gallons with a deep sand bottom and a few large rocks. They will dig up plants; so any that are in the tank should be potted with the root surfaces covered with rocks. Using floating plants is a good compromise to this problem. Tiny Oscars form a tight cluster for protection and this is normal behavior for juvenile fish. Large Oscars are not as territorial as most other cichlids when full grown but will consume anything they can fit into their mouths.

A large tank should be used for breeding, as much as 100 gallons if possible. The Red Oscar will spawn in soft or hard water as long as it is clean and clear and has a temperature between 79-86°F. The female will lay from 1,000-2,000 eggs on rocks that have been carefully cleaned. The eggs are opaque at first, turning transparent in 24 hours. The brood will be carefully guarded and cared for and the fry will be kept in pits and may even be covered. When they are free-swimming, the fry should be fed Cyclops. Sometimes the fry will cling to their parents.

The Red Oscar is a carnivore that is a predaceous and hearty eater. Oscars will eat a variety of meaty foods, including small fish and earthworms, Cichlid pellets, larger flake food, ocean plankton, bloodworms, and tubifex worms.

Red Oscar
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The Panda Dwarf Cichlid should be kept in an aquarium that is 30 gallons minimum, with densely planted groupings. They require plenty of open swimming areas but also need hiding places. A fine gravel to sand substrate is recommended. Although a semi-aggressive fish, they are also timid and should not be housed with large, aggressive fish. They require good water conditions, and regular water changes are a must.

The Panda Dwarf Cichlid is an egg layer that prefers to spawn within a cave. Once the female has laid her eggs, the male will follow to fertilize them. After fertilization, the male then leaves the brood for the female to tend to. The fry will be free swimming within seven to ten days, at which time they should be fed newly hatched brine shrimp. They are a fast growing species, and the fry will reach sexual maturity in about five months.

The Panda Dwarf Cichlid is a carnivore, and will consume a wide variety of foods. Freeze-dried bloodworms and tubifex, flake food, and both frozen and live brine shrimp and worms will make excellent food for these fish.

Panda Dwarf Cichlid
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The Black Stripe Dwarf Cichlid should be kept in a tank that is 30 gallons minimum, with densely planted groupings. They require plenty of open swimming areas but also need hiding places. A fine gravel to sand substrate is recommended. Although a semi-aggressive fish, they are also timid and should not be housed with large, aggressive fish. They require good water conditions, and regular water changes are a must.

The Black Stripe Dwarf Cichlid is an egg layer that prefers to spawn on the underside of leaves or pieces of driftwood. Once the female has laid her eggs, the male will follow to fertilize them. After fertilization, the male then leaves the brood for the female to tend to. The fry will be free swimming within seven to ten days, at which time they should be fed newly hatched brine shrimp. They are a fast growing species, and the fry will reach sexual maturity in about five months.

The Black Stripe Dwarf Cichlid is a carnivore, and will consume a wide variety of foods. Freeze-dried bloodworms and tubifex, flake food, and both frozen and live brine shrimp and worms will make excellent food for these fish.

Black Stripe Dwarf Cichlid
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