Watch BEFORE Buying African Cichlids - Beginners Guide

I get a lot of questions regarding African cichlids. This is a beginners guide to give people new to African cichlids some tips and pointers on what to do, as well as what not to do.

#africancichlids #aquariumfish #tazawatanks

Mail To:
Tazawa Tanks
58 West Portal Ave 235
San Francisco, CA 94127

Disclaimer: This video and description may contain affiliate links.

[TazawaTanks]

Thank you to my channel sponsors and supporters, Aquarium Co-op, Xtreme Aquatic Foods, and Fritz Aquatics.

To see the products in this video and to shop for Xtreme fish foods and Fritz Aquatics, shop here: www.aquariumcoop.com

[poppyseedxx]

I prefer community fish with planted tanks personally, but African Cichlids are beautiful. I love watching them and I give props for those keeping them. ♥

[leel]

Good stuff. I am recommending Cichlids to a new-bee and shared your video with them. Cichlids are wonderfully unique and worth the effort. When I had my 55gal Cichlid tank, I was lucky enough to have a mating pair and it was amazing to watch the female hold the fry in her mouth for so long. About 5% of the fry survived and the tank population grew at a nice pace. I built about a dozen "apartment" units for them using slate and flat river rocks, in rough a pyramidal shape. Only plastic plants and an "over-the-back" bio-filter system, as they dig like crazy and make an under-gravel filter system a bad choice. I'll get back to them again someday.

[huntascott]

I'm a beginner, but did grow up with my mum having about as many tanks as you, I love all ur fish, U do such an amazing job, thankyou for all the tips !!

[TheOrdinaryGamertag]

I have to admit African Cichlids has never been my thing but I've always liked the way you keep them

[tobek]

Great advice to go slow. Excellent reminder that those beautiful, successful mixed tanks come after putting in the time learning the fish individually. We should be building confidence and experience with the fish and not just jump in.

[michaelb]

Love my mbuna and peacock cichlids. They get along great in my 55 gallon. Little to no aggression, just have to overstock. I do a water change once every two weeks.

[katiewood]

I think I got lucky that I was very poor when I got my first Africans since I could only get a few. 12 years later I have just 1 maingano male( he is 12 this year). He is beautiful but won't tolerate any others in his tank. This advise would have been great when I was just starting.

[dascudder]

Just the video I was looking for. Thank you

[shane]

Not many people keep it real like this, great job.

[brianp]

Great advice! I did exactly what you said when I set up my 1st African cichlid tank 2 years ago. I kept community fish for decades but I wanted a challenge. I bought a 125g tank and slowly added fish over time. You are right some fish just won’t get along. I advise if you keep these fish have a back up plan. You will probably have to pull a fish or 2 out. Keep a cycled tank handy just in case ! Or have a lfs that will take on refugees! 😂

[yates]

Awesome video! I set up a 40 breeder African Cichlid tank in my dining room, I added 4 fish initially. I will be waiting a month or two until I add 3-4 more of similar size. I bought small ones and they are like $10 a piece now, so I will be patient so I don't waste money. I made that mistake years ago of adding like 15-20 African Cichlids of various species to a 38 gallon tank, I pretty much lost 3/4 of the fish within a few weeks and it wasn't a fun experience.

[williamwood]

Cool and timely info for me, thanks!!

[reginaphalanges]

Excellent video, Zenzo, you really made excellent points! I liked how you made the analogy with keeping a Cane Corso in an apartment vs a Chihuahua. I can't keep large tanks where I live, currently, so my African Cichlid tank is a Caudopunctatus home and they spawn! There's a cichlid for almost any size aquarium.

[Ripsaw]

I love all cichlids have always had at least one tank with them in it I go out ever week to find ones that have colors i have never seen have a few that took a long time to find you are right take your time and make sure you know the care it will take for the fish and if there compatible with the fish already have

[rockfella]

Thanks. Stocking list out of window. Will follow your advice.

[umersaleem]

I kept african cichlids for over a year. Mbunas for the most part were really aggressive and didnt get along with the peacocks. I re homed all the mbunas and kept only male peacocks for a while until the aggression was just too much to handle. I have now converted my 75 gallon african cichlid tank to a mixed reef. Lol. Listen to Tazawa people. His knowledge is on point.

[mrek]

A new subscriber, but a huge fan. Beautiful aquariums. I have kept tropical fish since I was 9 - over 40 years now. However, your knowledge is incredible.

[yahirmendoza]

Thx for the vid ima keep researching:)

[Skysfishbowl]

I’m so excited but at the same time I’m so scared for my first cichlid tank. But I have learned patience with this hobby is the most important thing you need..