Why do my African Cichlids keep moving the gravel in my aquarium?

Answer 1

Nesting perhaps, Hunting is another possibility, though they are nearly endless, my pseudotropheus just build hills sometimes for decoration.

Understanding what your fish is doing is key to helping it live a healthy lifestyle. Many african cichlids, particularly mbunas are not from very sandy locations within the lakes, but live within rock structures. Digging by mbunas is generally acknowledged to be behavioral more than natural, and the cichlid is trying to allow itself access to a cave or chasm like structure which would take place of wild specimens natural habitat.

If your aquarium is lacking in caves or general hiding spots for your fish, almost any African Cichlid will dig itself a ditch. They're extremely territorial fish, and need territory to hold. Many people will offer the suggestions of bare tanks to house communities of same species cichlids (holding tanks) which normally would find an unruly and violent demise in a tank with substrate, by removing sand for them to dig in, by keeping them from ornaments, there is no territory to hold, therefore no territorial disputes. This has many obvious flaws and frankly sounds robust and eccentric to me... But I guess people do it, and it's shown this, so we must respect that with lack of territory the fish has less violent outbreaks.

Nesting for cichlids generally does not happen in substrate, if your cichlids appear to be nesting (Preparing a location for 1) spawning and 2) care for their young) then you're not doing it right. More to the point, you've failed to adequately provide them a solid smoothe surface in which to use. This is easily remedied by the addition of a solid smoothe surface into your aquarium.

Remember any new ornaments must be chemically inert, VERY clean, and preferably cured in old tank water before adding it to your aquarium.

However the possibility exists that it does not wish to nest. Other african cichlids like Nimbochromis (Haplochromis) venustus, are known ambush predators who will burrow a ditch into substrate near juvenile cichlids, return later, play dead for a brief time span trying to attract young fish, to attack quickly and precisely. This behavior in these fish is everyday occurance, they will dig in numerous places in your aquarium and you definately would want to give them small grained substrate to avoid injuries from them brushing against gravel.

As mentioned in my opening I have a pseudotropheus who is meticulous about his digging. He has fine sand substrate in his aquarium, and has been known to within 2 hours build a hill against the glass 5-6" high, excavating beneath a stump ornament for maximum space efficiency, and will do this every time I clean or move the ornament. Since this cichlid is so agressive it is the most efficient way to put him in a corner when he's misbehaving... move the stump and he'll dig for 2 hours.

To be blunt, there's no way to truly tell why your fish is digging until we know what kind of fish is actually digging.

Answer 2

Cichlid Aquarium Rocks

Answer 3

Aquarium Rocks For Cichlids

Answer 4

This is common with the African cichlids. Some i've had in the past seem to like to rearrange the furniture. They were quite intense about staking out their territory and guarding it. They seem to relish being busy all the time. Try putting some "safe" rocks or stones in the tank. They will quickly start claiming the rocks.

Answer 5

Its part of their wild behavior. First i advise you to silicone or fasten your rocks that are stacked together because i have witnessed a 108 gallon tank smashed from the cichilids moving rocks in the tank. They do this to establish their territory and mark their area. The couples will do this with gravel to make a nest for all their eggs. The best way to do this is give them a clay flower pot (terracotta) and leave it on it's side, and they will most likely abandon their messy habits and be quite happy with the flowerpot

Answer 6

Its normal. Sometimes I'll be sitting in my room and I'll hear something loud. Its the fish knocking over the root structure in the tank. They rip up the fake plants, move the root structure, move the thermometer, try to move the filter pickup, and the heater. Evil, messy things

Answer 7

It's a nesting behavior. If they are going to lay eggs or not, they still prepare a den.

Answer 8

What would you do if you where trapped in a glass prison?

Answer 9

they are diggers, do some research
e-mail me if you want

Answer 10

there rearranging there house