And also, is it OK to feed them guppies? I have two large african cichlids and one large south american cichlid. Thanks.
2007-02-28 13:18:19 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
Cichlids just love to rearrange their tanks, it's totally normal and nothing to worry abot or that you can stop. They will always do it.
You can feed them guppies, but be aware that the guppies could carry a fish disease into your tank. That's always a risk with feeder fish unless you raise them yourself.
MM
2007-02-28 13:26:27 · answer #1 · answered by magicman116 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Digging is as natural to a Cichlids as it is to a prairie dog. At least the African cichlids we get from pet stores. I'm sure they will eat the guppies, but I agree with the others that say not a good idea. Not worth the risk of "bugs."
Good Luck - - enjoy! They are beautiful fish.
2007-02-28 21:38:01 · answer #2 · answered by Joy K 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i wish i could get my cichlids to stop moving plants around, but it is in thier nature, if you like an orderly tank, there are plants that grow in wood and in rocks that might work well, but they will still get at them
african cichlids come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but i assume yours are Mbuna (rockdwellers) which are the ones that are sold as mixed africans, usually yellow or blue striped sometimes peach, Mbuna are all obligate herbivores, and in the wild they wrasp algae off of rocks, that being said, they cant tolerate alot of meat protein. guppies are hard on thier kidneys and arent a good diet choice
your south american cichlid is most likely an insectivore, so guppies arent a far stretch for them, but as magicman said, have guppies , have parasites, bacteria, ich worms etc.
i strongly suggest you find out the species you have, they are so much more fun when you actually know what yoru keeping and know what they like individually
2007-02-28 21:32:33 · answer #3 · answered by drezdogge 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They can't help it. They got the interior decorator gene. "I think it will look good over there..... no, wait... how about here?...... there? .... okay, move it over there...." While cichlids do like certain meaty foods, of which live fish can be one, you would need to be absolutely certain that they were extremely healthy, thus, you might just be better off feeding them foods such as brine shrimp, blood worms, and quality flake or pellet food. Don't forget that they also need foods containing vegetable matter such as dark green lettuces, spinach, cucumber, zucchini, etc.
2007-02-28 21:43:58 · answer #4 · answered by Venice Girl 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
it is about useless to have plants in the tank they are diggers you will be fighting this from now on try creating little cubbies for him to hide in it is more to the natural habitate they are use to
2007-03-04 13:49:52 · answer #5 · answered by JENNIFER H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its in their nature. mine killed all the plants. i also fed guppies, its good for them but it makes them more aggressive.
2007-02-28 22:10:38 · answer #6 · answered by bebop_groove_bonanza 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋