South American Cichlids

Scientific Name	English Name	French Name
Amatitlania nigrofasciata	Black Convict	Convict noir
Geophagus steindachneri	Géophage a bosse rouge	Red Hump Geophagus
Nandopsis salvini	Salvini	Salvini
Pterophyllum scalare	Marble Angelfish	Ange marbré
Pterophyllum sp.	Angelfish	ange
Symphysodon aequifasciatus	Blue Diamond Discus	Discus "Blue Diamond"
Symphysodon aequifasciatus	Red-Blue Pigeon Blood Discus	Discus"Pigeon Blood"
Symphysodon sp.	Discus	Discus

South American Cichlids are available to the fish hobbyist is a great many different sizes, shapes and temperaments. Many of the best known are moderate to large fish that are often not suitable to be kept with the commonly known community style fish. This is mainly due to the fact that cichlids, on the whole, are at or near the top of the food chain in their particular niche. Smaller fish, as well as many other organisms are their natural prey.

South American cichlids are quite well represented throughout South and Central America. They offer a wide variety of different species. One main group, the dwarf cichlids are treated separately since their main temperaments are passive and shy. In addition they are noticeably smaller than most of the species that have classically been classified as South American.

Like all cichlids, the South American species reproduce by laying eggs and usually jealously protect them. These security duties are normally split between both the male and female. During a spawning, even the most passive species suddenly becomes very protective of their chosen area. The pair usually becomes quite aggressive towards all the other inhabitants in the aquarium. It is not strange to have a spawning pair appropriate as much of the aquarium capacity as they can control. The pair will take up housekeeping around its breeding structure, often a flat rock, shallow depression or even a plant leaf and protect the area from any invasion. This can result in the breeding pair "owning three quarters of the aquarium, and the rest of the occupants forced to live in the remaining quarter the pair cannot control.

The list of South American cichlids is quite long, with many popular fish included. There have been over 200 species identified with estimates that list could be increased by half again as new species are discovered in the far backwaters of the continent. Most of these cichlids call the Amazon basin their home. The fish that belong to this group are extremely diverse, they include such warm water fish as the Angels and Discus which are very tall thin fish. Other familiar species include the Oscar, Firemouth, Festivum and Severum.

More exotic names like Jack Dempsey, Red Devil and Green Terror are also found in the waters of the South American continent. These fish often have dazzling colours. The names are generally well deserved. They can be so aggressive they will chase and kill any fish placed in the tank with them.

There are also "dirt eaters" - the Geophagus species. These work the bottom for their nutrition. These are quite interesting to watch as they work through the gravel of an aquarium searching for that last little bit of food that may have otherwise been overlooked.

With this massive diversity, it is impossible to lump all these species into a distinct typical fish from this group. Size, shape and even nutritional requirements are all a function of a very diverse river eco-system, and many have identified and exploited particular niches in their native habitat. Some comments can be made, although there are always exceptions:

• They are often at the top of the food chain
• The larger species are often quite aggressive with more passive fish.
• It is important to know the basic characteristics of the species before adding it to an established aquarium. Many small fry will grow alarmingly large in a short period and can decimate a passive community.
• They all have teeth
• Most are excellent parents with well defined courtship and parental behaviour

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