5 Reasons to NOT Keep African Cichlids [and 5 Reason Why You Should!]

[@brianp6180]

You nailed it! I kept community fish for years and was getting bored with them. Almost 3 years ago I started a peacock / hap tank. I love them but as you said there are down sides. I have had 2 fish killed over night. Not sure who did the deed. Tank seems to be stabilized now. I have some minor scuffles but so far for 6 months no deaths! Still the benefits out way the negative side. What a blast 💥 they have rejuvenated my fish keeping hobby. Most colorful freshwater fish you can get except maybe discus and some South American cichlids

[@dcsafricancichlids7109]

Rejuvenation for me too...

[@dhammaboy1203]

100% you do go through shitty days with African Cichlids - esp when a favorite dies! Like you I’m finding 18 months in things are settling in (fingers crossed) and the tanks working. No major aggression issues & a good boss. 🤞🏻

[@100bgeagle]

Never kept saltwater fish!

[@robertsowinski164]

11 of my 50 tank addiction ( 10 more to still set up are African and So. American cichlids. 4 are grow out. Next few tanks being set up including two more 125 gallon and 180 gallon are going to be cichlids as well. Just too beautiful and I love watching especially the mouth brooders reproduce my brochardi have absolutely exploded in their 110 gallon. Just can't stop

[@llomax1067]

I started with a 55 and went straight to a 220.....now i have 7 tanks..... So addictive lol

[@chicanitajaquez2678]

Love your channel and all your knowledge on fish 🐠

[@C.L412]

I love Cichlids South or African. I appreciate the info this is a huge hobby for me I have both currently but may have ran in trouble with the Convicts there is babies everywhere and the male ended up killing the female for some reason and I am not a cruel person so idk what to do. The place I take bigger fish when they out grow my tank like Bela Sharks won't take all this fry. So I've fed some to the bigger African Cichlids but honestly like 80 babies so confused thought they should only produce 20 to 40.

[@eues803]

Hello Ben, I always watch yr videos, and enjoy them a lot, this video was very good we are probably the same age, I got into this hobby when I was 13 years old and still love it with 64 years, just like you, I already had almost all types of fishes, hope you reach 50 thousand subscribers very soon, keep going on ( Me from Portugal).

[@cichlid_kings]

Totally agree without a doubt. African Cichlid addiction 🙋‍♂️ 💯 Multi Tank Syndrome 🙋‍♂️ 💯 Does fish keeping help with relaxation 🙋‍♂️ 💯

[@TheOfficialSteelReign]

I have never caught the African Cichlid bug. I tried them once. Just a bunch of Assorted African Cichlids from PetSmart, but they didn't do anything for me. I know it's not technically an African, but I really REALLY want to try my hand at a Starry Night Cichlid (Paratilapia polleni).

[@BenOchart]

That’s a beautiful fish and I really miss mine

[@CC.Custom.Leatherworks]

So far, holding steady with a 90 gal of African Cichlids and 55 of tropicals. -- but after discovering your youtube channel - well expansion seems inevitable! Does bring up a question. So... my africans are in the process of growing out. Do they or do they not continue to grow (ie. venuses, peacocks, mbunas) or will they stop due to the size tank they are in, and growth be stunted? I keep thinking when the time comes, will get the larger tank... Hard to be sure but in just a year, most have grown out from the 55 gal to maybe 3 or more inches while in the 90 gal. since Dec! Also they fish all seem to be very much at peace with each other (for now) including a mix of some tiger barbs, and rainbows, and buenos aires tetras. Not what I consider overstocked but pretty much at its limit accounting for more growth... If they have been tank mates for years, does it go without saying that there will still be vicious fights to be expected as they come into breeding dress at a certain age? - I use to keep a wide variety together and the agression seemed to cancel each other out, but mabye they were still too young to really engage in that behavior...I've yet to have experienced much agression to the degree I hear at times in the fish keeping community.

[@RoccosVideos]

They’re beautiful fish but I’m always worried about agression with cichlids. Maybe one day though. ❤️🐟

[@seansquill8773]

Hey Mr B Great valid points on both the pros and the cons…but I have to disagree in the sense that this doesn’t only apply to Africans! Americans, both Central & South carry a lot of the same traits. I used to look at my juvie South American tank when they were small and say wow this tank never gets dirty💩 🤣🤣🤣 Give it time, give it time!!! Mid age and Adult South and Central to me is about equally a hand full as keeping Africans. Beautiful, but still that chance of the little fish Brain switch going off, especially Centrals like Vieja Species….in my experience they were more aggressive than my Haps, Peacocks, or Mbuna Cichlids…🤯 When my Argentea while being one of the nicest fish I’ve ever kept, killed my Green Terror and almost everything else in the tank… it just set me off on a different path to pretty much where I am now. I don’t keep Africans or Centrals anymore, not because of anything other than I find my South Americans to just be my sweet spot for me in the Hobby right now. That could change in time. But At the moment very much enjoying my Geos, Severums, Albino Hecklii, and my new found love for Uaru….namely Pandas🐼 That’s the great think about this hobby, the variety is just awesome!

[@BenOchart]

Good points!

[@Neoncaffeine]

aggression is why i left, but i recently got back into them within the past few years, just been working with (less) aggressive species. used to have an auratus who tormented anything that wasn't a pleco or catfish for 12 years.

[@BenOchart]

Auratus are true bullies.

[@Stephen333]

My apologies if you have said this already, but what IS going in the 300 gallon?

[@BenOchart]

Still haven’t decided. I made some progress with the plumbing…it’s a long haul

[@chicanitajaquez2678]

Hello 👋🏽 can u please answer my question 🙋🏻‍♀️ I have 3 goldfish I purchased 3 years ago. They where small and now they have grown a lot beautiful my fish Now I have them in a 2 gallon tank I change the water every 2 weeks and I always use water bottles. I have no filter either. Now can I change the tank up? An add a filtration filter? I’m scared if I change the way they been living these pass 3 years, they will die on me Please give me advice Thank you 🙏🏽

[@BenOchart]

They’ll enjoy a bigger tank. In the meantime keep doing what you’ve been doing and perhaps add a small “nano” sponge filter like this one www.aquariumcoop.com/products/aquarium-co-op-coarse-sponge-filter?variant=29459429228613

[@chicanitajaquez2678]

@@BenOchart Thank you so much I so will go out an look to buy one

[@patrickwilliams711]

Pj aqua maintenance I help me relax , it release a lot of stress from a long at work. I currently have 8 tanks . From fresh water African cichlids , discus. And marine fish. Love the hobby so much , it’s part of my business. I been in the hobby since 1979. My first tank was a 55 metal frame tank . Remember them days , under gravel filter . The best hobby in the world .

[@tylerplante7073]

Its by far one of the funner hobbies.

[@Joes_Aquatics]

I love those lemon Jake’s

[@mraquaticnews5676]

MTS really is a good disease to have!! Good points covered!

[@HalfManHalfCichlid]

I started my transition away from Africans about 6 years ago. I find other Cichlids live a lot longer and don't die prematurely from aggression and dietary problems (bloat, wasting). I love planted tanks with cichlids which doesn't work with Africans. I find the shapes, varieties and colors of non Africans to be at least as good as Africans. It seemed like whenever an African reached maturity and beyond they would be killed by the younger "upstarts". I love older cichlids (non Africans) which have matured and have taken on nuchal humps, mature coloration and have become favorite pets.

[@lewisspeed3041]

African cichlids are the best fish,at least for me.

[@robertjohnston25]

I’ve been keeping lake malawi cichlids for about 3 1/2 years and for me the most annoying part is when a male decides he wants 1/2 or more of the tank to try and breed (even in an all male tank) I’ve contemplated rehoming these fish more in the last year for that reason alone. It sucks to see my tank full of beautiful fish all pushed to one 3 foot side of my 6 foot tank cuz one wants to breed.

[@CypressPhotoStudio]

🦈🦈🦈

[@patrickklima8152]

Love the video and info Ben are you gonna still send me some stickers for my car been waiting since oct please and ty

[@100bgeagle]

I want stickers too!!

[@BenOchart]

What! Send me your full name and mailing address to [e-mail] and I’ll get you some.

[@BenOchart]

Just send me your full name and mailing address to [e-mail] and I’ll get you some.

[@bayou504ctcL9]

The only African cichlids I keep is Polleni n red jewel and dats because they are not mouth brooders, I luv to see S.American n central cichlids lay eggs and the way they care and protect and raise they're fry . I'm not into stripping or tumblers, so those guys I cant get into

[@redbeardeddragon3405]

I don't even have a fish tank anymore LOL but I love fish tank talk. In my head I have a lot of fish tanks. LOL

[@BenOchart]

Nothing wrong with imagination 🤣

[@matman429]

Yeh Make me not get them haha.Seriously tho i havent kept cichlids for like 20 years and I thought the other day boy i miss my cichlids.So im building a new stand and tank and filling it with African cichlids.I started with South American cichlids years ago than i moved away and sold the lot.Ive never had African cichlids so I thought why not.

[@steverogers9275]

I would say that the 5 reasons not to keep them are aggression, aggression, aggression, aggression, and aggression. :) Yet after 40 years, I still keep them for their color which is unmatched in the fish world. I just keep a large number of big tanks to deal with it. Not sure that I agree that breeding is a positive though. Why? It leads to more aggression.

[@BenOchart]

It’s a positive if it’s something you want only because of their unique way of doing it (mouth brooding). Personally I have always had all male tanks.

[@Cichlid_4_ever]

Aggression absolutely especially when they work for months then one day decide to turn on each other. Sad days when they happen 😔😔

[@kiprianwarren6353]

"Cost...you're going to want one of every kind". Jeez, I feel seen.

[@chicanitajaquez2678]

Did u get a chance to read my question on my 3 gold fish 🐟 please help It’s down below

[@rodneudavis7317]

Why do they yawn all the time? I heard even scientists don't know why.

[@BenOchart]

Sleepy? 🤣

[@markbaumgardt2868]

Why should I not keep African chichlids try and stop me 😄😄

[@100bgeagle]

Attitude just like African chiclids, ahhhh!

[@BenOchart]

🤣🤣🤣

[@markbaumgardt2868]

They say you become like your pets

[@Tony-yy9cc]

Why would u tell me how much money i can spend, that's up to me not you, if i want to spend it's none of your business, and No i'm not subscribing to support you

[@chicanitajaquez2678]

Love your channel and all your knowledge on fish 🐠