South American cichlids are one of the most beautiful aqua pets among aquarists. Interestingly, these are not a specific specie but collections of different South American species. This article will address their basic introduction and the top 5 species to keep in the tank. Moreover, you’ll also learn about the South American cichlid tank setup and when to add them to the tank. Let’s scroll down the page to learn more.
Content Table
South American Cichlid
There are 225 known South American cichlid species out of 300 expected species.
South American cichlid tank
Distribution and Habitat
It’s a diverse group of freshwater fish, except one, native to central and south American regions. The exception is native to California’s Salton Sea, which has higher salinity than the sea. About 75% of all South American cichlid species are distributed around the Amazon River basin.
Size and Nature
These fish are aquarist favorites due to the variety of size, i.e., from small to large, and variety of nature, i.e., peaceful to aggressive. Top all variety of colors are available among different species.
Dietary
Their diet option varies due to higher species count. Some species are herbivores, others are carnivores and omnivores. However, most of the species are opportunistic carnivores.
Top 5 South American Cichlids for Keeping in Tanks
Here are the top 5 South American Cichlids to keep in the tank with proper habitat conditions and other salient parameters.
Green Terror Cichlid
Andinoacara rivulatus, or green terror cichlid, is a beautiful, striking color fish. These lush creatures are native to Peru and Ecuador. Primarily, they are silver and green. However, pink and purple are the other shades that you can experience in them. Their diet includes pellet food, frozen bloodworms, mysis shrimp, brine shrimps, and other live food options.
| Feature | Value |  |
| Size | Male: 12 inches Female: 4–5 inches |
|
| Behavior | >Aggressive and territorial | |
| Dietary | Omnivorous | |
| pH | 5.0–7.5 | |
| Hardness | 0–12°H | |
| Temperature | 25–30°C (76–86°F) | |
| Suitable Tank Size | At least 70-gallon | |
| Life | 7 to 10 years |
German Ram Cichlid
German Ram cichlids are astonishing and colorful freshwater fish. These fish have a blue body that gradually changes into greenish-blue on moving to the tail. They have red fins, and dorsal fins have black spots on them. These red or orange-eyed fish have rich dark or dark purple throats. They are native to the Orinoco River basin in the Llanos savanna of Colombia and Venezuela.
| Feature | Value |  |
| Size | 2 to 3 inches | |
| Behavior | Peaceful | |
| Dietary | Omnivorous | |
| pH | Ideally 6 – 6.5 | |
| Hardness | 2–10 dGH | |
| Temperature | 26–30°C (78–86°F) | |
| Suitable Tank Size | At least 20-gallon | |
| Life | On average 2 to 3 years |
Angelfish
Angelfish is another one of the best South American cichlids for fish tanks. They come in various colors, i.e., sliver body with strips, bright yellow, and pitch black. Angelfish is an exception, with a beautiful marble pattern for your cichlid tank. They have various species that are equally present in saltwater and freshwater. Here are some other properties.
| Feature | Value |  |
| Size | 6 inches | |
| Behavior | Generally peaceful, but aggressive during the breeding period | |
| Dietary | Omnivorous | |
| pH | Ideally 6.0 – 7.5 | |
| Hardness | 3–8° dKH | |
| Temperature | 24–29°C (75–84°F) | |
| Suitable Tank Size | At least 20-gallon | |
| Life | 8 -15 years |
Discus fish
The beauty with tons of coloration is another South American cichlid for your tank. They come in shades of brown, blue, heckle, and green. These discus fish love to habitat in the slow-moving Amazon basin in Colombia, Peru, and Brazil. They house in flooded forests and floodplain lakes of the lowland Amazon and its tributaries.
| Feature | Value |  |
| Size | 4.8 – 6.0 inches | |
| Behavior | Generally peaceful, but aggressive during the breeding period | |
| Dietary | Omnivorous | |
| pH | 6.0 – 7.0 | |
| Hardness | 1° – 4° dKH | |
| Temperature | 27–29°C (82 – 86° F) | |
| Suitable Tank Size | At least 75-gallon | |
| Life | On average 10 years |
Oscar Fish
The other name of this South American cichlid is Oscar cichlid fish. The various colors make them famous among aquarists, i.e., orange, red, black, blue, and yellow. Pitch black and absolution white Oscars are also available. They live in the Orinoco and Amazon Rivers and are distributed in Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Paraguay, Brazil, and Venezuela.
| Feature | Value |  |
| Size | 10 – 12 inches | |
| Behavior | Semi-aggressive and territorial | |
| Dietary | Omnivorous | |
| pH | 6.0 – 7.5 | |
| Hardness | 5.591 – 11.181° dKH | |
| Temperature | 23–27°C (74–81°F) | |
| Suitable Tank Size | At least 75-gallon | |
| Life | 10 – 20 years |
South American Cichlid Tank Setup
South American cichlid tank setup takes many considerations. The setup procedure is the same for all tank sizes, i.e., 55-gallon, 75-gallon, 100-gallon, 120-gallon, etc. Therefore, firstly, you’ll learn about tank size selection and, later on, set up the procedure.
Tank Size
Tank size depends on the size and temperament of the fish. Territorial cichlid fish should be kept in a large tank to avoid bad sceneries.
| Size | Suitability | Types of Fish |
| 55-gallon | Small fish | Apistogramma, Nannacara, Ivanacara |
| 75-gallon | Medium Fish | Blue acara, Convict cichlid, Jack Dempsey |
| 100-gallon | Large fish or community tank | Green Terrors, Jaguar Cichlid, Severum |
| 120-gallon | Large fish or community tank or aqua-scaping tank | Green Terrors, Jaguar Cichlids, different size fish |
Tank Styles
Different styles help create a variety of environments for your cichlid fish and also help bring some change in the space where the tank is placed. Here are some famous tank styles that you can create in a South American cichlid tank.
Biotop Tank Styles
To create a biotop style, use the fish-native rocks, plants, and substrates. It’ll feel like the fish at home. However, it requires some extra effort for proper maintenance. Therefore, follow the style if you have enough time and experience.
Community Style
It’s another veteran tank style. Different fish species and other aqua pets that can co-exist in nature live in a tank.
Planted Tank
Planted tank is another great option for creating multiple styles in your tank. However, it’s worth noting that cichlids are aggressive toward plants and can uproot them. Therefore, use such plants that can withstand their aggression.
South American Cichlid Tank
Substrate
You can experiment with various substrates in a South American cichlid tank. However, sand and gravel require some extra attention. There is a difference of opinion between both these. Some experts prefer gravel, as they love to dig in it. Others say large-grain sand is better as it avoids stirring and cloudiness in the water.
However, mixing the crushed coral with gravel is another option. Lay a 2-4” depth in your tank to provide a solid foundation for your plants and cope with their digging habit.
Rocks
Other than creating tank style, rocks also help inhabitants. They help to set boundaries and provide hiding spots in the tank. Moreover, they also affect water parameters. Therefore, here are some options you need to consider while selecting rocks.
| Limestone Rocks | Colorado River Rock | Caribsea South Sea Base Rock |
| Lava Rocks | Texas Holey Rock | Seiryu Stone Aqua Natural |
Equipment
Different equipment for a proper South American cichlid tank. Here is the list of some equipment.
Filter
It should filter at least 10 to 15 times the total volume in one hour. For a 55-gallon, you need at least a 550-gallon per hour capacity filter. Similarly, multiply the tank size by 10 for 75-gallon, 100-gallon, and 120-gallon tanks.
Heater
Install a fully submersible heater with a thermostat to maintain the water temperature. A 5-watt per gallon heater for a South American cichlid tank, i.e., 275-watt heater for a 55-gallon tank. The same goes for 75-gallon, 100-gallon, and 120-gallon tanks.
Lighting
Several lighting options are available for South American cichlid tanks, but LED light is top of all. It doesn’t add heat to the tank, different from fluorescent and T5HO lighting. However, select a light according to the depth, species, and tank style, i.e., bare bottom or planted tank.
Set Up South American Cichlid Tank
Airstone
Airstone helps to improve the aeration of the tank. It is suitable for large tanks, i.e., 75-gallon, 100-gallon, and 120-gallon tanks. However, you can add it according to the requirement.
pH Buffer or Cichlid Mineral Salt
If you haven’t installed limestone rocks, you need to maintain the hardness of the tank’s water. For its maintenance, use pH buffer or cichlid mineral salt.
Testing Kit
You always need to be aware of your tank condition. Therefore, buy different testing, maintenance, and cleaning tool kits.
Water Parameters
Water parameters are something that closely adheres to fish species. You need to maintain their ideal and optimal water parameters to avoid any inconvenience in the tank.
Tank Setup
Here is a step-by-step procedure to set up your tank.
- Sketch your tank on paper after proper research.
- Gather all of the required items.
- Place the tank in a place that is away from direct sunlight and a sturdy and hard surface.
- Thoroughly rinse the tank.
- Install a 2 – 4 inches deep substrate.
- Install rocks and decorations according to your design.
- Plant suitable plants in the tank.
- Slowly fill the tank with water to avoid disturbance in the substrate.
- Install the all equipements, i.e., filter, airstone, etc.
- Cycle the tank for 4 to 6 weeks to establish proper water parameters.
South American cichlid tank setup
When to Put South American Cichlid in the Tank After Set Up
It’s not simple to add your South American cichlid to the tank. It needs to address various aspects, like cycling the tank and correctly introducing the South American cichlid in the tank.
How to Introduce the Aqua Pets in the Tank?
Cycle your tank to establish proper water parameters, especially nitrogen.
- Fill the tank with de-chlorinated water.
- Start filter and heater.
- Introduce ammonia or fish food in the tank to initiate the cycle.
- Introduce beneficial bacteria in the tank.
- Monitor the water parameters with a testing tool kit.
- Stop the cycle when ammonia and nitrite reach 0 and nitrate approaches within a safe limit.
- The whole procedure takes about 4 to 6 weeks.
How to Introduce the Fish in the Tank?
- Establish the desired water parameters.
- Acclimate them to the environment by hanging the bag in the tank for 15-20 minutes. After that, gradually mix the tank water with the bag water for 30 to 45 minutes.
- Put them in a net and slowly release them into the water. Don’t pour the bag’s water into the tank to avoid contamination.
- Closely observe them for at least a few hours. If you observe any stress or illness, recheck the water parameters.
- In large tanks or community tanks, initially add a few fish. After that, gradually add them at a suitable interval.
Final Thoughts
South American cichlids have a variety of species, including both peaceful and aggressive. Some beautiful species, i.e., green terror cichlid, German ram cichlid, angel fish, etc., are common among aquarists. Follow a proper procedure for South American cichlid tank setup. Once you have set up, then follow the cycling procedure and acclimate your cichlid in your newly set up South American cichlid tank.
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