In the past, it was believed that meats of warm-blooded mammals are a staple in the diet of the larger cichlids. You can give them a variety of foods, including live and frozen foods. It is best to keep their diet protein-based as they will feed well on meaty foods such as prawns, earthworms, brine shrimps, and bloodworms. The blue dolphin cichlids are explicitly categorized as carnivorous predators in nature which feed on invertebrates and smaller fish. A lack of proper filtration could lead to various problems. While the blue dolphin cichlids can live through various water conditions, the filtration system needs to be strong to provide clean water. 10% salt is ideal for the tank to host this fish. Too much salt can have a severe impact on the health of the fish. However, to provide adequate care to the fish, you need to make sure that a suitable quantity of salt is added to the tank. It increases the carbonate hardness of the water, which would allow it to mimic the conditions of Lake Malawi. Salt can be used to provide water filled with minerals. Evaporation helps the alkaline waters acquire these high minerals. The lake which hosts it in the wild is high in minerals. Since Lake Malawi is where the fish are found mostly in the wild, any tank which hosts the blue dolphin cichlids should have identical conditions to that of Lake Malawi. Hence, weekly water changes are essential to their survival. Poor water especially has an effect on this fish’s eyes, which would be ruined. Its health will deteriorate significantly in the presence of poor water conditions. The blue dolphin cichlid is considered a peaceful cichlid and if given the proper setup, the fish would grow despite not being a typical community fish. The tank keeper would need a good-sized aquarium, and the aquarist would be required to frequently change the water. It is to be noted that the blue dolphin cichlids are considered good choices for experienced cichlid keepers. The pH levels should be maintained at neutral, ideally at 7.2-8.8. The substrate type most suitable for these fish is sandy, as it makes them feel the most at home in waters where the temperature is between 22.8 and 27.8 ☌. It is important to monitor the water quality of the tank as poor-quality water may ruin the eyes of the blue dolphin cichlid. Although the natural habitat of the blue dolphin cichlid does have saltwater, it is tolerant of it. It requires very strong filtration systems with adequate water movements.Īs for the salinity, the fish do fine in both freshwater and brackish freshwaters. Advertisementsįor keeping the blue dolphin cichlid in captivity, the tank size should be a minimum of 75 gallons in volume and at least 5 feet in length. The fish are mainly found around sandy coastal areas, where the depths vary from three to fifteen meters. They are mostly caught in the wild and have been commercially traded for aquariums since 1968. Presently, there are no recognized threats for the blue dolphin cichlids, and the fish are widespread throughout the lakes. The blue dolphin cichlids are native to the Lake Malawi region around the African Rift Valley lake area. Both of them are closely related to the blue dolphin cichlid. Various other fish such as cichlids and damselfish have also been observed with this habit. It usually depends on how much area the fish needs to smell. This can be done for short or even longer periods. It sucks in water and throws it out to smell its surroundings. This is different from other types of fish who usually have two nostrils on both sides. Their fins provide them with incredible movement while swimming.Ī nostril is present on both sides of the fish. These are vital for fending off predators in the wild. Other saltwater fish such as parrotfish and wrasses also have this feature.Ī spiny ray is usually present in the fins and dorsal region. These teeth are pharyngeal and well-developed. These forehead lumps are referred to as cranial bumps.Ī common feature among these fish is the presence of teeth in the throat. The grown-up versions of the fish have lumps on their heads. This is dependent on its place of origin. It may have various black markings on its fins or back. 25 Amazing Mbuna Cichlid Types And Care Tips Description
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