subject: Common Cichlid Aquarium Mistakes [print this page] Cichlid care can be a very rewarding experience. Learning how to keep these unique tropical fish at home can be very frustrating, but if you take the time to learn the basics, it can be very satisfying.
More and more new aquarists are taking on the hobby of learning how to keep African and American cichlid fish, but most are just unsure of how to take care of these very unique and beautiful aquarium fish.
Cichlid Keeping Mistakes
So what are some of the common mistakes that a lot of novice tropical fish keepers make? One of the most common mistakes that aquarium fish keepers make is the mixing of African and American varieties.
Pet stores make this error as well! It makes me sad to see these beautiful aquarium fish in pet stores that are improperly kept. Both the Africans and American species kept in the same aquarium are miserable and literally are barely even alive. Their water quality requirements are very different and they just are not intended to be living together in nature.
What is another mistake that a lot of tropical fish keepers make?
This is one of the most common errors that even the most experienced aquarist makes. Not making routine water change outs in their aquariums. Regardless of what variety of tropical fish that you have, routine water changes are literally the life of all tropical aquarium fish. Yes, it's simple and easy, but a very common mistake.
The truth is, novice fish keepers just don't know how to take care of their aquarium fish much less get them to thrive and even begin to reproduce. PH and other water chemistry requirements are also very important. Take cichlid fish for example. African and American varieties of these unique fish have very different water salinity requirements.
Where can you find out how to avoid making the common mistakes that most people make when learning how to keep aquarium fish at home? I recommend finding a good fish care guide to make sure that your cichlids stay happy and stress free for many years to come.
