Cichlids are the Perfect Pets - Leslie Loves Veggies

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Cichlids Are In The House

Hubby the Hubster filling in today and I want to tell you about my hobby! I have pet fish; Cichlid fish. They are Cichlidae (Sik-li-day).

Habitat: (big glass tank full of water; they are “in the tank and they love it”).
Home: MarineLand 37 gallon tank with LED lighting, MarineLand Filter and pebble gravel. I love them all dearly. They are colorful, smart, animated fresh water fish. They come from African lakes.

My grandson who is just over two years old knows their names, points, giggles, and feeds the fish and watches them eat. They all get excited when I arrive home from work because they know it will soon be feeding time! They love to eat. Most of the time they are all happy, active, interactive, attentive, and aware of their surroundings. Sometimes they are “sleepy”, calm, or just resting. Occasionally, one or two of them will be territorial and bully the others a little but that doesn’t last long. I can just raise my finger in the air and they stop, watch my finger, and then they “calm it down”.

They eat two sometimes three times a day. Their favorite food is Tetra Cichlid Crisps. They also like Tetra Cichlid pellets. They race up to the top of the habitat, on the right side of the tank. They circle each other trying to be the first of their brothers and sisters to get the food. When I drop the flakes in they snap at the flakes on the surface and drag them to the depth below and voraciously chew and macerate their gourmet feast! They like their water at a certain temp, a certain pH, and they like nice hiding places. I watch them-they watch me.

They seem to respond positively to music played next to the tank. They like “I Dream of Jeanie” when they are feeling playful. They listen to “Wild Thing” when they are dining on their crisps. They like John Denver’s “Calypso”for inspiration, and sometimes “Under the Boardwalk” when they eat as well. Am I a nut? Yes! Do I care for my fish? Yes! Do they like me ? I think so! How do I know they like me? I’m not sure. But I know I can watch my little pets for hours. They swim, glide, float through the current of the filtered water. They dance in the air bubbles coming from an under gravel air-stone. They are totally dependent on my care. I’m very serious about taking care of them. They are an integral part of my family. They are always there in the living room, they never make a mess, and they provide hours of joy to me and Leslie everyday.

I dream of Cichlidae Lagoon

Cichlids provide so much fun and enjoyment!

They have controlled temperature, controlled environment, the latest in LED white light technology, natural day light, real plants to chew on, and artificial “LED Blue Moon-Light”. Cichlids can live for years and years in a well maintained habitat. Some can even spawn baby fish called “fry”. My fish are special – yes because they are special to me and my family. I know their behaviors, I know when to turn out the light in their habitat. One recent evening about 11 PM after working on a work project at home, getting ready for bed I looked over at the fish tank and I saw no fish swimming around. I could not see any of them. I approached the tank, peered in through the glass and saw “Pancake” the big boy hiding under the shade of some overhead silk plants with his tail to the front. “Goldie” was hiding behind the big rock Bubble waterfall with “Juvie”. “Kai-Yu” was at the top of the tank in a corner under the rim of the hood. It was time for beddy-bye. I turned out the light and said “Shhhhh to Leslie as the babies were sleeping! Here are some pictures of my fish family in their habitat. I can’t take them up to Walmart for a traditional family pictures so please excuse my poor photographic technique, Its not easy taking a picture of a swimming fish through glass and a foot or so of water.

Here is Karmen Electric.
She is a Gorgeous Electric Yellow Labidochromis Cichlid.

Here is Juvie. He is a Jeweled Cichlid. He likes to hide and stays rather calm relative to his brothers and sisters.

Introducing Pancake and Goldie (Goldylox). Pancake is a huge ham for the camera and Goldie is just now coming into her own. In fact she’s even become a little bit bossy at times.