African Cichlids are from the Rift Lakes on the Eastern coast of Africa. This includes Lake Malawi, Lake Tanganyika, and Lake Victoria.
Mbunas and Aulonocara are mouth-brooding spawners. After the eggs are fertilized the female will carry them in her mouth until they are ready to swim on their own.
Cichlid species in the Rift Lakes have become highly diverse with over 500 different cichlid species in the three lakes. Many of these species are found no where else in the world.
Before spawning, the males will build a nest and use elaborate rituals to attract a female to his nest. You may also see a major color change in the fish during the process, and the pair will become territorial and aggressive while hatching and raising fry.
Males tend to be more brightly colored and larger than females, this helps them attract a mate and fight off challengers.
African cichlids can live up to 9 years and some species can reach 3 feet in length, while other will only get 2 inches long
