Cichlids (pronounced “sick lids”) are some of the most popular fish kept in aquariums today.
The variety of shapes, sizes, and colors is extensive. Most cichlids come from Africa, South, and Central America. A few species are found in North America and Asia as well.
They are generally easy to breed in captivity. Their territorial and social behaviors make them interesting aquarium inhabitants.
Pet Supermarket offers a variety of cichlids. African Cichlids are some of the most colorful and popular. The beautiful and delicate Rams are dwarf cichlids; Angelfish and Oscars are cichlids as well. So, you can see that the cichlid family has a variety of different looks, sizes, and colors.
One of the common ways to distinguish a member of the cichlid family is the appearance of the fish’s dorsal (or top) fin. The dorsal of the cichlid is made up of two parts. The front of the dorsal has hard, spiny rays and the rear of the dorsal is made up of softer rays. Other than that common trait, the body shape can range from tiny, long, and pencil-like to large and rounded specimens.
