How to keep fish happy - Have African Cichlids thrive in your tank/aquarium

Поделиться
HTML-код
  • Опубликовано: 28 авг 2024
  • In this video I show my African Cichlid aquarium (Lake Malawi mixed tank of peacocks, haps, and mbuna) and discuss two main things that I consider to keep my fish happy and healthy. This video is intended to go beyond the scope of water parameters, and talk more about having your fish thrive.
    The two main things I discuss are:
    1. Consistency - aimed at reducing stress;
    2. Enrichment - aimed at providing enjoyment and positivity.
    I also briefly discuss what indicators suggest your fish might be stressed or unhappy, and what is normal versus what is not.
    I hope that you enjoy the video, and let me know if you have any tips that I didn't mention in the video!
    If you are enjoying my content, I would love for you to subscribe to the channel, and give this video a like - it helps get the content shared around for others to enjoy, and I really appreciate the support!
    Happy fish keeping :D
    ----------------------------------------------
    Music:
    - Nuver x Sitting Duck x c e c e l i e - Honour
    - Provided by Lofi Records
    - Watch: • Nuver x Sitting Duck x...
    - Download/Stream: fanlink.to/Kal...
    📥 | Download this music (free)
    → lofirecords.co....
    - Nuver - The Place Where I Belong
    - Provided by Lofi Records
    - Watch: • Nuver - The Place Wher...
    - Download/Stream: fanlink.to/Kal...
    📥 | Download this music (free)
    → lofirecords.co....
    - tysu x Spencer Hunt - Rainy Day
    - Provided by Lofi Records
    - Watch: • tysu x Spencer Hunt - ...
    - Download/Stream: fanlink.to/win...
    📥 | Download this music (free)
    → lofirecords.co....
    - Nuver - Sunrise
    - Provided by Lofi Records
    - Watch: • Nuver - Sunrise
    - Download/Stream: fanlink.to/Kal...
    📥 | Download this music (free)
    → lofirecords.co....
    ------------------------------
    Shoutout to Moby Pixel for the subscribe button!
    • Free RUclips Subscribe...

Комментарии • 141

  • @KeepingFishSimple
    @KeepingFishSimple 2 года назад +7

    excellent video! good to see another brissie fish vid maker

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  2 года назад +5

      Thank you so much!! I love your channel. I can't wait for your shop to open, it's going to be awesome!

    • @pelhamsaquatics
      @pelhamsaquatics 2 года назад +3

      2 of my fav Australian fish keepers on the same page! This is awesome nick and Katy🙂👍🏻

  • @jamesjamesnet
    @jamesjamesnet Год назад +2

    Video so true to keep my fish happy and healthy thanks Katy

  • @Romeo_Derose
    @Romeo_Derose 2 года назад +2

    The fact that your video got me into Africa cichlids. It means that you are famous on RUclips. As for your aquarium looks very beautiful. I can't wait to make my tank like yours .🙏

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  2 года назад +1

      That is so lovely to hear!! Thank you so much :)

  • @dalemcbee6413
    @dalemcbee6413 Год назад +1

    Love your videos, used to own a pet shop back when I was in my 20s. I am now 68 and have found your channel and have gotten interested in keeping cichlids again, I live in Tyler, Texas keep up the good work.

  • @muhe9857
    @muhe9857 7 месяцев назад +1

    Really like your fishes, they are beautiful!

  • @Daqavousporkpay
    @Daqavousporkpay 10 месяцев назад +1

    This should have more likes if you agree like the video this is very accurate and easy to follow and the video is organized very well

  • @drewzero1
    @drewzero1 2 года назад +3

    Great points, especially on water changes! Sometimes I get a bit too caught up in testing and chasing parameters, when really I need to pay more attention to the fish and give them gradual changes to get nitrates down. 👍

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  2 года назад +2

      Thank you so much 😄 I have been there too, being caught up in chasing parameters to no avail - it's a win win being able to relax a bit and also see the fish cope better with the consistency

    • @mc-um3nv
      @mc-um3nv 10 месяцев назад

      I added a pothos plant to my cichlid tank and now my nitrates are almost at zero. Just an FYI. It also makes a really cool effect as it grows around the tank. Take care!

  • @AAE-cg1il
    @AAE-cg1il 5 месяцев назад

    I have a tank of Mbuna that is heavily scaped with red lava rock. The type with the big holes in it. I find it hugely entertaining to watch how they live among the rocks and interact with one another. I watched your parameters/buffer video recently and it has helped me a great deal. I don’t want my fish to just survive….I want them to thrive.

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  5 месяцев назад

      That's so great to hear!! I'm really glad you found it helpful :) I love watching them in the rocks too. They are such great little fish

  • @mrjeffish8113
    @mrjeffish8113 2 года назад +1

    Hey, there's that ahli again yellow head blue lips. Love that fish. And hi Kaity 😘

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  2 года назад

      I know the one you mean now! He was sold to me as a "sulphur crested Cichlid" that's why I was confused which one you meant. He is a truly beautiful fish

    • @mrjeffish8113
      @mrjeffish8113 2 года назад

      @@Kaityscichlids 🥰

  • @juicetin4491
    @juicetin4491 2 года назад +1

    Congrats on 1k subscribers! I'm excited for all of your future videos

  • @Bluembuna79
    @Bluembuna79 2 года назад +1

    Good video and agreed 👍 I keep a little log book and write down everything so the tank stays consistent. All your fish look really good and happy.

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  2 года назад

      That's a great idea! Thank you so much :)

  • @jovenbitara
    @jovenbitara 5 месяцев назад

    I love watching your cichlid tank, its beautiful set up, i got lots of i formation from you too. 👏 👏 👏

  • @aquahobby1982
    @aquahobby1982 2 года назад +1

    Fishes r really coloring up ..... very nice fishes 👍🏻👍🏻 perfect set up ... thanks for this insightful video

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  2 года назад

      Thank you so much! I really appreciate it 😊

  • @mc-um3nv
    @mc-um3nv 10 месяцев назад

    I love your channel so much! It’s so much useful information! You along with your tanks are so beautiful. God bless, take care!

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  10 месяцев назад

      Thank you SO much!! I really appreciate it 😊🙏

  • @avrillloyd8541
    @avrillloyd8541 2 года назад +1

    Thanks for a great video I have learnt a lot from it. Many thanks again

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  2 года назад +1

      That's so great to hear 😊 Thank you!

  • @Sandoz-tq7qj
    @Sandoz-tq7qj 9 месяцев назад

    Good video and fishes 👍

  • @ryanramsaroop4074
    @ryanramsaroop4074 2 года назад +1

    I love your videos they are really educational and helpful also you have a wonderful tank and some beautiful fishes💖

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  2 года назад +1

      Thank you so so much :) I really appreciate it!

  • @KoolBeans426
    @KoolBeans426 3 месяца назад

    Love the video and the fish. I was wondering who the manufacture of the lighting system is, very good looking and stylish.🐠🐦

  • @humpy936
    @humpy936 Год назад

    I like your philosophy on fish, and aquariums, KISS = keep it simple stupid, haha!
    Rarely in the wild is anything actually perfect and a little fluctuation here and there is always happening, such as heavy rains, dry spells, water quality, etc., fish always seem to get through it.
    Subscribed, love the down under accent by the way, cheers from the USA.😊

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  Год назад

      Hahaha yes, that's it! Thank you so much, I appreciate the sub 😊

  • @animablo
    @animablo 9 месяцев назад

    I'm starting to get interested in cichlids

  • @tomcrossan8263
    @tomcrossan8263 2 года назад

    Wonderful tank and happy fish. On the food side along with pellets and flakes I also feed my Cichlids (which includes Haps) once a week very finely chopped raw chicken.

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  2 года назад

      Thank you :) I bet they love that! I don't give mine any protein heavy foods because of the mbuna

  • @Shashankmk
    @Shashankmk 2 года назад +2

    Tip: while changing water, while filling the tank up, please fill it very very slowly. For my 6 feet tank for about 30percent water change it takes around 1 hour, i set my tap so slow. It gives time for fish to adjust to ammonia, temperature, ph, etc.

    • @tomcrossan8263
      @tomcrossan8263 2 года назад +1

      Yes I agree. I normally do a weekly 50% water change on my 500ltr Cichlid tank with a slow refill via a hose connected to a water tap where I have set the temperature. I also add the water conditioner as the tank fills and yes it does take time. Last week I decided toto o a faster refill

    • @tomcrossan8263
      @tomcrossan8263 2 года назад +3

      Sorry hit the wrong button. What I was going to say is that I increased the water flow and found that some of the Cichlids started to become distressed and settled on the bottom of the tank. I slowed the water flow and the fish slowly started to recover. Unfortunately one fish died. Lesson learnt - don't rush refills.

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  2 года назад +1

      Yep, 100% agree!! I take the water house with a pump but I refill it at half the speed using a hose connected to a tap

  • @laurag1076
    @laurag1076 2 года назад

    Once again... great video kaity. Glad I found your channel x

  • @bigesfishroom3174
    @bigesfishroom3174 2 года назад

    Great vid keep up the great work and inspiration to ppl watching it actually giving me inspiration to do African cichlid tank my self

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  2 года назад

      Thank you so much! That's so amazing to hear, I love hearing it motivate other people to keep African Cichlids!

  • @nathangispan1573
    @nathangispan1573 2 года назад

    Great video Kaity! All so true and perfectly explained! 👍🏽👍🏽

  • @GeronimoUpload
    @GeronimoUpload Год назад

    Nice fish tank

  • @talhatahir461
    @talhatahir461 2 года назад

    Great points, great explanation, great voice, great accent 😊😊

  • @jeffkim4620
    @jeffkim4620 2 года назад +2

    i need a GF that loves fish like you do! Man o man, why can't i have a Kaity :(

  • @pareshkeer5616
    @pareshkeer5616 Год назад

    Nice

  • @JKFISHWORLD
    @JKFISHWORLD 4 месяца назад

    Thank you so much 🐠🐠🐠🐠💞KC

  • @pascoerusso8615
    @pascoerusso8615 2 года назад

    Hi Kaity , great content & awesome video 👍👍

  • @akvaristugur9479
    @akvaristugur9479 2 года назад

    very nice sharing thank you

  • @ArunKumar-n
    @ArunKumar-n 2 года назад

    Hai kaity..intrested topic u explained thanks for helping on improving fish care...

  • @MsJimbo1960
    @MsJimbo1960 8 месяцев назад

    Love your video's Kaity.Can you tell me what lights you are using please ?

  • @arindamscacichlids7113
    @arindamscacichlids7113 2 года назад +2

    Hey ! I am not an african cichlid keeper but a Central american cichlid keeper. I was just curious to know what's your tank dimensions ?
    Your contents are good and we being cichlid keepers in general, we like to watch them when ever and where ever possible isn't it.

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  2 года назад +1

      Hey! Thank you so much :) The tank dimensions are 6ft long, 65cm wide, and 60cm tall. It's the Waterbox Clearpro 7225

  • @cosmicshy637
    @cosmicshy637 2 года назад

    Awesome video, Katy!

  • @amandaw5326
    @amandaw5326 2 года назад

    Beautiful tank

  • @tinacox4999akadirtysouth
    @tinacox4999akadirtysouth 2 года назад

    Beautiful fish , Beautiful tank ,Are all these males ? The colors are simply to gorgeous!!!! I'm such a newbie and have alot to learn I'm afraid .

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  2 года назад

      Thank you!! They are a mix of males and females, but I feed them a colour food which makes the females colour up like males

  • @roohollahyeylaghiashrafi7095
    @roohollahyeylaghiashrafi7095 Год назад

    👌

  • @seanaustin8516
    @seanaustin8516 Год назад +1

    Video ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

  • @ARod-br2ui
    @ARod-br2ui 2 года назад

    Another wonderful video.

  • @laurag1076
    @laurag1076 2 года назад

    Scares me how far I've come with fish keeping....
    Hate remembering what I first started out with...
    3 gold fish in a 20L. No idea about BB. Or everything we know now. I'd strip it bare and wash under tap every week.
    30 yrs later..... 😊🐟

  • @paulhana2162
    @paulhana2162 Год назад

    Amazing content..Thx heaps ..Love ur kiwi accent 😂❤ btw

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  Год назад +1

      Thank you 😁 and close!! I am Australian 🤣

    • @paulhana2162
      @paulhana2162 Год назад

      @@Kaityscichlids much love ❤️ to Ausie🇦🇺 😁from Egypt 🇪🇬

  • @malekemoore3947
    @malekemoore3947 9 месяцев назад

    Awesome vid! So you have a mixed tank with mbuna and peacock chiclids with some haps how do you maintain when it comes to numbers between peacock and mbuna? Would you recommend having more peacocks than mbunas or it really doesn’t matter

  • @rambo410
    @rambo410 2 года назад

    love your accent

  • @geraldhoffmann675
    @geraldhoffmann675 2 года назад +1

    I'm keeping cichlids for 5 years now and started the way you did with your tank. By time you will see a lot other stuff and some advantages and disadvantages. For example: as you can see your gravel is full of algae and phosphate. it's because it's soooo thick. Furthermore the hole rocks are a relic straight out of the 80s. It looks like sea water stuff and the fish can hurt themselves at it. Nowadays we're used to take alps stone or at least lavastone for cichlide tanks. Last point is the brightness topic: Your cichlids will thank you if you get them a dark background like dark stone background or just a black foil from outside. Turn the lights a bit darker and you will see they will feel even more comfortable. a good hint to see crazy malawi stuff is "aquahaus gaus". It's europe's biggest cichlid farm and have insane show tanks.
    Enough critic now - don't misunderstand me, I don't want to make you upset or something. Not everything I do is the only way to go, but maybe some of it ... I like your content and your videos, keep on :)

  • @RobsAquariumRoom
    @RobsAquariumRoom 2 года назад

    Great information 👍🏼👍🏼

  • @dack4545
    @dack4545 2 года назад

    Good ideas thank you 💙

  • @BeseDanAlexandru
    @BeseDanAlexandru 2 года назад +1

    How much sand did you put in your aquarium ?
    Would it be a good idea to have an internal filter with Uv instead of an wave maker ?
    Do you think giant African shrimp will survive with African cichlids ? I have a couple in a different aquarium and they extremely good at hiding and they never come out in the open so maybe if it has loads of hiding spaces they could survive , what do you think ?
    Thanks for your videos

  • @hopehobby9297
    @hopehobby9297 2 года назад

    Very useful video

  • @jaderainhans9095
    @jaderainhans9095 10 месяцев назад

    i have a plenum in my cichlid tank and nitrate always read 0 once the aerobic bacteria got established plus plants that jungle the tank. i do small water change here in there now.

  • @TN-xe8ok
    @TN-xe8ok 2 года назад

    Well said ! A+

  • @sensationalseas4555
    @sensationalseas4555 2 года назад

    Another good video

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  2 года назад

      Thank you!! 😄

    • @sensationalseas4555
      @sensationalseas4555 2 года назад

      @@Kaityscichlids keep them coming good job my channel is all about supporting fellow fishkeepers

  • @alexslepak53
    @alexslepak53 2 года назад

    Love it

  • @richardhill2702
    @richardhill2702 Год назад

    Hi katie what are the fish that have the whitish body yellowish head & blue lips? They are very cool !!! 😎

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  Год назад

      Hello! I believe that would be my sulphur crested peacock 😊

  • @Professor-qu5vz
    @Professor-qu5vz 2 года назад

    👍

  • @jonathanhoward4052
    @jonathanhoward4052 Год назад

    My tank is 110cm wide, 66 cm height and 60cm Depp. With 23 f8sh and 3 bristlenose... just running 1x aquis series 2 1250 filter currently.. I think I.need another. My nitrates are constantly high.

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  Год назад +1

      I had the same problem with high nitrates in my tank. I found that doing a 80% water change once per week and feeding a bit less helped with the nitrates

  • @pelhamsaquatics
    @pelhamsaquatics 2 года назад

    Great topic Katy!! Routine is key. A quick question, out of the mbunas peacocks and haps, do you have a favorite group out of the 3? Thanks!🙂👍🏻

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  2 года назад +1

      Hey!! Thank you so much :D Out of them, I would say that the haps are my favourite, followed by mbuna then peacocks. I like "big" fish like Oscars, and I find the haps to be most similar to them and the most peaceful, which draws me to them

    • @pelhamsaquatics
      @pelhamsaquatics 2 года назад

      Kaity African cichlids for me mbuna#1 peacock #2 and haps very nearly even, it’s hard to choose😀 I like the big Central American monsters, my wife’s fish is a red devil amphilophus labiatus., but she is quite peaceful, the convict colony are more aggressive. Thanks for the wonderful videos Katy⭐️💯🙏

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  2 года назад

      @@pelhamsaquatics I love red devils! They're beautiful fish. And thank you so much for all of the support, I really appreciate it :)

  • @jeffkim4620
    @jeffkim4620 2 года назад

    i love your yellow ahli, you should see my blueberry ahli breeder, he is incredible....wish i could send you pics

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  2 года назад

      Thank you! I've got an electric yellow mbuna, is that the one you mean?

    • @mrjeffish8113
      @mrjeffish8113 2 года назад

      @@Kaityscichlids no actually I was referring to your electric yellow fryeri ahli. He looks mostly yellow w a hint a blue in your video :) anyways you and your fish are both beautiful. Keep up the good work 😘

  • @northernfishing5476
    @northernfishing5476 Год назад

    What’s the name of that cichlid with blue lips? It’s gorgeous

  • @mohamedamgad8360
    @mohamedamgad8360 2 года назад

    nice video..👏😍
    I want to know the type of blue fish with white back ?! 🙄

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  2 года назад +1

      Thank you!! 😊 I believe that would be the iceberg Fryeri hap

  • @ueber30uwe
    @ueber30uwe 2 года назад

    What Kind of LED Lights so you use....they locked pretty good🤓

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  2 года назад

      Thank you!! They are the Freshwater AI Prime lights :) I did a video on them a little while back ruclips.net/video/XHtin86VkPg/видео.html

  • @shannonmcdonald1431
    @shannonmcdonald1431 Год назад

    New to the hobby. I have African cichlids. Peacock and haps. My water is great my temp is great. However I've had 2 peacocks pass another has what looks like sucken belly. This is becoming more stressful then rewarding. My tank at the moment is not over stocked. Working towards that. My fear is to have 100s of dollars In fish just to watch them all die. Waiting on the focus to arrive in the mail. So that I can treat my tank. Anyone have any suggestions?

  • @mohammedfairoz5062
    @mohammedfairoz5062 2 года назад

    Nice video 👍😊 keep going,can you tell me weight of stones

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  2 года назад +1

      Thank you!! I'm not 100% sure on their weight, I just know I can't move them on my own even in the water. I'd say there is close to 100kgs of stone altogether

  • @KhoirulArifin
    @KhoirulArifin 2 года назад

    how do you tell if they're happy? they may look healthy and perfect, but you can't possibly know how they feel inside.

  • @avishekdas8111
    @avishekdas8111 3 месяца назад

    What's the size of your tank?

  • @rajs4283
    @rajs4283 2 года назад

    Hey, how much gh and kh u maintain?? How do u use seachem lake salt to maintain ??

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  2 года назад

      Hello Raj 😊 my GH and KH are both 12. I use Malawi buffer for the KH and the cichlid salt for the GH. I have a video I did about this a couple of weeks ago which you might find helpful ruclips.net/video/Pk0lodIDDJY/видео.html

  • @mahan624
    @mahan624 Год назад +1

    Sister red devil review please sister

  • @johangray344
    @johangray344 2 года назад

    HI Kaity what rocks are you using?

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  2 года назад +1

      Hey Johan 😊 They are called Texas holey rocks. They're a type of sandstone that raises the pH and carbonate hardness of the water

    • @johangray344
      @johangray344 2 года назад

      @@Kaityscichlids thanks i watched one of your other videos to try and find the name and got it of you tour of MAD pet shop pretty cool place unfortunately in South Africa the holey rock is hard to come by and if you do find them they are super expensive. Thanks for the reply and your content

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  2 года назад

      @@johangray344 thank you! That's such a shame there's not much of it available where you are. It's pretty expensive here too, but there's a lot of it

    • @johangray344
      @johangray344 2 года назад

      Yeah i will have to settle with dragon rock ill just pack them in a way to make little caves starting my Malawi setup soon. I have a few aquariums with different kinds of setups

  • @akshatsankhla6543
    @akshatsankhla6543 2 года назад

    what is the size of your tank and how many fishes are there.

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  2 года назад

      Hey Akshat :) it's 6ft/650 litres, and I've got I think 21 African Cichlids and 3 bristlenose catfish

    • @akshatsankhla6543
      @akshatsankhla6543 2 года назад

      @@Kaityscichlids I want to have 4ft x 1.5ft x 1.5ft is it ok ? n how many African cichlids I can keep n what size.

  • @fishlove1854
    @fishlove1854 2 года назад

    How do you get a yellow ahli. Is it a hybrid.

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  2 года назад

      I'm not too sure what the yellow ahli one is, I have an electric yellow - is that the one you mean?

    • @fishlove1854
      @fishlove1854 2 года назад

      It's the Mara Rock ahli hybrid I think.

  • @coreygunter4787
    @coreygunter4787 2 года назад

    You should have tinted the back of your tank to hide mounts and canister hoses.

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  2 года назад +1

      I'm considering adding a frosted background when I have to move!

  • @dbrown4752
    @dbrown4752 Год назад

    Sand can be messy beware

  • @nsfemilivilog
    @nsfemilivilog 2 года назад

    Beautiful ❤️💐🌹 didi ko Salam valakum didi aap ka sapot cheya didi