There is no single answer as to how long African cichlids can live. There are many species to choose from! It is difficult to give you an exact number. However, I can share some tips to extend their lives!
Let’s just get to it.
How Long Do African Cichlids Live?
A frican fish cichlid can live between 6 and 10 years.
How Long Do African Cichlids Live In Captivity?
African cichlids can live up to 6-10 year in captivity depending on their species. Recent studies show that captive animals can live longer than wild ones, as they mature slower. Cichlids could also be affected by this phenomenon.
How Long Do Mbuna Cichlids Live?
Mbuna cichlids have a decent life expectancy. In captivity, they can live 8-10 year. They can live up to their teens if they are given the right care. Impressive!
How Long Do Peacock Cichlids Live?
There are many peacock cichlid types, with a lifespan of 8 to 10 on average. They often die between the ages of 5-6 due to stress, malnourishment, and pollution.
How Long Do Electric Yellow Cichlids Live?
The lifespan of electric yellow cichlids is 6-8 years. They can live up to 10 years if they are given the right care.
How Long Do South American Cichlids Live?
The lifespan of South American cichlids is longer than that of their African counterparts. They can live 10-20 year depending on their species. They are able to outlive their furry companions!
How Long Do Convict Cichlids Live?
Convict Cichlids Live 10 Years On Average. There have been many instances when these fish have exceeded this lifespan. With proper care, convicts may make it to their teenage years.
How Long Do Oscar Cichlids Live?
Oscar cichlids can live 10-20 year. That’s quite a range, I know. It all comes down to how well you take care of them. Oscars can live for up to 2 decades in a positive environment.
How Long Do Angelfish Live?
angelfish, like most South American cichlids have a very long life expectancy. If they are raised properly, they can live to 10 year. These fish require a tall aquarium in order to support their long, straight fins.
How To Extend Cichlid’s Lifespan?
To extend the life expectancy of your pet, you cannot go against nature. There are some tricks that you can use to make sure your pet lives the best and longest life possible. A cichlid’s life expectancy can be extended by maintaining the correct conditions, eating the right food, and living a stress-free lifestyle.
Feed A Healthy Diet
Cichlids can be greedy. Cichlids will eat until they feel full. As a parent of fish, it is important to know where the line should be drawn. Sorry if this sounds dramatic
Instead of giving them one or two large meals per day, give them 3-4 small meals. Give them a portion they can finish in 30-40 seconds. This feeding method helps to control a cichlid’s aggression over its resources.
To avoid overfeeding our cichlids and to maintain the best water quality, we recommend that you be careful with how much you give them.
Sometimes, however, we don’t know what we are doing and underfeed our fish, exposing them to malnutrition.
If your fish isn’t getting enough vitamin A, it could cause dropsy, anemia and fin-base hemorhage.
Vitamin C deficiencies can also lead to over pigmentation, eye bleeding and deformed spine.
You can supplement your cichlid’s diet with pellets and flakes.
Avoid giving food such as beefheart or tubifex.
Don’t feed African cichlids foods meant for American cichlids. They are more inclined to eat a herbivore diet. The latter, on the other hand, need more fat and protein to satisfy their carnivorous appetite.
This article provides more information on feeding cichlids.
Watch The Temperature
No matter where they are from, Cichlids hate cold water. They dislike cold water. Why? They’re tropical fish!
Here are the water parameters:
| African Cichlids | 74-82degF | 23-38degF |
| Cichlids of Central America | 74-82deg F | 23-28degF |
| South American Cichlids | 74-82degF | 23-28degF |
| Asian Cichlids | 68-84deg F | 20-29degF |
Your cichlids will experience a slower metabolism if the water temperature is lower than what was stated. They will then become slow and their immune system will suffer. They will then succumb to secondary illnesses.
However, higher temperatures can have their own set of problems. The fish may become hyperactive and even become hypersensitive. The fish will then become hyperactive and stop absorbing oxygen from the water. It may eventually die.
It’s possible that the water is too hot if your fish lies quietly at the bottom. The fish is likely to have resorted back to the bottom, where there will be more oxygenated and cooler water.
Maintain The Water Parameters
It is essential to maintain water parameters that are suitable. Cichlids are more likely to die from water contamination than any other factor. Cichlids also eat a lot of bioload each day, which is why they are messy eaters. You should ensure that you are always monitoring water quality and changing it regularly.
Cichlid tanks should be kept at 0 ppm ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.
Your cichlid may experience lethargy, hunger loss, panting, jagged or clamped fins and reddish (bleeding of the gills) as well as red streaks on its body if there is an ammonia spike.
If your fish is suffering from nitrite poisoning, you will see the following symptoms: listlessness, browning of the gills and rapid gill movement.
You can see how critical it is to have the water parameters correct.
It is a good practice to do about 25% water changes every week. There is no set rule. It all depends on the size of your tank and how many stockings you have.
Don’t forget about changing the filter media as needed. Chemical filtration should be replaced after approximately 1-2 months, while sponges can only be washed once every 3 months.
You shouldn’t neglect cleanliness. You can create more problems by removing the good bacteria from your tank.
Create a Stress-Free Environment
Fish produce excess cortisol hormone when they are stressed. This chemical reduces your fish’s appetite, and it inhibits the conversion of food into energy.
Stress can cause irreparable harm to your fish’s health. This will reduce your cichlid’s immune system, make it more susceptible to a variety of diseases, and ultimately cut down its lifespan.
Cichlids can be quite stressed, even though they are a tough species. Stress can be caused by poor water conditions, overcrowding and inappropriate decor, aggressive tankmates, a lack of hiding spots, bad diets, inadequate water quality, insufficient water supply, low levels of exercise, stress from other species, and many other factors.
Cichlids can feel stress when they are experiencing these symptoms:
- Increased hiding behavior
- Darting around in the tank
- Swimming patterns that are not predictable
- Looking for the perfect spot to take off?
- Scraping against gravel or rock
These signs should be immediately noticed by your fish. You can experiment until you find the cause of stress in your fish and then address it.
This article will provide information on top reasons cichlids can die prematurely.
Frequently Asked Question
How Long Can Cichlids Survive Without Food?
Adult cichlids are healthy enough to go without food for as little as 7-10 days. They can survive for up to 2 weeks without food, according to some. I would not try this. Baby cichlids can live up to 2 days without food.
How Long Can Cichlids Live Without An Air Pump?
There is no definitive answer as to how long cichlids will live without an air pump. They may only live for a few weeks if the water is completely still. An air pump might not be needed if you have a lot of plants in your tank or your filter is producing a lot of current.
How Long Can Cichlids Live Without A Heater?
Cichlids can survive without heaters for up to 2 days. Cichlids are tropical fish and require water that is warmer. If the temperature in the tank is too cold, it will slow down their metabolism, make them sluggish and eventually lead to secondary conditions like cold.
Final Words: How Long Do African Cichlids Live?
Captive African cichlids can live up to 6-10 years. If they are given proper care, however, they can live for over a decade.
The South American and Central American Cichlids have a very long life expectancy. They can live between 10-20 years.
Your cichlid’s life expectancy will be extended by feeding the correct diet, providing the best environment and eliminating stress.