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

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  • Опубліковано 10 чер 2022
  • 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
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  • Домашні улюбленці та дикі тварини

КОМЕНТАРІ • 141

  • @KeepingFishSimple
    @KeepingFishSimple 2 роки тому +7

    excellent video! good to see another brissie fish vid maker

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  2 роки тому +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 роки тому +3

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

  • @dalemcbee6413
    @dalemcbee6413 Рік тому +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.

  • @jamesjamesnet
    @jamesjamesnet Рік тому +2

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

  • @muhe9857
    @muhe9857 6 місяців тому +1

    Really like your fishes, they are beautiful!

  • @juicetin4491
    @juicetin4491 2 роки тому +1

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

  • @nathangispan1573
    @nathangispan1573 2 роки тому

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

  • @laurag1076
    @laurag1076 2 роки тому

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

  • @Romeo_Derose
    @Romeo_Derose 2 роки тому +2

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

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  2 роки тому +1

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

  • @ryanramsaroop4074
    @ryanramsaroop4074 2 роки тому +1

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

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  2 роки тому +1

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

  • @mc-um3nv
    @mc-um3nv 9 місяців тому

    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  9 місяців тому

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

  • @jovenbitara
    @jovenbitara 5 місяців тому

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

  • @bigesfishroom3174
    @bigesfishroom3174 2 роки тому

    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 роки тому

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

  • @Sandoz-tq7qj
    @Sandoz-tq7qj 8 місяців тому

    Good video and fishes 👍

  • @Bluembuna79
    @Bluembuna79 2 роки тому +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.

  • @avrillloyd8541
    @avrillloyd8541 2 роки тому +1

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

  • @drewzero1
    @drewzero1 2 роки тому +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 роки тому +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 9 місяців тому

      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!

  • @aquahobby1982
    @aquahobby1982 2 роки тому +1

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

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  2 роки тому

      Thank you so much! I really appreciate it 😊

  • @Daqavousporkpay
    @Daqavousporkpay 9 місяців тому +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

  • @cosmicshy637
    @cosmicshy637 2 роки тому

    Awesome video, Katy!

  • @tomcrossan8263
    @tomcrossan8263 2 роки тому

    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 роки тому

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

  • @AAE-cg1il
    @AAE-cg1il 4 місяці тому

    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  4 місяці тому

      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

  • @ARod-br2ui
    @ARod-br2ui 2 роки тому

    Another wonderful video.

  • @pascoerusso8615
    @pascoerusso8615 2 роки тому

    Hi Kaity , great content & awesome video 👍👍

  • @mrjeffish8113
    @mrjeffish8113 2 роки тому +1

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

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  2 роки тому

      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 роки тому

      @@Kaityscichlids 🥰

  • @JKFISHWORLD
    @JKFISHWORLD 4 місяці тому

    Thank you so much 🐠🐠🐠🐠💞KC

  • @KoolBeans426
    @KoolBeans426 2 місяці тому

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

  • @talhatahir461
    @talhatahir461 2 роки тому

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

  • @humpy936
    @humpy936 Рік тому

    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  Рік тому

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

  • @ArunKumar-n
    @ArunKumar-n 2 роки тому

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

  • @pareshkeer5616
    @pareshkeer5616 Рік тому

    Nice

  • @roohollahyeylaghiashrafi7095

    👌

  • @amandaw5326
    @amandaw5326 2 роки тому

    Beautiful tank

  • @TN-xe8ok
    @TN-xe8ok 2 роки тому

    Well said ! A+

  • @MsJimbo1960
    @MsJimbo1960 7 місяців тому

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

  • @alexslepak53
    @alexslepak53 2 роки тому

    Love it

  • @animablo
    @animablo 8 місяців тому

    I'm starting to get interested in cichlids

  • @dack4545
    @dack4545 2 роки тому

    Good ideas thank you 💙

  • @GeronimoUpload
    @GeronimoUpload Рік тому

    Nice fish tank

  • @akvaristugur9479
    @akvaristugur9479 2 роки тому

    very nice sharing thank you

  • @RobsAquariumRoom
    @RobsAquariumRoom 2 роки тому

    Great information 👍🏼👍🏼

  • @hopehobby9297
    @hopehobby9297 2 роки тому

    Very useful video

  • @Professor-qu5vz
    @Professor-qu5vz 2 роки тому

    👍

  • @paulhana2162
    @paulhana2162 Рік тому

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

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  Рік тому +1

      Thank you 😁 and close!! I am Australian 🤣

    • @paulhana2162
      @paulhana2162 Рік тому

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

  • @malekemoore3947
    @malekemoore3947 8 місяців тому

    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

  • @sensationalseas4555
    @sensationalseas4555 2 роки тому

    Another good video

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  2 роки тому

      Thank you!! 😄

    • @sensationalseas4555
      @sensationalseas4555 2 роки тому

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

  • @rambo410
    @rambo410 2 роки тому

    love your accent

  • @jaderainhans9095
    @jaderainhans9095 9 місяців тому

    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.

  • @jeffkim4620
    @jeffkim4620 2 роки тому +2

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

  • @tinacox4999akadirtysouth
    @tinacox4999akadirtysouth 2 роки тому

    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 роки тому

      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

  • @seanaustin8516
    @seanaustin8516 Рік тому +1

    Video ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

  • @Shashankmk
    @Shashankmk 2 роки тому +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 роки тому +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 роки тому +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 роки тому +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

  • @BeseDanAlexandru
    @BeseDanAlexandru 2 роки тому +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

  • @arindamscacichlids7113
    @arindamscacichlids7113 2 роки тому +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 роки тому +1

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

  • @laurag1076
    @laurag1076 2 роки тому

    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..... 😊🐟

  • @pelhamsaquatics
    @pelhamsaquatics 2 роки тому

    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 роки тому +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 роки тому

      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 роки тому

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

  • @geraldhoffmann675
    @geraldhoffmann675 2 роки тому +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 :)

  • @richardhill2702
    @richardhill2702 Рік тому

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

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  Рік тому

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

  • @jonathanhoward4052
    @jonathanhoward4052 Рік тому

    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  Рік тому +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

  • @mohamedamgad8360
    @mohamedamgad8360 2 роки тому

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

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  2 роки тому +1

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

  • @shannonmcdonald1431
    @shannonmcdonald1431 Рік тому

    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?

  • @ueber30uwe
    @ueber30uwe 2 роки тому

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

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  2 роки тому

      Thank you!! They are the Freshwater AI Prime lights :) I did a video on them a little while back ua-cam.com/video/XHtin86VkPg/v-deo.html

  • @jeffkim4620
    @jeffkim4620 2 роки тому

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

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  2 роки тому

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

    • @mrjeffish8113
      @mrjeffish8113 2 роки тому

      @@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 😘

  • @mohammedfairoz5062
    @mohammedfairoz5062 2 роки тому

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

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  2 роки тому +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

  • @northernfishing5476
    @northernfishing5476 Рік тому

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

  • @avishekdas8111
    @avishekdas8111 2 місяці тому

    What's the size of your tank?

  • @rajs4283
    @rajs4283 2 роки тому

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

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  2 роки тому

      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 ua-cam.com/video/Pk0lodIDDJY/v-deo.html

  • @mahan624
    @mahan624 Рік тому +1

    Sister red devil review please sister

  • @johangray344
    @johangray344 2 роки тому

    HI Kaity what rocks are you using?

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  2 роки тому +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 роки тому

      @@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 роки тому

      @@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 роки тому

      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

  • @KhoirulArifin
    @KhoirulArifin 2 роки тому

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

  • @fishlove1854
    @fishlove1854 2 роки тому

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

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  2 роки тому

      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 роки тому

      It's the Mara Rock ahli hybrid I think.

  • @dbrown4752
    @dbrown4752 Рік тому

    Sand can be messy beware

  • @akshatsankhla6543
    @akshatsankhla6543 2 роки тому

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

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  2 роки тому

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

    • @akshatsankhla6543
      @akshatsankhla6543 2 роки тому

      @@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.

  • @coreygunter4787
    @coreygunter4787 2 роки тому

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

    • @Kaityscichlids
      @Kaityscichlids  2 роки тому +1

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

  • @nsfemilivilog
    @nsfemilivilog 2 роки тому

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