Keeping electric yellow cichlids happy and healthy.

[infold]

Electric Yellow Cichlids, or Labidochromis caeruleus, require a tank that's at least 3 feet in length. You can actually keep a group of them, 4 or more depending on the tank size, and they're prolific breeders.

They're surprisingly peaceful for a cichlid, hailing from Lake Malawi in Africa, which has a GH of around 300ppm and a pH above 7.6. These are mouth brooders, with the females holding eggs in their buccal pouch while they develop. The females will also allow the babies to swim back into their mouth for a few weeks after they're born.

The babies can be fed on newly hatched brineshrimp as soon as they're free swimming. For tankmates, you can keep them with peaceful Rift Lake cichlids, bigger rainbowfish, and some Synodontis catfish - Synodontis multipunctatus are commonly kept with them. Feed them a varied diet that includes plenty of plant matter.

The lowdown, space is key. You gotta think about giving those Electric Yellows some breathing room. That's the long and short of it.

[SeaBidder]

I'm no cichlid expert, but I've had my fair share over the years. What I can tell you is that cichlids are incredibly fascinating to keep, especially when it comes to their breeding and parenting habits - it's truly captivating to watch. The fry are relatively easy to care for, as most will readily accept BBS from the start. However, it's essential to remember that cichlids are naturally aggressive, and during breeding season, they can become quite territorial and may even attack their tankmates. In my experience, most cichlids do best when kept solo. As for water conditions, the tap water in the U.S. is often suitable for Rift Lake cichlids, but I've always been a strong proponent of species-only tanks. I've seen tanks with multiple Malawi cichlid species, but something about it never sat right with me - the fish seemed off, almost "funny" in a weird way. Despite my reservations, I highly recommend giving cichlids a try - every serious aquarist will eventually be drawn to them.

I'm with infold on this one - a bigger tank is the way to go. You gotta think big if you want to keep those Electric Yellow Cichlids happy. Mow some lawns, flip some burgers, or do whatever it takes to scrape together some cash. This hobby isn't cheap, but trust me, it's worth it. You deserve a killer setup, so go out there and hustle for it.

[kingrise]

Thanks for the advice, guys. I really appreciate the insight.

[infold]

Some habits are easier to kick than getting a job, ugh.

[SeaBidder]

Hard work is where it's at. Builds character, gives you a sense of pride. I started working part-time in high school and it stuck with me. Same with my kids, they worked part-time before graduation, then college, and now they're killing it with careers, homes, and families. Too many people these days think they're entitled to everything without putting in the effort. Got off on a tangent there, my bad.