Cichlid Species: A Colorful Guide to the World's Cichlids

Cichlids are one of the biggest, most colorful fish families on the planet. There are over 1,300 species living across Africa, Asia and the Americas, and almost all of them prefer fresh water. This guide groups them by the great lakes and rivers they call home.

Curious about the different types of cichlids? Just scroll down and find out everything you need to know…

Cichlids are fish belonging to the Cichlidae family. They are part of a larger group called Labroidei, which also includes damselfish, wrasses, and surfperches. The Cichlidae family is enormous and varied, with at least 1,300 scientifically described species spread across more than 160 genera. They come in a huge range of colors, sizes, shapes, and behaviors. You can find them across the world, in Africa, Asia, and North and South America.

Facts About Cichlids

Because there are so many species, cichlids behave and live in all sorts of different ways. Most are herbivores (plant-eaters), but many eat both plants and animals. This flexibility is part of why they can survive in so many different places. Almost all cichlids live in freshwater, they rarely survive in salty ocean water.

In 2007, the IUCN Red List (the world's biggest record of threatened wildlife) found that about 156 cichlid species are vulnerable to extinction, 40 are endangered, and 69 are critically endangered. Sadly, 6 species (Haplochromis lividus, Haplochromis ishmaeli, Haplochromis perrieri, Platytaeniodus degeni, Paretroplus menarambo, and Yssichromis sp. nov. argens) have gone completely extinct in the wild.

Most cichlids are small, and many are caught as game fish or farmed for food. But many people keep cichlids as pets and love them for their striking colors and interesting behavior. The most popular aquarium cichlids are angelfish, Oscar fish, and discus fish.

Blue angelfish — **Angelfish** — a tall, graceful South American cichlid and a favorite first cichlid for many fishkeepers.

Astronotus Brindle Oscar — The **Oscar** (or velvet cichlid) is a big, clever fish that learns to recognize its owner.

Brown discus fish — The **discus** is nicknamed the “king of the aquarium” for its round, disc-shaped body.

Take the Cichlid Champions Quiz!

5 quick questions on the most colorful fish family on Earth. How many can you get?

African Species

Most of the cichlids you see in pet shops come from African rivers and lakes. Below is a list of the African species, grouped by where they live.

Lake Malawi

Lake Malawi is the 9th largest lake in the world. It sits on the borders of Malawi, Tanzania, and Mozambique. You can find more than 280 scientifically described cichlid species here. The biggest group is the Haplochromines, with more than 120 species across 48 genera.

Electric yellow cichlid — The **electric yellow**, an mbuna from Lion’s Cove, glows like a slice of lemon.

Nimbochromis venustus (Venustus Hap) — The **Venustus hap**, a big Malawi hunter with a giraffe-like golden pattern.

Big-lipped Cichlid
Moori or Blue Dolphin Cichlid
Malawi Eye-biter
Linni or Elephant-nose Cichlid
Livingstoni
Polystigma
Venustus
Deep-Water Haplo
Electric Blue Haplo

Mbuna Group of Cichilds

Red-dorsal Afra, Dogtooth Cichlid
Fuelleborn’s Cichlid, Fuelleborni
Trewavas Cichlid, Red-finned Cichlid
Electric Yellow Mbuna, Lion’s Cove Yellow
Malawi Golden Cichlid
Johann’s Mbuna
Parallel-striped Mbuna
Purple Mbuna
Aurora Cichlid
Bumblebee Mbuna or Hornet Cichlid
Elongatus, Slender Mbuna
Snail Shell Mbuna
Kennyi
Eduard’s Mbuna
Zebra Mbuna, Zebra Malawi Cichlid, Cobalt Blue Cichlid or Nyasa Blue Cichlid

Peacock Group

Baensch’s Peacock, Yellow Peacock Cichlid or Sunshine Peacock Cichlid
Red Shoulder Malawi Peacock
Lake Malawi Butterfly Cichlid

Lake Tanganyika

Lake Tanganyika is the longest lake in the world. It runs along the border between Congo and Tanzania, deep in the Great Rift Valley. More than 150 species from over 50 genera live here. Many of them are naturally aggressive fish.

Tropheus fish — **Tropheus** are colorful mouth-brooding cichlids found only in Lake Tanganyika.

Neolamprologus fish — Many **Neolamprologus** are tiny “shell-dwellers” that nest inside empty snail shells.

Pearly Compressiceps
Compressiceps
Frontosa
Black-finned Slender Cichlid
Striped Clown Goby, Striped Goby Cichlid, Tanganyika Clown
Dickfeld’s Juli
Checkerboard Julie
Golden Julie or Ornate Julie
Regan’s Julie or Striped Julie
Masked Julie or Black-and-White Julie
Fairy Cichlid
Daffodil Brichardi
Lemon Cichlid
Elongated Lemon Cichlid
Ocellated Shell-dweller
Pearl-lined Lamprologus
Five-bar Cichlid
Otostigma, Tripod Cichlid
Blue-eyed Tropheus
Duboisi
Blunt-headed Cichlid
Poll’s Tropheus
Aulonocara
Lamprichthys
Synodontis
Afromastacembelus

Cavity Brooder Group of Cichlids

Altolamprologus
Lamprologus
Julidochromis
Neolamprologus

Mouth Brooder Group of Cichlids

Cyphotilapia
Cyprichromis
Eretmodus
Tropheus
Xenotilapia

Other African Cichlids

Cichlids are not limited to just the famous lakes. A wide variety of species also live in other African waterways, including the Nile, Niger, Zambezi, and Zaire Rivers; lakes Albert, Victoria, and Volta; the coastal rivers of Sierra Leone; and the Okavango River Delta and the rainforests of Central Africa. These include:

African Butterfly Cichlid
Zebra Haplochromis
Two-spotted Jewel Cichlid
Blood-red Jewel Cichlid
Purple Cichlid or the Common Krib
African Blockhead or Lumphead Cichlid
Zebra Tilapia
Clown Tilapia

North American Species

American cichlids are famous for their bold behavior and amazing colors. They tend to be larger fish, so they need bigger tanks. The most common group in North American waters is the cichlasomines. These fish are known for being aggressive and territorial. If you keep them, give each male plenty of space to call his own, otherwise they will fight. Rainbow cichlids also live in North American waterways.

Mexican Firemouth — The **firemouth** flares a fiery red throat to look bigger when guarding its nest.

Jack Dempsey fish — The **Jack Dempsey** is named after a famous boxer — it is a real scrapper.

Texas cichlid (Herichthys cyanoguttatus) — The **Texas cichlid** is the only cichlid native to the United States.

Cichlasomines : Thorichthys Group

Firemouth Cichlid

Cichlasomines : Archocentrus Group

Convict Cichlid

Cichlasomines : Henrichthys Group

Pearlscale Cichlid
Texas Cichlid

Cichlasomines : Amphilophus Group

Midas Cichlid
Large Lipped Cichlid
Long Fin Cichlid

Nandopsis Group

Friedrichsthali
Jaguar Cichlid
Jack Dempsey
Salvin’s Cichlid or Tricolor Cichlid

Cichlasomines : Theraps Group

Red-spotted Cichlid
Black Belt Cichlid
Nicaragua Cichlid
Quetzal Cichlid or Red-headed Cichlid

South American Cichlid Species

South American rivers and lakes are home to roughly 225 cichlid species, with scientists estimating the real number may be around 300. More than 75% of them live in the mighty Amazon river basin.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many species of cichlid are there?

At least 1,300 scientifically described species, in more than 160 genera.

Do cichlids live in salt or fresh water?

Almost all cichlids are freshwater fish. They rarely survive in saltwater.

Which lake has the most cichlids?

Lake Malawi, with more than 280 described cichlid species.

What are some popular pet cichlids?

Angelfish, the Oscar (velvet cichlid), and discus fish are among the most popular.

Peacock bass — The **peacock bass** is a powerful Amazon predator and a prized game fish.

Keyhole Cichlid female — The gentle **keyhole cichlid** is named for the keyhole-shaped mark on its side.

Oscar fish or Velvet Cichlid
Peacock Bass
Festa’s Cichlid
Port Acara or Black Acara
Pike Cichlid
Banded Cichlid
Festive Cichlid

Acara Cichlids

Blue Acara
Green Terror or Rivulatus
Saddle Cichlid or Two-spot Acara
Keyhole Cichlid
Flag Acara
Golden Dwarf Cichlid

New World Dwarf Cichlids

Agassiz’s Dwarf Cichlid
Yellow Dwarf Cichlid
Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid
Three-Stripe Dwarf Cichlid
Ramirez’ Dwarf Cichlid

Angel Cichlid Species

Angelfish
Altum Angelfish

Discus Cichlid Species

Brown Discus Fish
Green Discus
Royal Blue Discus
Heckle Discus or Pompadour Fish
Waroo or Triangle Cichlid

Eartheater Cichlis Species

Cupid Cichlid
Pearl Cichlid or Mother-of-Pearl Eartheater
Red hump Eartheater
Paraguay Mouthbrooder
Demon Fish

Asian Species

Only two or three cichlid species live in Asia. They make their home in the slightly salty lagoons along the coasts of India and Sri Lanka.

Orange Chromide
Green Chromide or Banded Chromide

Because cichlids are so different in size, behavior, and diet, it is best to choose a species that suits your local conditions. If you are keeping cichlids as pets, make sure your fish tank has the right setup, clean water, the correct pH level and temperature, and a suitable gravel or substrate on the bottom. A happy tank means happy fish!

Blue green chromis fish — The **green chromide** is one of only a handful of cichlids from Asia, living in coastal lagoons of India and Sri Lanka.

Word	Meaning
Cichlid	A fish in the family Cichlidae. There are over 1,300 kinds, in a rainbow of colors and sizes.
Freshwater	Water that is not salty — like rivers, lakes and ponds. Almost all cichlids live here.
Mbuna	The rock-dwelling cichlids of Lake Malawi. The name means “rockfish” in the local Tonga language.
Mouthbrooder	A fish that protects its eggs and babies by carrying them inside its own mouth.
Genus	A group of very closely related species. The cichlid family has more than 160 different genera.
Endangered	A kind of animal that is at serious risk of dying out. Some wild cichlids are endangered today.

Cichlid Species: The World's Most Colorful Fish Family

Facts About Cichlids

Take the Cichlid Champions Quiz!