Question 1

What water do African cichlids need?

Accepted Answer

Hard, alkaline water — pH around 7.8-8.5 — which mirrors the rift lakes they come from. This is the single biggest difference from South American cichlids and most community fish. Fortunately much of the UK has naturally hard tap water that suits them; soft-water areas may need mineral buffering.

Question 2

How much do African cichlids cost in the UK?

Accepted Answer

Common mbuna and juvenile peacocks start at about £4, with most fish £10-£20. Rare wild-caught Tanganyikans and premium peacock strains run much higher, into the hundreds for show specimens. Prices on this page are live: what you see is what's in stock today.

Question 3

Can I keep African cichlids in a community tank?

Accepted Answer

Not with typical community fish — they are too territorial and need hard water that soft-water species dislike. The usual approach is a species-appropriate cichlid community: a group of Malawi mbuna together, or Tanganyikans together, stocked slightly heavily over rockwork so no single fish is bullied. Don't mix Malawi and Tanganyika casually.

Question 4

Why are African cichlids kept overstocked?

Accepted Answer

It sounds counterintuitive, but deliberately crowding mbuna spreads aggression so no one fish gets singled out and killed. Combined with heavy filtration, plenty of rock caves and frequent water changes, controlled overstocking is a standard, well-established technique for keeping the peace in a Malawi tank.

Question 5

Are African cichlids good for beginners?

Accepted Answer

They are a step up from community fish — the hard-water requirement, territorial behaviour and stocking strategy all need planning. That said, a Malawi mbuna tank is one of the most rewarding intermediate setups, and the fish themselves are hardy. Read the care guide and plan the aquascape before you buy.

Question 6

Is it safe to buy African cichlids online?

Accepted Answer

Yes. African cichlids are robust fish that ship well: bagged in oxygen-charged water inside a polystyrene-insulated box with a winter heat pack, sent by a licensed live-animal courier on a Wednesday for Thursday arrival. Our photo-proof live arrival guarantee covers every order.

Question 7

How do African cichlids breed?

Accepted Answer

Most African rift-lake cichlids — Malawi mbuna and Aulonocara peacocks, and many Tanganyikans — are maternal mouthbrooders. After spawning over a rock or in a pit, the female scoops the fertilised eggs into her mouth and holds the developing fry there for around three weeks, not eating, until they are released as free-swimming juveniles. This is why a stocked Malawi tank so often produces fry with no effort, and why hard, alkaline water that mirrors the rift lakes keeps the fish in breeding condition.

African Cichlids for Sale UK

Yellow Lepturus Cichlid (Buccochromis rhoadesii)

Bluegray mbuna, Johanni Mbuna (Melanochromis johanni)

Aristochromis christyi (Malawi Hawk Cichlid)

Karilani Herring Cichlid (Cyprichromis microlepidotus)

Blunt-Headed Cichlid, Moori (Tropheus moorii orange I "bemba")

Gold Head Compressiceps (Altolamprologus compressiceps)

Chalinochromis brichardi

Lwanda Peacock Cichlid (Aulonocara sp. 'Lwanda')

Scrapemouth mbuna Chilumba (Labeotropheus trewavasae chilumba)

Meleagris Shell-Dweller (Neolamprologus stappersi)

Petrochromis sp. "Kazumbe" Cape Kabogo

Electric Blue Hap (Sciaenochromis fryeri)

Acei Cichlid (Pseudotropheus sp. "acei")

Metriaclima sp. Emmiltos "Mpangha Rocks"

Blue Ocellated Shell-Dweller (Lamprologus ocellatus)

OB Red Zebra Mbuna (Maylandia zebra)

Steveni Blue Neon Peacock Cichlid (Aulonocara stuartgranti)

Kande Island Peacock Cichlid

Gold Mundola Point Zebra Mbuna (Maylandia sp. 'zebra gold')

Zonatus Cichlid (Cyprichromis zonatus)

Humphead Cichlid (Steatocranus gibbiceps)

Saulosi Mbuna (Chindongo saulosi)

Gallireya Reef Dogtooth Cichlid (Cynotilapia sp. 'Hara')

Blue Otter Cichlid (Placidochromis sp. 'Blue Otter')

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