Lake Victoria Cichlids
There are several hundred vibrantly beautiful species of cichlids found in Lake Victoria alone, an estimated 200. There are also numerous attractive East African Cichlids from surrounding lakes and waterways, as well as a number of West African Cichlid species.
These cichlids are renown for their diversity and beauty, and for their fascinating behaviors. As the cichlid species evolved, they successfully exploited every conceivable way of life in the lakes and streams. There are several hundred vibrantly beautiful species of cichlids found in Lake Victoria alone.
Cichlids became adept at inhabiting moving waters, rocky areas, sandy shores, and open water (pelagic) regions. The simple term “African Cichlid” is anything but simple. There is a great diversity in the each of the cichlid genera and in their habitats. Yet all these cichlids make fascinating aquarium inhabitants.
Lake Victoria Cichlids, West African Cichlids, and other East African cichlids offer aquarists a delightful experience. They are enjoyed for beauty as well as interesting behaviors and personalities. They are quite active, displaying complex behaviors, and with the right environment many can be bred in captivity.
Lake Victoria Cichlids:
Habitats
Lake Victoria is one of the great lakes of Africa. It is the third largest lake in Africa but unlike Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika, it is not a rift lake. It is a “younger” lake than the other two and though it is also very large it is not a deep rift lake. Rather it is a shallower, saucer-shaped lake that lies between the two rift lake valleys.
The waters of Lake Victoria are known for clarity and stability as far as pH and other water chemistries. This lake is primarily filled through precipitation (80%) but also has numerous of streams with a high mineral content flowing into it. The high mineral content along with evaporation resulted in the lake having alkaline water that is highly mineralized. With the high level of dissolved minerals, the water is also very hard.
You can find buffers and water additives for your aquarium here:
https://www.sanctuarycichlids.com › collections › dry-goods
Lake Victoria Cichlids inhabit rocky areas, sandy areas, and midwater areas, or they can be a combination of two or all three of these types. Other East African Cichlids inhabit surrounding lakes with similar habitats. East African as well as the West African Cichlids are also found in other waterways – rivers and streams, and some in coastal areas.
Lake Victoria Cichlids
There are several hundred vibrantly beautiful species of cichlids found in Lake Victoria alone, though it is comprised almost entirely of endemic species of Haplochromines along with a few Talapines. Lake Victoria Cichlids have not been introduced into the hobby as intently as those from Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika, consequently they have not become as well known.
There is a large reduction in the number of cichlids from Lake Victoria today. The Lake Victoria area is one of the most densely populated places in the world. Human activities have a tremendous impact on the ecosystem and are greatly accelerating biological changes to the lake. They are also being impacted by the introduction of the Nile perch Lates niloticus, a voracious predator.
Source and for more information:
https://animal-world.com/african-cichlids-others/
