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Freshwater angelfishUp to 10.5 cm · 26–30 °CBlack vertical bars and tall fins: aquarium height matters.
Acarichthys heckeliiUp to 20 cm · 24–30 °CA yellowish body, red eyes and extended fin rays stand out.
Altolamprologus calvusUp to 13.8 cm · 24–27 °CThe deep, extremely compressed body can enter rock crevices to hunt.
Altolamprologus compressicepsUp to 12.5 cm · 24–28 °CA Lake Tanganyika cichlid with a very compressed body, adapted to ambushing prey in rock crevices.
Amatitlania sajicaUp to 9 cm · 23–30 °CA small to medium-sized cichlid from the Pacific side of Costa Rica; both parents guard eggs and fry.
Amphilophus citrinellusUp to 35 cm · 21–26 °CA robust body and a prominent forehead hump in adult males stand out.
Andinoacara rivulatusUp to 30 cm · 20–24 °CWavy blue head markings and gold-orange fin margins in commonly traded forms.
Anomalochromis thomasiUp to 8 cm · 23–27 °CJuveniles are plain, with stronger colors developing in adults. Females usually have clearer black markings; males are larger.
Agassiz’s dwarf cichlidUp to 4.2 cm · 22–29 °CAn elongated body and modest central tail point; blue-gold is one of many appearances.
Apistogramma baenschiUp to 5.5 cm · 20–26 °CMales have tall anterior dorsal-fin rays and a red tail band bordered in black.
Apistogramma borelliiUp to 6.5 cm · 20–26 °CMales are larger and more colorful than females, with more extended fins.
Cockatoo dwarf cichlidUp to 5 cm · 22–29 °CA cockatoo-like front dorsal crest; red-black fins belong to this ornamental form.
Apistogramma macmasteriUp to 5.5 cm · 24–28 °CA dwarf cichlid from Colombia's upper Meta basin; males are larger with more extended fins.
Apistogramma nijsseniUp to 8.5 cm · 24–28 °CThe panda dwarf cichlid, from blackwater tributaries of the Ucayali River in Peru.
Apistogramma panduroUp to 7.5 cm · 22–29 °CThe lower jaw projects clearly beyond the upper jaw, helping distinguish it from several similar dwarf cichlids.
OscarUp to 35 cm · 20–28 °CBold orange-black markings on a powerful fish; plan for adult space first.
Aulonocara jacobfreibergiUp to 17 cm · 25–29 °CBroad pale outer margins on the dorsal, anal and caudal fins, with a relatively deeply forked tail.
Powder blue cichlidUp to 11.5 cm · 24–28 °CPowder blue with dark fin edges; males and females look similar.
Cleithracara maroniiUp to 11 cm · 21–28 °CThe keyhole-shaped black mark on each flank is its most recognizable feature.
Copadichromis borleyiUp to 20 cm · 25–29 °CAn open-water Utaka cichlid from Lake Malawi; males are more colorful with longer fins.
Cyphotilapia frontosaUp to 25.5 cm · 23–27 °CA forehead hump and broad vertical bars; most locality forms have six bars and the Kigoma form seven.
Cyprichromis leptosomaUp to 12.5 cm · 24–27 °CSlender and active in open water; males are more colorful than females.
Dimidiochromis compressicepsUp to 25 cm · 23–28 °CA laterally compressed body with a dark stripe from snout to tail; waits head-down among plants to ambush prey.
Altifrons eartheaterUp to 22.5 cm · 26–32 °CA tall forehead and fine blue-red pattern; the adult flank spot is tiny or absent.
Geophagus brasiliensisUp to 25 cm · 18–28 °CPearlescent scales look blue, green or yellow by locality; dominant males may grow a forehead hump.
Geophagus pyrocephalusUp to 16 cm · 23–28 °CThe forehead becomes orange-red in both mature sexes, and juveniles already show narrow vertical bars.
Herichthys carpintisUp to 30.5 cm · 24–26 °CBlue-green sheen and reflective patches on the flanks; often sold as Green Texas.
Heros efasciatusUp to 30 cm · 22.2–28.9 °CCommon forms include green fish and a selectively bred gold form.
Herotilapia multispinosaUp to 17.5 cm · 22–28 °CBreeding condition may reveal locality colors such as orange fins or lemon yellow.
Hypsophrys nicaraguensisUp to 25 cm · 23–28 °CFemales keep a black lateral stripe; males often show just one black flank spot.
Julidochromis marlieriUp to 15 cm · 23–27 °CThe checkerboard Julie, which follows rock surfaces even when they slope.
Julidochromis ornatusUp to 8 cm · 23–27 °CA small yellow Julie; captive-bred fish may be less brightly colored than wild stock.
Laetacara curvicepsUp to 5 cm · 20–28 °COften has a dark spot at the dorsal-fin base and a black spot at the tail base.
Laetacara dorsigeraUp to 3.7 cm · 20–28 °CIn breeding, both sexes redden noticeably on the cheeks, gill covers and belly.
Lamprologus ocellatusUp to 6 cm · 23–27 °CRounded, bulging facial profile; it buries shells and guards near the entrance.
Maylandia callainosUp to 13.5 cm · 24–28 °CThe cobalt-blue form is common, with orange-blotched and pearl forms also occurring.
Maylandia estheraeUp to 13.5 cm · 24–28 °CBlue males and orange females are common, but orange males and orange-blotched forms also occur.
Golden mbunaUp to 11 cm · 24–28 °CA dark adult male with a pale stripe; yellow juveniles can look very different.
Mesonauta festivusUp to 10 cm · 24–28 °CBlue facial markings and iridescent blue scales occur in some wild Brazilian stocks; new arrivals may be shy.
Bolivian ramUp to 8 cm · 24–28 °CA black eye bar, flank blotch and red fin edges; leave soft sand for feeding.
Ram cichlidUp to 4 cm · 27–30 °CAn eye bar, flank blotch and blue spangles; small size does not mean easy care.
Nannacara anomalaUp to 7.6 cm · 22–27 °CMales are noticeably larger with pale blue and red coloration. Females are yellowish with a black lateral stripe and may show a checkerboard pattern during breeding.
Nanochromis parilusUp to 8 cm · 22–25 °CFemales have a purple-tinged belly and are often more colorful. Males have stripes on the upper half of the caudal fin, while females lack spots on its lower portion.
Nanochromis transvestitusUp to 7 cm · 24–27 °CFemales are more colorful than males, with a distinctly reddish belly. Males may have slightly elongated dorsal- and anal-fin tips.
Neolamprologus brevisUp to 6 cm · 23–27 °CVertical flank bars and a slightly bulging face. A pair may share one shell; the bars distinguish it from L. ocellatus, which lacks the same pattern.
Nimbochromis livingstoniiUp to 25 cm · 24–28 °CIts mottled body and motionless ambush posture on the bottom can imitate a dead fish and lure small fish close. Breeding males develop stronger blue coloration.
Nimbochromis venustusUp to 25 cm · 24–28 °CIrregular dark blotches create a giraffe-like pattern. Blue and yellow are more prominent in males and intensify during breeding.
Parachromis managuensisUp to 61 cm · 24–30 °CA large predatory cichlid. Males have more pointed dorsal and anal fins and usually stronger coloration; females are smaller with rounder outlines.
Paracyprichromis nigripinnisUp to 11 cm · 24–27 °CRelatively large-eyed and rounded in body, with elongated tail tips in males. It may hang upside down beneath overhangs or hold a vertical position beside rock faces.
Pelvicachromis kribensisUp to 6.5 cm · 22–26 °CMales from Nyété often have 3–5 gold-edged eyespots on the upper caudal fin, unlike the Lobé form, which lacks these tail spots.
KribensisUp to 10 cm · 24–27 °CA purple belly and dark lateral band; a cave-breeding West African cichlid.
Pseudetroplus maculatusUp to 8 cm · 20–28 °CDomestic red and yellow forms are fairly uniform yellow-orange with reduced dark markings.
Pseudocrenilabrus multicolorUp to 8 cm · 20–26 °CMales are slightly larger and become more colorful when breeding.
Altum angelfishUp to 17.8 cm · 28–30 °CA steep forehead, saddle-like snout and very tall fins; usable water depth matters.
Rubricatochromis guttatusUp to 12 cmVaries markedly in colour, from moss green to deep red, with differing numbers of iridescent blue spots.
Satanoperca jurupariUp to 18.5 cm · 20–28 °CA small dark eyespot sits on the upper tail base; the head lacks the conspicuous white spots of S. leucosticta.
Whitespot eartheaterUp to 15 cm · 20–28 °CA long sloping snout and pale spots over the cheek and gill cover.
Sciaenochromis fryeriUp to 20 cm · 24–28 °CMature males are electric blue, with intensity changing with condition.
Steatocranus casuariusUp to 12 cm · 24–28 °CHas a raised forehead; males are larger and usually have a more pronounced hump.
Symphysodon aequifasciatusUp to 13.7 cm · 26–30 °CA deep-bodied, laterally compressed discus suited to quiet surroundings with shelter.
Heckel discusUp to 12.3 cm · 26–30 °CA disk-shaped body and broad central bar; watch the sand-searching behaviour.
Symphysodon tarzooUp to 16.3 cm · 27–30 °CThe extent of green-blue striping and red spotting varies between individuals and does not define separate species.
Tropheus duboisiUp to 12 cm · 23–27 °CJuveniles are black with dense white or pale blue spots; adults become blue-black with a yellow or white vertical band.
Uaru amphiacanthoidesUp to 25.4 cm · 27–30 °CAdults have a conspicuous large black triangular flank patch.
Cichlid types: angelfish, yellow labs and habitat differences
Familiar names reveal a diverse family
Pterophyllum scalare and Labidochromis caeruleus are both cichlids, from South American rivers and Lake Malawi respectively. Begin with a familiar outline or name, then investigate the individual environment. These examples do not represent every American or African cichlid, and shared geography alone does not establish compatibility.
Angelfish: colour forms and adult height
Domestic angelfish include black and gold forms; colour does not create another species. Consider adult height and fin clearance alongside body length. Angelfish may eat small fish and quarrel with their own kind. An elegant appearance is not evidence that tiny tankmates are safe.
Yellow labs: look beyond the yellow form
Electric yellow is a familiar form of Labidochromis caeruleus, not a care standard for all cichlids. This fish calls for hard, alkaline conditions and rocky shelter. Breeding can bring territorial behaviour. Relative peacefulness remains contextual, and adding fish does not remove the need to observe conflict.
Parental care differs too
Angelfish lay and guard eggs on surfaces; female yellow labs mouthbrood. These differences help explain why breeding changes the questions about space and social arrangements. Compare identity and forms, adult shape, water, food, territory and parental care separately. The profiles below support learning, not a proposal to house the two together.