Are Cichlids Expensive?

[alphabetic]

Are Cichlids (commonly) expensive to acquire? Despite my lack of knowledge for them, I've contemplated setting up an aquarium in future for these wonderful looking fish.

 

[idlefingers]

It depends.. What do you call expensive?

In my opinion, with commonly available american cichlids are pretty cheap <£10 to buy when they're young. Obviously some fish such as Discus and rarer breeds will command higher prices but if you were to compare to marines, they'd still be classed as cheap!

 

[england]

well my oscars cost £3 each<juvis>9-10 inches in one year
my jag cost £8<juvi>7-8 inch now in 6months<this size in my lfs £45..
green terror/jack dempsey/verija/severum all cost £5 each......there are exspensive cichlids out there but why bother when you get great fish for cheap..

my angel fish £3.50 his size after a year in my lfs goes for £15.....
keyholes i paid £3 each<all fish juvi>now there going for £10each at there size<1 year old>

 

[alphabetic]

Cheers for the replies.

Given my recent venture into this hobby, what I'd consider 'cheap' is perhaps anything under $15 AUD

I'm contemplating either a Jewel Rekord 160 or Rio 180 to house a number of smaller to medium-sized Cichlids. Sound okay? A larger tank may house more fish and look far more impressive, but an exorbitant tank and associated expense is not feasible (in the near future at least).