classifing ciclids

[mrcrabbs]

How do you classify cichlids? Some cichlids rip out eye balls of other fish while angels and such are very peaceful. How do you classify them?

 

[vantgE]

african or new world
and mild, agressive and modertely agrisive? temperaments
what do you want it for

 

[mrcrabbs]

Just wondering. but there are cichlids and tropical. How do they know that some fish are cichlids and others are tropical

 

[vantgE]

cichlids are considered tropical you just need to get familiar with the names and temperment of each species, it's easier to identify with a name or a pic to someone who knows cichlids there are alot more than people relize and more diverse in there needs then say livebearers
african mbuna will have a different body shape and although these are herbivourous they are more agresive cichlids
while rams are smaller and much less agrisive
and oscar huge and relatively agrisive omnivors
there are so many types
and ypu can't really say that blue ones are agrisive and not red ones
if you have a specific question everyone will be able to answer it but theres no broad easy rule to determine temperment

 

[vantgE]

arghhhhhhh, why do i kepp double posting

 

[mrcrabbs]

Well why are angel fish cichlid when they go in a community tank, but the other cihclids cant go in there. Why are angel fish classified cichlid when they go in community tanks.

 

[thecichlidaddict]

Well why are angel fish cichlid when they go in a community tank, but the other cihclids cant go in there. Why are angel fish classified cichlid when they go in community tanks.

Cichlids are cichlids, from the family Cichlidae. It doesn't matter where you put them, they are still cichlids. Some cichlids will be impartial to non-cichlid fish unless small enough to be seen as food, and angels happen to be one of these-- in general most non-predatory new-world cichlids can be kept with community fish if they are chosen appropriately, and the tank is big enough.

How do they know that some fish are cichlids and others are tropical

That I don't know. How does a great dane know that a pug is a canine?