Cichlids In The Usa?

[WildernessLofts]

I know about the Texas Cichlid, but what about further north? Do we have any cichlids in our temperate regions like Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Ohio, etc?

 

[Nevergone815]

I know about the Texas Cichlid, but what about further north? Do we have any cichlids in our temperate regions like Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Ohio, etc?

I know there's some pikes, but not sure if they're pike cichlids. Also, not sure if bluegills or pumpkinseed fish are considered cichlids, I'd have to check that one out... bass might be a cichlid

Now I'm curious...

 

[Gatorbait]

I don't know about all cichlids but the aggressive ones aren't native to the USA. Although, Oscars and red devils etc are now living in Florida waters.

Bass aren't cichlids and belong to the Genus Micropterus in the sunfish family Centrarchidae (sp?)

 

[tmack]

Information I've found is that the Texas Cichlid is the only one native to the USA (and Mexico) and they are listed as aggressive fish. I think some call them Rio Grande Cichlids also, so they must be found in the Rio Grande river (Lower Texas). Nothing native any further north than that.

 

[Gatorbait]

Cichlids couldn't live much further north since it's too cold.

I certainly wouldn't say that the Texas cichlid is all that aggressive tho. That sounds like a weird list.

 

[Nevergone815]

I don't know about all cichlids but the aggressive ones aren't native to the USA. Although, Oscars and red devils etc are now living in Florida waters.

Bass aren't cichlids and belong to the Genus Micropterus in the sunfish family Centrarchidae (sp?)

See I said maybe for a reason

I was pretty sure that Texas were the only ones native to the US, but wasn't 100% sure on what the others were classified as ...

Texas cichlds aren't all that aggressive, I want to get one for my cichlid community tank later on...

 

[pica_nuttalli]

however, sunfish are pretty close in terms of behavior to cichlids. like most wild-caughts, they typically need very clean water and can be difficult to feed. if you do decide to keep some NA sunfish, then be sure to carefully research max. sizes and temperature requirements. (trying to keep true coldwater fish above 70 degF is generally pointless.)

 

[cheesy feet]

My texas was the most feircesome fish i ever had,if you read around they say some can be mixed with other large cichlids,and some are just evil! Like mine was.

 

[Gatorbait]

My texas was the most feircesome fish i ever had,if you read around they say some can be mixed with other large cichlids,and some are just evil! Like mine was.

They are more community fish than aggressive fish. They might be aggressive in comparison to what you've had and that's fine, they are beautiful fish but I didn't want people to think they were aggressive in comparison to cichlid standards and be afraid to get them. They're kind of like Oscars and not that aggressive at all as far as cichlids go.

dovii
umbee
Red Devil
motaguense
odo
midas
managuense
flowerhorn
festae
wolf cichlid
trimac
neets
chipokae

Those are aggressive cichlids and can all be had easily. I suggest anyone that's not been in the hobby a while to not get the odo (Black Nasty or haitiensis) due to their diet.

 

[Gatorbait]

however, sunfish are pretty close in terms of behavior to cichlids. like most wild-caughts, they typically need very clean water and can be difficult to feed. if you do decide to keep some NA sunfish, then be sure to carefully research max. sizes and temperature requirements. (trying to keep true coldwater fish above 70 degF is generally pointless.)

Native fish are nutso!

Bluegills and the green sunfish (L. cyanellus) are 2 of the baddest fish I've ever had. I've seen smallmouth bass rule tanks and keep every other fish in the corners including largemouth bass twice his size. I've never had a smallmouth but if I ever get rich and can afford a tank that size I'll sure give it a try.

 

[Nevergone815]

however, sunfish are pretty close in terms of behavior to cichlids. like most wild-caughts, they typically need very clean water and can be difficult to feed. if you do decide to keep some NA sunfish, then be sure to carefully research max. sizes and temperature requirements. (trying to keep true coldwater fish above 70 degF is generally pointless.)

Native fish are nutso!

Bluegills and the green sunfish (L. cyanellus) are 2 of the baddest fish I've ever had. I've seen smallmouth bass rule tanks and keep every other fish in the corners including largemouth bass twice his size. I've never had a smallmouth but if I ever get rich and can afford a tank that size I'll sure give it a try.

My family is currently working on getting a "natural" pond installed. They don't want any linings or anything, just the dirt around, water and the fish. They plan to keep bass in their and have them self populate... only problem... the place where it would fit best... it doesn't keep filled on its own and my dad refuses to put a liner. Maybe one day...

 

[t1tanrush]

however, sunfish are pretty close in terms of behavior to cichlids. like most wild-caughts, they typically need very clean water and can be difficult to feed. if you do decide to keep some NA sunfish, then be sure to carefully research max. sizes and temperature requirements. (trying to keep true coldwater fish above 70 degF is generally pointless.)

Let me correct this post as your information is wrong.
They don't need very clean water, they are used to dirty lake water and thats whats recommended for them when you first bring them home, and then gradually adding tap water. NA sunfish are easy to keep, I had a bluegill for 2 years as a kid in a 15-20g tank, and it was around 6-8 inches fed on worms and floating pellets from the moment we brought it home. The largest of the sunfish reach a max of around 12 inches, although this is unlikely and most sunfish will stay around 8-10". Temperature requirements = zero. Many people have kept sunfish at temps as high as 80 deg F with tropical fish and had no problems with them. It has a point and they will generally do just fine.

however, sunfish are pretty close in terms of behavior to cichlids. like most wild-caughts, they typically need very clean water and can be difficult to feed. if you do decide to keep some NA sunfish, then be sure to carefully research max. sizes and temperature requirements. (trying to keep true coldwater fish above 70 degF is generally pointless.)

Native fish are nutso!

Bluegills and the green sunfish (L. cyanellus) are 2 of the baddest fish I've ever had. I've seen smallmouth bass rule tanks and keep every other fish in the corners including largemouth bass twice his size. I've never had a smallmouth but if I ever get rich and can afford a tank that size I'll sure give it a try.

If you do go natives, make sure to either go with a single fish, or several fish in a larger tank, much like african cichlids. Even then you might get a particularly feisty fish who might need a whooping. I had a 75g planned out with 6 sunfish and a madtom catfish, simply to keep aggression down.
(Before anyone says thats overstocking and yells at me, I got this information from native fish keepers who said this is fine, NA fish are not tropicals.)

If you want to keep sunfish and would like to find some nice colorful ones, give me a PM I can get you a link to some people who can collect some very nice specimens for only the cost of shipping. Of course if you have any questions feel free to ask.

 

[Gatorbait]

however, sunfish are pretty close in terms of behavior to cichlids. like most wild-caughts, they typically need very clean water and can be difficult to feed. if you do decide to keep some NA sunfish, then be sure to carefully research max. sizes and temperature requirements. (trying to keep true coldwater fish above 70 degF is generally pointless.)

Let me correct this post as your information is wrong.
They don't need very clean water, they are used to dirty lake water and thats whats recommended for them when you first bring them home, and then gradually adding tap water. NA sunfish are easy to keep, I had a bluegill for 2 years as a kid in a 15-20g tank, and it was around 6-8 inches fed on worms and floating pellets from the moment we brought it home. The largest of the sunfish reach a max of around 12 inches, although this is unlikely and most sunfish will stay around 8-10". Temperature requirements = zero. Many people have kept sunfish at temps as high as 80 deg F with tropical fish and had no problems with them. It has a point and they will generally do just fine.

however, sunfish are pretty close in terms of behavior to cichlids. like most wild-caughts, they typically need very clean water and can be difficult to feed. if you do decide to keep some NA sunfish, then be sure to carefully research max. sizes and temperature requirements. (trying to keep true coldwater fish above 70 degF is generally pointless.)

Native fish are nutso!

Bluegills and the green sunfish (L. cyanellus) are 2 of the baddest fish I've ever had. I've seen smallmouth bass rule tanks and keep every other fish in the corners including largemouth bass twice his size. I've never had a smallmouth but if I ever get rich and can afford a tank that size I'll sure give it a try.

If you do go natives, make sure to either go with a single fish, or several fish in a larger tank, much like african cichlids. Even then you might get a particularly feisty fish who might need a whooping. I had a 75g planned out with 6 sunfish and a madtom catfish, simply to keep aggression down.
(Before anyone says thats overstocking and yells at me, I got this information from native fish keepers who said this is fine, NA fish are not tropicals.)

If you want to keep sunfish and would like to find some nice colorful ones, give me a PM I can get you a link to some people who can collect some very nice specimens for only the cost of shipping. Of course if you have any questions feel free to ask.

Thank you, I'll definitely keep that in mind. That sounds like a great deal.

 

[cheesy feet]

My texas was the most feircesome fish i ever had,if you read around they say some can be mixed with other large cichlids,and some are just evil! Like mine was.

They are more community fish than aggressive fish. They might be aggressive in comparison to what you've had and that's fine, they are beautiful fish but I didn't want people to think they were aggressive in comparison to cichlid standards and be afraid to get them. They're kind of like Oscars and not that aggressive at all as far as cichlids go.

dovii
umbee
Red Devil
motaguense
odo
midas
managuense
flowerhorn
festae
wolf cichlid
trimac
neets
chipokae

Those are aggressive cichlids and can all be had easily. I suggest anyone that's not been in the hobby a while to not get the odo (Black Nasty or haitiensis) due to their diet.

...If you read around people some say that their texas cichlids are very aggressive.On a cichlid standard you couldn't get anymore aggresive then mine was.It would bite me and any other fish in it's aquarium.It nearly killed my two breeding severums(when they were bigger and guarding their nest site) killed an upside down catfish,chased and bit my male convict cichlid (after being introduced to a 100 gallon tank whcih the convict had been in for months) attacked a pleco all day and tried to attack fish from other tanks around the room.I have an oscar and the aggresiveness compared to my texas cichlid is nothing...
Just saying obvously these fish vary in personality/aggressiveness alot.So be prepared for one...

 

[Gatorbait]

My texas was the most feircesome fish i ever had,if you read around they say some can be mixed with other large cichlids,and some are just evil! Like mine was.

They are more community fish than aggressive fish. They might be aggressive in comparison to what you've had and that's fine, they are beautiful fish but I didn't want people to think they were aggressive in comparison to cichlid standards and be afraid to get them. They're kind of like Oscars and not that aggressive at all as far as cichlids go.

dovii
umbee
Red Devil
motaguense
odo
midas
managuense
flowerhorn
festae
wolf cichlid
trimac
neets
chipokae

Those are aggressive cichlids and can all be had easily. I suggest anyone that's not been in the hobby a while to not get the odo (Black Nasty or haitiensis) due to their diet.

...If you read around people some say that their texas cichlids are very aggressive.On a cichlid standard you couldn't get anymore aggresive then mine was.It would bite me and any other fish in it's aquarium.It nearly killed my two breeding severums(when they were bigger and guarding their nest site) killed an upside down catfish,chased and bit my male convict cichlid (after being introduced to a 100 gallon tank whcih the convict had been in for months) attacked a pleco all day and tried to attack fish from other tanks around the room.I have an oscar and the aggresiveness compared to my texas cichlid is nothing...
Just saying obvously these fish vary in personality/aggressiveness alot.So be prepared for one...

I believe you 100% that people say their Texas cichlids are very aggressive. I'm not saying any different. I don't believe they are aggresive when compared to the cichlid standard and the most aggresive cichlids, is all.

I also believe that the Texas cichlid is more aggressive than your Oscar. I think Oscar's are one of the least aggressive cichlids there are. So I definitely believe that.

I don't want to turn this into a pissing contest especially since I like you and neither of us have anything to gain but there is no Texas cichlid as aggressive as an umbee, dovii or haitiensis. I know it varies with cichlids but not in this case when the extremes are so far away. I just wish you'd believe me on this one but I can't make you believe me.