The three-lake cichlid refers to the cichlid family of fish distributed in the three major lakes of East Africa: Lake Tangan Ika, Lake Malawi and Lake Victoria, with a population of about 700 species. They have always been known for their brilliant and colorful appearance. Are you familiar with some of these beautiful three-lake cichlids? Here are the top 10 most beautiful three-lake cichlids, including Sai Lan Rokuma, Cleopatra, Blue Jasmine, Kuthra, Emperor Fish, Venus, Telan Zebra and more. The pleasing appearance of these three-lake cichlids has made them the focus of people's pursuit, so let's take a look at their unique beauty.
1. Six rooms of Saylan
Which species of cichlid is beautiful in the three lakes? The consensus of most aquarists is that there are six blue sages. Originating from the deep waters of the Zaire coast in northern Tanganyik Lake in Africa, the fish is one of the most famous of the more than 10 species of six fish in Lake Tan, and is also one of the more precious fish in the world.
Say-Blue Rokuma is known for its strong contrast of pale blue and black, and the lines are exceptionally clear. Because of its changing colors, strong body, elegant posture and excellent adaptability to water and soil, it is favored by cichlid lovers. Under the right water quality and environment, the six rooms are loved for their stunning and beautiful colors.
2. Cleopatra
Cleopatra is mainly found in Lake Malawi, Africa, and its physical characteristics are mainly reflected in a wide and distinct transverse band on the side. The color of the fish's body is characterized by a blue undertone on the sides of the body, a bright blue on the head and back, most of the body is bordered with broad red scales, a blue dorsal fin with a fiery red upper edge, and a complete fiery red fin on the pelvic, anal and caudal fins. Its eyes are coppery yellow and have black eyeballs.
The male has a bright red body color, while the head has a blue-green color, a contrasting color that shows quite beautiful appearance features.
3. Blue Jasmine
I especially like the blue jasmine in the Three Lakes cichlid. Known as the "Lake Malawi Blue Dolphin" in the European and American markets, this fish is named for its dolphin-like protruding forehead and the bright blue-blue color of kale that it presents overall. On the side of the body, it is covered with irregular dark spots, which add a unique charm.
Although originally classified as a genus of Haplochromis, today blue jasmine is the only species in the genus Cyrtocara. Since it first entered the market in 1968, Blue Jasmine has been a favorite among tropical fish lovers. Its unique appearance and attractive color make blue jasmine one of the most popular aquarium fish.
4. Kusla
Kusla is a large cichlid fish that can reach a length of about 40 centimeters. Its body is slightly flattened laterally, in the shape of a long fusiform, the head is triangular, the snout protrudes forward, the mouth is wide, and the jaws are strong and sharp.
After the adult Kusra hair color, the body color becomes extremely gorgeous and gorgeous. It usually appears violet-blue or bright blue, and sometimes green. The anal fins range in color from blue to orange-red, while the posterior sides of the body and caudal fin are covered with bright red spots, and the anal fins have bright white egg spots. It exudes a wild look and a stunningly gorgeous body color, which has earned it the nickname "Crown of Lake Malawi".
5. Emperor fish
Which three-lake cichlid fish is the most fascinating? The emperor fish has always attracted attention and is popular for its beautiful patterns. As this fish grows, its body pattern changes dramatically. The juvenile emperor fish has a cyan color with a spiral pattern.
However, when the emperor fish grows to about 23 centimeters, the white spiral pattern on its body will transform into more than a dozen yellow vertical lines. When it is "dressed in a yellow robe", the adult fish looks like a monarch, which is why it is called the emperor fish. The striking yellow lines show majesty and luxury, making people feel the bearing of His Majesty the Emperor.
6. Venus
The Venus commonly found in aquariums are usually small individuals, and they are known as Kaligono in Lake Malawi, a name that means "sleeper". Females often have yellow and brown body colors, while males have blue faces and yellowish brown bodies.
However, this is not the case for all individuals, as some Venus have blue bodies, while both females and males have camouflage-like patterns on their bodies. Overall, Venus is a very gorgeous and fascinating fish, pleasing to the eye both in appearance and color.
7. Extra-blue zebra
The extra-blue zebra exhibits a very striking deep blue and space blue, which is a striking and beautiful color for both males and females. Due to its high ornamental value, the blue zebra has been widely bred in captivity in Europe and the United States.
Telu zebras love to chase each other, so if you put several telanges in the same tank, you will definitely see them frolicking in the water quite often. As a reminder, blue zebras feed mainly on plankton on the surface of the water, so it's a good idea to provide some meat when feeding to ensure their health and vitality.
8. Blood bright red
The body length of the blood red fish is about 10-15 cm, and it is oval in shape. Its head and gill cover are pale blue with blue patterns, while the scales on its body are bright red with white edges. The surface of the body shimmers like a ruby, with black and red patterns on the pelvic and anal fins, and white lace on the dorsal fins. In particular, the head of the male fish is electrically blue, while the body is purplish-red, creating a striking contrast that makes it look very beautiful and unique.
Blood Red has a gentle temperament and generally does not bully other small fish, and they are omnivorous, so they are relatively easy to raise.
9. African Phoenix
The African phoenix, native to Lake Malawi, can reach an adult body length of about 15 centimeters. The juveniles are bright yellow in color, with two black stripes running from the head to the caudal fin on the front half. When adult, females retain this body color, while males turn dark blue-black with a metallic light blue stripe on the side of their body that extends from the posterior edge of the gills to the end of their tail.
African phoenixes are very unique in their living habits, they can only survive in hard water with high alkalinity (pH 7.5~8), and the suitable water temperature range is between 22°C~26°C. 【Special Reminder】When purchasing, it should be noted that this fish has a strong sense of territory, and there are often fierce fights between males, so adult fish should be kept separately to avoid conflicts.
10. Sun peacock
The sun peacock mainly inhabits the transition zone between rocky and sandy areas at the bottom of the lake, and adults, sub-adults and females tend to swim alone or in small groups. In these small groups, very brilliant males with fully colored hair can usually be seen, and they show protection and vigilance of their territory. The sun peacock usually feeds on small invertebrates in the sand or in the sediments of the bottom of the lake.
Ranking of the top 10 most beautiful categories of cichlid fish in the three lakes - Animal Encyclopedia