African Cichlid Water Temperature Guide 2023: What Do They Prefer?

There are many different kinds of Cichlids out there, with African Cichlids being some of the most popular ones. It is easy to see why these little fish are so popular, mainly because they look simply stunning and they have neat personalities too.

Of course, just like with all other fish, African Cichlids need a certain water temperature to happy and healthy. Today we’re here to discuss the best temperature for African Cichlids.

So What Is The Best Temperature For African Cichlids?

In the wild, the water temperature which African Cichlids live in varies greatly depending on the season.

African Cichlid Temperature

During the winter months, Cichlids usually live in water temperatures ranging from 20 to 23 degrees Celsius. On the other hand, during the summer, the water can be as warm as 28 to 30 degrees Celsius.

Now, if you do not want to bother with these seasonal changes, you should keep the water at around 24 or 25 degrees Celsius (you can get a small digital thermometer like this one to monitor the temp).

This is the ideal temperature for an African Cichlid. Any hotter than that and their metabolism becomes really efficient, so they need to eat a lot. Moreover, this warm temperature will spur Cichlids to be more aggressive and compete for food. It will also make them more active.

Colder water will slow down their metabolism, make them more docile and calm, and help to keep your feeding bill down. Whatever you do, try not to go below 20 degrees Celsius or above 29 degrees Celsius. If you are looking to breed your African Cichlids, warmer water is ideal.

We have also covered our top 6 plants for Cichlids on this article.

Commonly Asked Questions

What pH Do They Need?

African cichlid ph and temperature are two of the most important things to pay attention to when housing these fish.

When it comes to the pH level for these fish, they prefer their water to be fairly alkaline, with levels between 7.5 and 8.5 being the ideal.

Do Cichlids Need A Heater?

African Cichlid water temperature is another important thing to pay attention to, and they require the temperature to be between 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

Therefore, yes, in all likelihood, you will need to get a heater for your African cichlid tank, as in most cases the ambient temperature is not going to be high enough to heat the water in the tank to the proper temperature.

Do African Cichlids Need Salt?

Absolutely not, no, African cichlids do not require salt, and by all means, the water they live in should be 100% freshwater.

That being said, they do require some crushed coral and limestone in the water to maintain proper water hardness and pH.

What’s The Lowest Temperature For African Cichlids?

In terms of cichlid water temp, the lowest you can go is 75 degrees Fahrenheit. They may be able to survive in waters that are slightly cooler, but not by much.

Conclusion

This is a pretty simple and straightforward topic with not much else to say about it, but as long as you keep your African Cichlids in water temperature as discussed above, all will be just fine.

Featured Image Credit: Dmitri Kalvan, Shutterstock