Cichlid algae-eaters and cleaners

Meet the pacifist cichlids

Many cichlids have far more peaceful means to make a living than predating on their own family.

“There are zooplankton eaters and phytoplankton eaters. There are those species that eat insects in sand, and one that follows others that eat insects in sand and feeds on what is stirred up”, Ken McKaye says.

Several species, like Labeotropheus trewavasae (pictured above), specialize in scraping algae off rocks. Others, like Hemitilapia oxyrhynchus, scrape algae off plants.

Another profession is to be a cleaner cichlid. For these, other fish come and offer food willingly. Several species, like Docimodus evelynae, eat parasites off other fish.