African Cichlid Size Chart – How Big do They Grow?

African Cichlids include a number of fish species, which vary in size. Since it is important to know the species, you want to select and associate with your cichlids, it is essential to examine them from a size point of view.

by Fabian

Updated: November 26, 2021 / 6 mins read

Fabian is the dedicated Chief Editor at Aquarium Nexus. From a young age, he was captivated by the vibrant world of aquatic life, leading him to accumulate over 20 years of experience in keeping and breeding various fish species. The fulfillment derived from the aquarium hobby has remained a constant throughout Fabian's life. As an expert in the field, he finds great pleasure in imparting his extensive knowledge and personal experiences to both seasoned aficionados and budding enthusiasts.

This is important not only to avoid possible overpopulation of smaller-sized ones but also to select the right size aquarium.

Let’s take a look at the most important characteristics of African Cichlids in terms of size.

What is the Average Size of African Cichlids?

This is a difficult question to answer, as nearly 1500 species have now been discovered in the African Cichlids group.

However, if average, they generally grow to between 2 and 8 inches in length.

African Cichlid Size and Growth Chart

Here is a list of the most popular cichlids and their size in inches and centimeters:

Smallest African Cichlid

The smallest known African cichlid is the Neolamprologus brevis. These fish only reach about 1.6-2.4 inches (4-6 cm) in size.

This species is mainly found in Lake Tanganyika and its deepwater areas, where the substrate is soft and loose. This cichlid is a shell-dwelling species, so they need empty snail shells in order to thrive, breed and live their life.

Because they don’t grow bigger than 2.4 inches, a pair of N. Brevis can be housed easily in a 10-gallon tank. If you are planning to keep a colony, or want to breed them, certainly you will need a bigger tank and a good filtration system to keep the water parameters stable.

Talking about water parameters, these cichlids thrive in warmer water temperatures: 74-80 °F (24-27 °C), and prefer more acidic water with a pH range between 7.5 and 9.0. A water hardness between 8-25 °H is ideal for Brevis cichlids.

These cichlids prefer eating mostly live or frozen food, but they will also eat dry food if there is nothing else. Make sure you feed a variety of diets, to keep them healthy and happy.

The N. Brevis fry are very hard to sex, however, the adults can be easily identified whether they are males or females. The males are larger and are more territorial. They are not as aggressive as other larger African cichlid species, but they will defend their territory and shells.

N. Brevis cichlids can be housed with other smaller, non-aggressive shell-dweller species, just make sure they have enough and different size snail shells available.

With good care and stable water parameters, these fish are quite easy to maintain and breed. They have a very interesting personality, constantly moving the substrate and dwelling around the substrate. 

Biggest African Cichlid

The Emperor cichlid is one of the biggest African cichlid, reaching up to 20 inches (50 cm) in size. Although it is rare to find such a huge Emperor cichlid, still their average size is about 12-15 inches, which is huge, compared to most cichlids.

Emperor cichlids are native to Lake Tanganyika and they live in deep waters of around 330 ft (100 m).

Due to its large size, this cichlid species require a very large tank, therefore it is not very popular in private, home aquariums. You can still observe this species in public tanks, where they have enough space to swim around.

The Emperor cichlid requires very clean water, with temperature ranging between 75-83 °F (24-28 °C) and pH level between 7.5-9.

This fish is omnivorous, so they will eat anything that fits in their mouth, however, adults are pickier with food than the young. In captivity, they will eat frozen bloodworms, tubifex, earthworms, and other critters.

Despite their big size, Emperor cichlids are not very aggressive, however, they are territorial. The juveniles are particularly peaceful and only become territorial and slightly aggressive when reaching adulthood and start breeding.

Males are much larger and more colorful than females, and can easily be distinguished from females.

How Fast do African Cichlids Grow?

Most African cichlids grow really fast, especially in the first 4-5 months, usually reaching a size of between 2-5 inches. After that, the process slows down somewhat, especially for males, to reach their final size.

However, the rate of growth varies between species, regardless of habitat and feeding. Indeed, observations have shown that Mbuna species grow faster than their counterparts.

How to Speed Up African Cichlids Growth?

With a little attention, we can help them to develop as effectively as possible.

It is therefore very important to provide them with a well-planned diet and all the nutrients they need. In addition, it is important to maintain good water quality and avoid stressful environments. It is also important to ensure that their environment is suitable and that they are not overfed.

When do African Cichlids Reach Their Maximum Size?

Smaller species, reach their maximum size relatively quickly, in just a few months. For larger fish, however, it takes about 1.5 to 2 years for individuals, especially males, to reach their final size.

Conclusion

African Cichlids are not only very diverse in color, but also in size. From the very small to the larger specimens, you will find all species. Therefore, it is up to us to choose which type we want to keep.

However, it is important to be extremely careful which type we choose. Before we buy our new pets, we should gather enough information about their behavior and suitable habitat. Pay particular attention to the size of the tank in which they should be kept and the number of individuals.

Make plans in advance for their association. If we are not prepared enough, our fish can easily fall victim. The aim is not to provide a stressful environment for them.

They will reward you for their spacious living space and calm, peaceful life with a colorful pattern that can easily make your aquarium the highlight of your home.