BANANA CICHLID FISH

The Banana Cichlid (often referred to by its scientific name, Cichlasoma or Astronotus species) is a fascinating and visually striking cichlid species. African cichlids are a category of cichlids that inhabit three African lakes: Lake Malawi, Lake Tanganyika, and Lake Victoria. These natural habitats have warm, clear waters, sandy substrates, lots of vegetation, and a high density of freshwater fish. Most African cichlids live in the shallows of their habitats, where they scavenge for food in the sand. Fully-grown African cichlids reach 2 to 12 inches long, depending on the type of African cichlid. The longest African cichlids are big mouth haps, which grow up to 12 inches