Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Cichlids as pond fish?

Are cichlids good for a bass pond? I plan on raising primarily BG and tilapia as forage, but occasionally might add cichlids...any thoughts?

What kind of Cichlids? That's a family that includes many members (like tilapia), much like the centrarchids (sunfish, crappies, balck bass) do.

peacock bass ?

Cichla ocellaris
Peacock cichlid

Problem is cichlids are tropical and can't survive cold water.

Im with theo, What kind of Cichlids are you talking about. Most Cichlids require a ph much high than what normal freshwater fish can survive in. You may be talking about a different type than what im familar with though. If so then wait on someone else that knows more about it to chime in.

Southern Florida is overrun with cichlids. These non-native species from Africa and South America have been accidentally introduced over the years by aquarium hobbyist releasing their fish into Floridian waters.

There are a few species of cichlid that are well established in FL. When I visit family down there, I have caught a few of them.

The ones I know of are the Mayan cichlid, the Midas cichlid, the butterfly peacock bass, the oscar, the black acara as well as the tilapias. The Mayan cichlid is probably the most common of the introduced cichlids along with the spotted and blue tilapias.

I do not think any of the cichlids that live in Florida will be able to survive Houston winters... Perhaps the blue tilapia, but most others are just too cold intolerant. For example, the butterfly peacock dies in waters under 60 degrees.

Depends on where you are located. Anywhere besides S. Fl and South Texas would probably not work.

You might consider stocking them, harvesting them in the fall, keeping some over the winter indoors, and reintroducing in the spring. I haven't seen much on the temperature tolerance of cichlids but some of the Mexican species(or maybe the Texas cichlid) would be the best bet for cold hardiness.

FTR they do great outdoors in the summer months if the water is above 70.