{"title":"Cichlids","description":"\u003cp\u003eCichlids bring personality, structure, and bold color to freshwater aquariums unlike any other family of fish. From the interactive intelligence of Oscars to the territorial displays of Jack Dempseys and Firemouths, this group rewards keepers who enjoy fish with real character.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMany cichlids form pair bonds, defend territory, and even recognize their keeper — making them some of the most engaging fish you can add to a tank. Tank size and compatible tankmates vary by species, so check individual care requirements before stocking.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"oscar-fish-astronotus-ocellatus","title":"Oscar Fish (Astronotus ocellatus)","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Oscar is a large, intelligent cichlid known as much for its personality as its size. Bold patterned and highly interactive, Oscars can form a genuine bond with their keeper — they recognize faces, beg for food, and make their presence known in any room.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the wild, Oscars inhabit the slow-moving rivers and floodplains of South America, and in the home aquarium they need a large, well-filtered tank with sturdy décor they're free to rearrange. They're available in several color morphs, including Tiger, Red, and Albino, with each fish developing its own distinct markings as it matures.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOscars suit experienced cichlid keepers as well as hobbyists ready to take on their first large predatory fish. They're long-lived and demanding of space, but the payoff is a fish with real presence and a memory for the person who feeds it.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Aquatic Garage","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49127410696415,"sku":null,"price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0804\/8515\/5039\/files\/red-oscar.png?v=1778300503"},{"product_id":"angelfish-pterophyllum-scalare","title":"Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare)","description":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eThe Angelfish's silhouette — a tall triangular body trailing long fins — is instantly recognizable in the freshwater hobby, and it's marked with bold vertical stripes that vary by morph. It brings a different visual rhythm to a community tank than most schooling fish do.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eAngelfish come from the slow rivers and floodplains of the Amazon Basin and do best in tall, well-planted tanks that give their fins and swimming style room to show. Breeders have produced a wide range of color forms, from classic silver-and-black to marble, koi, gold, and veil-tail varieties, making them one of the more collectible cichlids available.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eThey work well as an early cichlid or as an addition to an established community tank, and their look holds up over the years rather than fading with time.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Aquatic Garage","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49127514407135,"sku":null,"price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0804\/8515\/5039\/files\/koi-angelfish.png?v=1778302197"},{"product_id":"jack-dempsey-cichlid-rocio-octofasciata","title":"Jack Dempsey Cichlid (Rocio octofasciata)","description":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eNamed for the boxer, the Jack Dempsey cichlid backs up its name with a bold attitude and a body covered in iridescent blue-green and gold spangles that catch the light under aquarium lamps.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eThey come from the murky, slow-moving waters of Central America and are hardy, adaptable fish that grow more interactive with age — many learn to recognize their owner and respond at feeding time. Their coloring deepens noticeably as they mature, so a juvenile looks quite different from the adult it becomes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eBest suited to experienced cichlid keepers, Jack Dempseys need a spacious tank and tankmates tough enough to hold their own alongside a fish with this much attitude.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Aquatic Garage","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49127666581727,"sku":null,"price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0804\/8515\/5039\/files\/jack-dempsey-white.png?v=1778303254"},{"product_id":"german-blue-ram-mikrogeophagus-ramirezi","title":"German Blue Ram (Mikrogeophagus Ramirezi)","description":"\u003cp\u003eGerman Blue Rams pack a lot of color into a small dwarf cichlid: blue iridescence over a yellow body, set off by bold black markings. It's an unusual amount of pattern for a fish this size.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDespite being cichlids, Rams are comparatively peaceful and mix well in community tanks with other small, calm fish. They prefer warm, soft, slightly acidic water, which makes them a natural fit alongside Tetras, Corydoras, and Rasboras in a South American biotope setup.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Aquatic Garage","offers":[{"title":"Juvenile","offer_id":49679419211999,"sku":null,"price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Adult","offer_id":49679419244767,"sku":null,"price":22.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Proven Pair","offer_id":49679419277535,"sku":null,"price":44.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0804\/8515\/5039\/files\/image_ee74914d-06b2-4b25-b003-54a381e293a6.png?v=1780089034"},{"product_id":"bolivian-ram-mikrogeophagus-altispinosus","title":"Bolivian Ram (Mikrogeophagus Altispinosus)","description":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eThe Bolivian Ram is a hardy and beautiful dwarf cichlid, often recommended as a more forgiving alternative to the German Blue Ram. With its warm golden-yellow body, subtle blue iridescence, and bold black markings, it's an eye catching centerpiece fish for community planted aquariums.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eBolivian Rams are more tolerant of a wider range of water parameters than their German Blue cousins, making them a great choice for hobbyists who want the dwarf cichlid experience without the demanding water chemistry requirements.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Aquatic Garage","offers":[{"title":"Juvenile","offer_id":49679481077983,"sku":null,"price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Adult","offer_id":49679481110751,"sku":null,"price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Proven Pair","offer_id":49679481143519,"sku":null,"price":32.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0804\/8515\/5039\/files\/bolivian-ram-three-quarter-angled-pose-flat-black-background.png?v=1790806692"},{"product_id":"apistogramma-cacatuoides-cockatoo-dwarf-cichlid","title":"Apistogramma Cacatuoides (Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid)","description":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eApistogramma cacatuoides, the Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid, is a colorful South American dwarf cichlid with a strong personality to match its looks. Males carry large, sail-like dorsal fin extensions in orange and black over intensely colored flanks, while females stay smaller and take on yellow tones, particularly while brooding.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eThese cichlids do well in planted aquariums furnished with caves, driftwood, and leaf litter to establish territories. They form pair bonds and can be bred successfully in community setups alongside compatible tankmates.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Aquatic Garage","offers":[{"title":"Male","offer_id":49679924461791,"sku":null,"price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Female","offer_id":49679924494559,"sku":null,"price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Pair (1M\/1F)","offer_id":49679924527327,"sku":null,"price":34.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0804\/8515\/5039\/files\/orange-flag-male-apistogramma-swimming-upward.png?v=1791833773"},{"product_id":"discus-symphysodon-aequifasciatus","title":"Discus (Symphysodon Aequifasciatus)","description":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eDiscus are widely considered the king of the freshwater aquarium — prized for their perfectly round, disc-shaped bodies and stunning range of color strains developed through decades of selective breeding. From Royal Blue and Red Marlboro to Pigeon Blood and Leopard Snakeskin, each fish is a living work of art.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eDiscus require warm, soft, slightly acidic water and thrive best in species-only or carefully matched community setups. They are rewarding to keep for intermediate to advanced hobbyists who can maintain their specific water requirements.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Aquatic Garage","offers":[{"title":"Juvenile (4–5cm)","offer_id":49679925543135,"sku":null,"price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Sub-Adult (7–9cm)","offer_id":49679925575903,"sku":null,"price":79.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Adult (10–12cm)","offer_id":49679925608671,"sku":null,"price":119.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0804\/8515\/5039\/files\/discus-coming-soon-full-bleed.png?v=1781638654"},{"product_id":"firemouth-cichlid-thorichthys-meeki","title":"Firemouth Cichlid (Thorichthys Meeki)","description":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eThe Firemouth Cichlid takes its name from the brilliant red-orange coloration across its throat and belly, which males flare dramatically during territorial displays. It's a widely kept Central American cichlid with plenty of personality.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eDespite the bold displays, Firemouths are relatively peaceful for a cichlid and can be housed in community aquariums with appropriately sized tankmates. They do best with sandy substrate, caves, and open swimming space, and their pair-bonding and breeding behavior is worth watching in its own right.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Aquatic Garage","offers":[{"title":"Juvenile","offer_id":49693361766623,"sku":null,"price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Adult","offer_id":49693361799391,"sku":null,"price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Breeding Pair","offer_id":49693361832159,"sku":null,"price":39.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0804\/8515\/5039\/files\/firemouth-v3.png?v=1788501823"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0804\/8515\/5039\/collections\/koi-angelfish.png?v=1788493341","url":"https:\/\/theaquaticgarage.com\/collections\/cichlids.oembed","provider":"The Aquatic Garage","version":"1.0","type":"link"}