Before we begin talking about how Cichlids get named, we need to first define what a Cichlid is. A Cichlid (pronounced "sick-lid") is a fish belonging to the family Cichlidae, which has over 85 genera and upwards of 1,500 different species. Cichlids are so numerous, in fact, that they constitute 5% of all vertebrate species! Crudely, Cichlids are characterized as freshwater, perchlike fishes that have a laterally flattened body, with spines in the dorsal and anal fins, have only a single nostril on each side, have a divided lateral line, and lack a subocular shelf. Cichlids belong to the perch order, Perciformes.

As already mentioned, all Cichlids are freshwater fish, and are found in many parts of the world. In the Americas, they are found from as far north as Central Texas and reach all the way south to Argentina. They are also found throughout the Rift Lakes of Africa, Lake Victoria, and the surrounding rivers, as well as parts of the Middle East. There are also Cichlids along the coast of India and on the islands of Madagascar, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies.

While many beginner hobbyists may be more familiar with the New World Cichlids (e.g., Angelfish, Oscar, Jack Dempsey, Discus, Rams, etc.), the majority of Cichlids, however, li ...