Are cichlids evolved from saltwater fish?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Hybridfish7

Hybridfish7

Bronze Tier VIP
MFK Member
Dec 4, 2017
2,864
2,802
739
I've been theorizing this for awhile... You take a look at some cichlids, and they look close to almost exactly like some saltwater fish. I've also heard that cichlids can handle and live in decently salty water.
I don't know anything about the evolution of cichlids or anything... but if you take a look at paretroplus nourissati- to me it looks like a grouper or a snapper.
p-lamena.jpg

3685_9821.jpg

^snapper
(pictures belong to their respected owners)
anyone else have any thoughts on this?
 
Hybridfish7 said:
I've been theorizing this for awhile... You take a look at some cichlids, and they look close to almost exactly like some saltwater fish. I've also heard that cichlids can handle and live in decently salty water.
I don't know anything about the evolution of cichlids or anything... but if you take a look at paretroplus nourissati- to me it looks like a grouper or a snapper.
p-lamena.jpg

3685_9821.jpg

^snapper
(pictures belong to their respected owners)
anyone else have any thoughts on this?
Click to expand...





Yes absolutely
 
  • Like
Reactions: kno4te and skjl47
after some (short) research- yes, they are evolved from saltwater or brackish ancestors, mostly the african cichlids.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GamerChick5567 and tlindsey
but what about american cichlids? to me they look more like sunfish.
look at a small texas cichlid-
images

now a green sunfish-
green_sunfish.jpg

resemblance?
 
also in my experience as a fisherman, green sunfish spawn in a similar fasion. kind of a mix of substrate spawning and mouth brooding cichlids. The pair lays their eggs in a pit first, (like mouth brooders) but they just leave them there and guard them like substrate spawners.
 
Wow, these two articles were both new to me and I never once questioned where Cichlids came from...thanks for sharing, they were enjoyable to read!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom