There are over 1,200 species of cichlid, the majority of which are found in the rift lakes and rivers of Africa. African cichlids originating from the Malawi, Tanganyika & Victoria rift lakes are some of the most popular freshwater aquarium fish. They are known for their striking colorations, interesting behaviors and extroverted personalities. African cichlids in general are for the most part quite aggressive and territorial, but given the right aquarium setup and mixture of species, they can coexist and thrive within the aquarium environment.