California Cichlids

California Cichlids in Fresno is a specialist operation run by Joe, a breeder and seller whose reputation has spread well beyond California's Central Valley. Customers order from Virginia, Michigan, and everywhere in between — and they keep coming back. The focus here is African cichlids: Malawi peacocks, Mbunas, Frontosa, Tanganyikan species, and even rare Madagascar cichlids.

Joe also carries South American cichlids and plecos, along with food, decorations, and supplies. What sets California Cichlids apart is the quality and specificity of the fish. While most local pet stores sell generic "Assorted African Cichlids," Joe offers species and locality-specific stock — Protomelas ornatus, Champsochromis spilorhynchus, Dimidiochromis strigatus, and other hard-to-find varieties that serious cichlid keepers crave.

Customers consistently report fish arriving larger than the quoted size, with vivid coloration and robust health. One reviewer noted an eye-biter that measured close to 10 inches when they'd ordered a 7-8" fish. The shipping operation is professional and reliable.

Fish go out via next-day air, carefully packed with roomy bags, and Joe tracks every package personally, texting customers updates along the way. Survival rates are remarkably high — even when UPS delays a shipment by a day, fish arrive alive and energetic. On the rare occasion something goes wrong, Joe handles DOA claims quickly, sometimes repacking and shipping a replacement the same night.

But the real draw is Joe himself. He'll spend an hour on the phone helping a first-timer set up a sponge filter, email detailed parameter advice, save customers money on lighting, and patiently accommodate order changes. His preorder system regularly features hard-to-find species, and the website is updated frequently with new stock.

Whether you're stocking a 10-year-old's first Mbuna tank or hunting for adult Tanganyikans, Joe's expertise and genuine care for the fish — and the hobbyists who keep them — make California Cichlids a destination-worthy source for African cichlid enthusiasts nationwide.