Many cichlids dig pits in sand before spawning. Pair-bonded cichlids excavate together.
Cichlids rearrange aquascape to claim territory. Normal in mbuna + South American setups.
Some species (geophagus, eartheaters) sift sand for food particles by mouth.
In barren tanks, cichlids dig from boredom. Add more rockwork + caves.
Test water first - many "behavior" issues are actually water-quality problems. Use the water parameter checker to score your test results, the disease symptom matcher if you observe physical signs, or the general diagnoser to narrow further. Browse the disease database if illness is suspected.
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