Article: There are several different species of Malawi cichlids and you likely have a mixture in your tank. Make sure that you have males and females of both species in the tank. This can prevent hybrids, which may not have the same beautiful color as their parents and could also be sterile. It can also ensure that males and females also have partners with which to breed in the event that a specific pairing doesn't work. Be aware that most cichlid species are dimorphic, which means the males and females have distinct coloring patterns. If you have dimorphic fish and are unsure, you can check a guide to find a picture of the specific coloring. Recognize that you may have difficulty discerning subtle color differences in dimorphic cichlids or your cichlids may be monomorphic. If this is the case, you'll need to "vent" them, which means checking the genital papilla. You can find this by taking your fish out of the water and finding its anal pore. Just underneath this is the genital papilla, and the female's is generally larger than the male's papilla. The health and vitality of your cichlids is important to breeding. Making sure that you feedand not overfeed-- your cichlids This can optimize breeding and make sure the eggs and fry survive. Make sure to feed your cichlids according to their specific species need, which can range from small shrimp to algae in the tank. In most cases, specialized cichlid food is enough to keep your cichlids healthy. Consider getting something with Spirulina flakes which is high in protein and other nutrients Malawi cichlids need. Give your fish only as much food as they can consume in 20-30 seconds. Do this by sprinkling in food 3-4 times a day, which can ensure that each fish gets enough to eat and can prevent aggression. Avoid overfeeding your cichlids because this can lead to "bloat" and is often fatal. Unhealthy fish do not make good breeding fish. If any of your Malawi cichlids are showing signs of illness, you'll need to treat them before they breed. If you don't know the cause, use a commercial fish medication. This can relieve the fish of any illnesses or parasites and help breeding. Recognize typical symptoms of illness in fish: white spots or velvety patches on the body, missing scales, incomplete or ripped fins, bulging or cloudy eyes, ulcers or lesions, shaking and rapid breathing. You may also see behavioral signs of disease such as scraping against the tank, erratic swimming, listlessness, gasping at the surface, or sulking in a corner. Talk to a pet store associate about commercial fish medications if you are unsure of what to get. Recognize that commercial fish medications are not regulated by laws or government agencies. This means the medication may not work or could harm your Malawi cichlids. Although there is no definitive way to tell if your Malawis are ready to breed, there are certain signs that males and females are ready to breed. Watching them to detect signs can help you figure out if your Malawis are preparing to breed. This can also let you know when to remove males that may eat the fry. Look to see if the males are digging caves, which are actually nests, in the sand and near hiding spots. Observe the shape of the female to see if she is slightly plumper than normal. If she is, this can be a sign that she is ready to lay eggs in the nest the male has dug. Just as they exhibit certain signs of being ready to breed, Malawi cichlids also have specific behavior they use when trying to attract a mate. Looking for signs of attraction can alert you to watch for eggs and fry as well as remove the male so that he doesn't eat the babies. See if the male fish starts shimmying towards the female and flicking water her way with his tail. If he does, the female may follow him to his designated spot. This begins the breeding process. If the female isn't ready, she may not follow the male and he may move on to another female. Many people who breed cichlids have problems with the process while others can't keep their fish away from one another. If you have several males and females from each species and have a healthy, natural environment, your cichlids may just need a little time before they start breeding. Keep in mind that cichlids are animals and will pair off naturally when they are ready. It make take a while for your cichlids to get used to their tank or their tank mates. Make sure the tank is as natural and clean as possible. Adding a little sand, clean water, or some natural stones for hiding spots if you don't already have them may stimulate the desire to breed. You also need to make sure that you're not moving hiding spaces or caves around as they give your cichlids a sense of permanence and security. This can also help them relax and find a mate. Check your feeding patterns. Overfed fish rarely breed. Is there food leftover in the tank? If so, consider cutting back one feeding a day and how long you feed the fish. For example, cut back to 20 second feedings 3 times a day to see if that helps. You can even cut down to one quality feedings a day if necessary. Use high quality foods and increase proteins with foods like spirulina. If a female Malawi cichlid follows her male to his nest, then they will begin the breeding process. You can easily observe this by watching for the pair to continuously circle around one another, head to tail. Be aware the male and female Malawi cichlids may stop every half circle so that the female can collect fertilized eggs in her mouth and the male can fertilize laid eggs. After the pair has mated the female will have a mouthful of eggs. Her throat will be distended and her face will look square like.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Make sure you have males and females of each species. Feed your cichlids appropriate amounts. Treat health issues. Check for readiness to breed. Detect attraction in your cichlids. Let nature take its courseor provide a little help. Observe breeding.

Ticks do not have wings, nor do they have antennae. If you have found a bug with either, it is not a tick. Research bugs with similar characteristics to ticks but with wings or antennae if your bug in question has these. Poplar weevils, which are commonly mistaken for ticks, have both wings and antennae. Because ticks are a type of arachnid, like spiders and scorpions, they have 8 legs. If your bug has 6, it is an insect and therefore not a tick. If your bug has less than 6 or more than 8 legs, it is neither an insect nor arachnid but is, regardless, not a tick. Billbugs are the commonly mistaken for ticks because of their near-identical appearance. The way to distinguish between a tick and a billbug is to watch them. Billbugs swarm in groups, whereas ticks are usually alone. Ticks also feed on blood, whereas billbugs do not. As a general rule, billbugs do not hang around or on people and animals. Ticks often do. Both ticks and bed bugs hang around animals and humans. Their method of feeding off of people and animals, however, differs. Ticks burrow into the skin to drink a living creature's blood but bed bugs stay on the skin's surface. Make sure you know whether a bug is a tick or bed bug before removing it from your skin. Without proper precautions, you may remove a tick's body while its head remains lodged in your skin.
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One-sentence summary --
Avoid mistaking bugs with wings or antennae for ticks. Count the number of legs to distinguish it from insects. Watch for bugs that feed on blood and do not travel in groups. Look for bugs that burrow in the skin instead of resting on its surface.