 This aggression can inhibit growth and reproduction of native species and the effects can be far-reaching.The cichlid also forces other fish into open areas, which lowers the population count of the other species through predation.The cichlid is a pioneer species that paves the way for other fish to invade, which has occurred in Six Mile Creek, Florida, and in the upper San Antonio River The actual effects of the cichlid on the environment are, at this point, unknown.