(Please note that the fish shown in the photo is only a representative of what an adult specimen would look like. The color may vary based on the age and sex of the fish you receive.)
Scientific Name: Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos
Common Name: Maingano Cichlid, Electric Blue Cichlid
Adult Size: 4 inches
Life Expectancy: 10 years
Habitat: Lake Malawi, Africa
Minimum Tank Size: 70 gallons
Ideal Tank Conditions:
- Temperature Range: 78°F
- pH Range: 7.0 - 8.0
- Hardness Range: 10 - 15
Temperament: Aggressive
Diet & Nutrition: Carnivore, requires a lot of protein to function. Frozen or live food like bloodworms is ideal, but they can handle pellets or flakes formulated for their palate.
Breeding & Spawning: The female lays eggs (between 20 and 50) on a flat surface and waits for a male to fertilize them. Since they are a “mouth breeder” species, the female will incubate the fertilized eggs in her mouth until they’re ready to hatch.
Gender: Difficult to sex as both males and females share the same color and pattern. However, mature males are often larger and may be slightly more intensely colored.
Compatible Tank Mates: See Compatibility Chart