All fish / Cichlidae

Dogtooth Cichlid

Cynotilapia afra

Also known as afra cichlid, cynotilapia afra, afra, dogtooth mbuna, afra cobue, afra jalo reef, afra white top, afra hai reef, cynotilapia afra cobue, キノティラピア・アフラ, 阿法狗牙

A slim mbuna from the rocky shores of Lake Malawi, with males showing bright blue bodies and dark vertical bars, often with a yellow or white dorsal fin depending on the collection site. Its pointed, conical teeth give it the dogtooth name, and its vivid colour and many regional forms make it a favourite in rock-filled Malawi set-ups.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

9 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

7.6 to 8.6

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

One male with several females, in a crowded mbuna community

Diet

Omnivore: spirulina-based flakes and pellets, algae, small crustaceans such as mysis and brine shrimp

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

6 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lake Malawi (Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania)

Breeding

A maternal mouthbrooder: the female carries the eggs and fry in her mouth for about three weeks after spawning on a rock. Breeding is easy in a well-kept mbuna tank, and females can be moved to a separate tank to release the fry.

Good to know

Males are very territorial towards similar blue-barred mbuna, so avoid look-alikes such as Maylandia species and keep plenty of rockwork. Do not mix different regional forms, as they hybridise readily.