All fish / Cichlidae

Aurora Cichlid

Maylandia aurora

Also known as aurora, aurora mbuna, pseudotropheus aurora, metriaclima aurora, aurora cichlid, maylandia aurora likoma, オーロラ, 极光鲷

A mbuna from Lake Malawi, the male has a yellow body with a pale blue face and blue flushing along the back, while females are a duller yellow-brown. It is kept for its bright colours and lively behaviour in rocky Malawi set-ups.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

10 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

7.6 to 8.6

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

One male with 3 or more females in a crowded mbuna community

Diet

Omnivore: algae-based flakes and pellets, spirulina, vegetable matter, occasional small crustaceans

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

6 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lake Malawi (Likoma Island, Malawi)

Breeding

A maternal mouthbrooder; the female carries the eggs and fry in her mouth for about three weeks. It breeds readily in captivity if kept in hard, alkaline water with plenty of rockwork.

Good to know

Males are territorial and can be harsh towards similar-looking mbuna, so avoid mixing with yellow or blue Maylandia species to prevent hybrids. Avoid high-protein diets, which can cause Malawi bloat.