All fish / Cichlidae

Fainzilberi Mbuna

Maylandia fainzilberi

Also known as pseudotropheus fainzilberi, metriaclima fainzilberi, fainzilberi, fainzilberi cichlid, maylandia fainzilberi lumbila, metriaclima fainzilberi maison reef, fainzilberi orange fin, red fin fainzilberi, メトリアクリマ・ファインジルベリ, 费氏姆布纳

This is a rock-dwelling mbuna from Lake Malawi, related to the zebra cichlid group. Males are powder blue with faint darker bars and often orange or red dorsal and tail fins depending on the collection site, while females tend to be duller brown or grey. Keepers like it for strong colours and lively behaviour in a rocky African cichlid display.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

11 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

7.6 to 8.6

Smallest tank

300 litres

Keep as

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

Diet

Herbivore: algae-based flakes and pellets, spirulina, blanched vegetables, with limited small crustaceans

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

6 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lake Malawi (Malawi, Tanzania, Mozambique)

Breeding

It is a maternal mouthbrooder; the female carries the eggs and fry in her mouth for about three weeks after spawning on a flat rock. Breeding is easy in a well-kept mbuna tank, and the fry accept crushed flake straight away.

Good to know

Males are very territorial and will bully rivals and similar-looking mbuna, so avoid keeping it with other blue barred Maylandia that it may hybridise with. Avoid high-protein diets because they can trigger Malawi bloat.