All fish / Cichlidae

Mbenji Cichlid

Maylandia mbenjii

Also known as mbenji cichlid, pseudotropheus mbenjii, metriaclima mbenjii, red top mbenji, maylandia sp. elongatus mbenji, mbenji zebra

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A mbuna from the rocky reefs around the Mbenji Islands in Lake Malawi. Dominant males are blue with dark bars and an orange to red upper body and dorsal fin, while females are usually duller. It is kept for its bold colour and lively behaviour in rock-filled Malawi tanks.

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

250 litres

Keep as

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

Diet

Herbivore: algae-based flakes and pellets, spirulina, blanched greens; little meaty food

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

6 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lake Malawi (Mbenji Islands), Malawi

Breeding

A maternal mouthbrooder: the female carries the eggs and fry in her mouth for about three weeks. It breeds readily in a well-kept aquarium with plenty of rockwork.

Good to know

Males are territorial and can be very aggressive, so give plenty of rock caves and avoid keeping it with other blue-barred Maylandia, because they may hybridise. Avoid high-protein diets, as these can cause Malawi bloat.