All fish / Cichlidae

Maylandia pursa

Maylandia pursa

Also known as metriaclima pursa, metriaclima pursus, pseudotropheus pursus, maylandia lanisticola, pseudotropheus lanisticola, shell dwelling mbuna

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A small mbuna cichlid from the southern part of Lake Malawi. It is related to the shell-dwelling Maylandia lanisticola. Males show bluish tones with dark bars and yellow-edged fins, while females are duller brown. Keepers like it because it suits smaller Malawi set-ups better than most of its relatives.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

7 cm

Temperature

24 to 27 °C

pH

7.6 to 8.6

Smallest tank

120 litres

Keep as

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

Diet

Omnivore: spirulina and vegetable-based flakes or pellets, algae, small amounts of crustaceans

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

6 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lake Malawi (southern arm, Malawi)

Breeding

It is a maternal mouthbrooder. The female carries the eggs and fry in her mouth for about three weeks, and it breeds readily in a well-kept tank with rockwork or shells.

Good to know

Males are territorial and can be hard on rivals and females, so keep several females per male and give them plenty of cover. Trade fish sold as M. lanisticola are often mislabelled or hybrids, so check the source before breeding.