All fish / Cichlidae

Maylandia sandaracinos

Maylandia sandaracinos

Also known as metriaclima sandaracinos, pseudotropheus sandaracinos, maylandia pyrsonotos, metriaclima pyrsonotos, orange top mbuna, sandaracinos mbuna

A small rock-dwelling mbuna from Lake Malawi; males are blue with dark bars and an orange to orange-red dorsal fin, while females are duller. It is kept for its bright colours and lively behaviour in rocky Malawi cichlid tanks.

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

250 litres

Keep as

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

Diet

Herbivore: algae grazer; spirulina flakes and pellets, vegetable-based foods, occasional small crustaceans

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

6 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lake Malawi (Malawi), northern rocky shores

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 harsh towards similar-looking fish, so do not mix with other blue-barred Maylandia because they can hybridise. Trade naming is confused, and fish sold as M. pyrsonotos or under the genus Metriaclima may be this species or a close relative, so buy from sellers who state the collection locality.