All fish / Cichlidae

Auratus Cichlid

Melanochromis auratus

Also known as golden mbuna, malawi golden cichlid, auratus, turquoise-gold cichlid, golden cichlid, auratus mbuna, ปลาหมอออราตัส, メラノクロミス・オーラタス, 金黄马鲷, 黄金闪电

Females and young fish are bright golden yellow with black and white horizontal stripes, while dominant males turn dark brown to black with pale yellow or blue stripes. It is one of the classic mbuna from the rocky shores of Lake Malawi and is popular for its bold colour and lively behaviour in rock-filled African cichlid tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

11 cm

Temperature

23 to 28 °C

pH

7.5 to 8.5

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

One male with several females, in a crowded mbuna community

Diet

Omnivore: algae, spirulina flakes and pellets, vegetable matter, with some small crustaceans

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lake Malawi (Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania)

Breeding

It is a maternal mouthbrooder: the female holds the eggs and fry in her mouth for about three weeks. Breeding happens readily in a well-kept tank with hard, alkaline water and plenty of rockwork.

Good to know

Males are among the most aggressive mbuna and will harass other males and similar-looking striped fish, so avoid keeping it with peaceful community fish. Avoid high-protein diets because mbuna are prone to Malawi bloat.