All fish / Cichlidae

Blotch Mbuna

Melanochromis baliodigma

Also known as melanochromis sp. blotch, blotch melanochromis, melanochromis xanthodigma, baliodigma

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A slim rock-dwelling mbuna from Lake Malawi. Males are dark blue to black with pale horizontal stripes. Females and young fish are yellowish-brown with dark stripes. Keepers like it for its striking stripes and lively behaviour among the rocks, and it is a less common alternative to the better-known Melanochromis species.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

9 cm

Temperature

23 to 28 °C

pH

7.6 to 8.6

Smallest tank

250 litres

Keep as

One male with several females in a crowded mbuna tank

Diet

Omnivore: quality cichlid flakes and pellets with some vegetable matter, plus occasional frozen foods such as mysis

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

6 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lake Malawi (Mozambique coast, around Masinje)

Breeding

It is a maternal mouthbrooder. The female carries the eggs and fry in her mouth for about three weeks. It breeds readily in a well-kept mbuna tank, and the main difficulty is protecting females and fry from aggressive males.

Good to know

Males are territorial and harsh towards their own kind and similar striped mbuna, so avoid keeping it with other Melanochromis because they can hybridise. Give it plenty of rock caves and keep it only with robust Malawi cichlids.