All fish / Cichlidae

Maingano Cichlid

Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos

Also known as maingano, pseudotropheus maingano, melanochromis maingano, electric blue maingano, blue maingano, pseudotropheus cyaneorhabdos, maingano mbuna, メラノクロミス・マインガノ, ปลาหมอมาลาวีมายกาโน่, 马里亚纳, 蓝条马鲷

A small mbuna with a dark blue to black body crossed by bright electric blue horizontal stripes, and both sexes look much alike. It is popular because it is one of the less aggressive mbuna and keeps its colour well in a rocky Malawi tank.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

8 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

7.5 to 8.6

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

Group of one male with several females, in a crowded mbuna community

Diet

Omnivore: algae-based flakes and pellets, spirulina, vegetable matter, small crustaceans

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

6 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lake Malawi, Malawi (Likoma Island area, Maingano)

Breeding

A maternal mouthbrooder; the female carries the eggs and fry in her mouth for around three weeks. It breeds readily in a well-kept Malawi setup.

Good to know

Still often sold under the old name Pseudotropheus cyaneorhabdos or as 'Maingano'. Avoid mixing with similar striped Melanochromis such as M. auratus or M. johannii, which are more aggressive and may hybridise.