All fish / Cichlidae

Melanochromis heterochromis

Melanochromis heterochromis

Also known as heterochromis mbuna, melanochromis heterochromis chinyamwezi

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A small, slim mbuna from the rocky shores of two islands in southern Lake Malawi, showing the dark horizontal stripes on a pale body that are typical of the genus. Breeding males darken and become more boldly marked, while females stay lighter. Specialist Malawi cichlid keepers keep it for its rarity and lively behaviour in rock aquascapes.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

9.5 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

7.5 to 8.6

Smallest tank

250 litres

Keep as

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

Diet

Omnivore: spirulina and vegetable flakes or pellets, plus some small crustaceans and insect larvae

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

6 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lake Malawi (Chinyamwezi and Chinyankwazi islands, Malawi)

Breeding

A maternal mouthbrooder: the female carries the eggs and fry in her mouth for about three weeks after spawning on or near a flat rock. Spawning in captivity is straightforward when the fish are kept in a harem with plenty of caves.

Good to know

Males fight hard with each other and with similar striped Melanochromis, so give plenty of rockwork and avoid keeping it with close relatives, which it can hybridise with. It is rarely traded and is easily confused with other striped Melanochromis species.