All fish / Cichlidae

Johanni Cichlid

Melanochromis johannii

Also known as johanni, bluegray mbuna, electric blue johanni, johanni mbuna, pseudotropheus johanni, melanochromis johanni, johannii cichlid, ปลาหมอโยฮันนี่, メラノクロミス・ヨハンニー, 约翰尼, 蓝雀鲷

A compact mbuna from Lake Malawi in which males are dark blue to black with bright electric blue horizontal stripes, while females and juveniles are a vivid orange-yellow. The striking difference between the sexes and the bold colours make it a popular choice for rocky African cichlid tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

9 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

7.5 to 8.5

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

One male with several females in a crowded mbuna setup

Diet

Omnivore: mainly plant-based foods such as spirulina flakes and pellets, with some small invertebrates

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

6 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lake Malawi (southeastern shores, Malawi and Mozambique)

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 hard, alkaline water and plenty of rockwork.

Good to know

Males are very territorial and intolerant of similar-looking blue striped fish, so keep with plenty of rocks and avoid housing several males in a small tank. Feed a low-protein diet, as rich foods can cause Malawi bloat.