All fish / Cichlidae

Melanochromis lepidiadaptes

Melanochromis lepidiadaptes

Also known as lepidiadaptes mbuna, scale-eating melanochromis, melanochromis lepidophage, lepidiadaptes

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This slender mbuna from Lake Malawi has the typical Melanochromis horizontal stripes, with males turning dark blue-black with pale blue lines and females staying yellowish to tan with dark bands. In the wild it is a specialist that picks scales from other fish, which makes it an unusual curiosity for keen Malawi cichlid keepers. It is rarely seen in the trade.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

12 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

7.6 to 8.6

Smallest tank

300 litres

Keep as

One male with several females in a crowded mbuna community

Diet

Carnivore: quality cichlid pellets, frozen mysis and krill, with some vegetable matter

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

6 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lake Malawi (Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania)

Breeding

It is a maternal mouthbrooder: the female carries the eggs and fry in her mouth for about three weeks. Breeding in captivity is achievable in a well-run mbuna tank, but the species is seldom available, so few keepers have bred it.

Good to know

Males are very aggressive and may nip scales and fins from tankmates, so keep it only with robust mbuna in a large rockwork tank and avoid mixing with other Melanochromis that could hybridise.