All fish / Cichlidae

Elongate Mbuna

Pseudotropheus elongatus

Also known as elongatus mbuna, pseudotropheus elongatus, slender mbuna, elongatus chewere, elongatus mpanga, elongatus ruarwe, elongatus neon, metriaclima elongatus, maylandia elongatus, シュードトロフェウス・エロンガトゥス, 长身非洲王子

A slim rock-dwelling cichlid from Lake Malawi, with males usually showing bright blue bodies crossed by dark vertical bars. Many geographic forms exist, and keepers value it for its strong colour and lively, busy behaviour among rockwork.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

11 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

7.6 to 8.6

Smallest tank

250 litres

Keep as

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

Diet

Herbivore: spirulina flakes and pellets, algae wafers, blanched greens, occasional small crustaceans

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

6 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lake Malawi (Malawi, Tanzania, Mozambique)

Breeding

A maternal mouthbrooder: the female carries the eggs and fry in her mouth for about three weeks after spawning near a male's chosen rock. It breeds readily in a well set up mbuna tank.

Good to know

Males are very territorial and among the more aggressive mbuna, so give plenty of rock caves and avoid keeping two males in a small tank. Several similar-looking slender mbuna are sold under this name, so ask for the collection locality.