All fish / Cichlidae

Pindani

Pseudotropheus socolofi

Also known as socolofi, pindani cichlid, powder blue cichlid, socolofi cichlid, albino socolofi, albino pindani, pseudotropheus pindani, pindani mbuna, ソコロフィー, 粉蓝慈鲷, 粉蓝

A powder blue mbuna from Lake Malawi with a dark-edged dorsal fin and yellow egg spots on the male's anal fin; both sexes share the same colour. It is one of the milder mbuna, which makes it a popular choice for mixed Malawi set-ups with plenty of rockwork.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

11 cm

Temperature

24 to 27 °C

pH

7.5 to 8.5

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

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

Diet

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

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

6 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lake Malawi (Mozambique coast, Tanzania, Malawi)

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 tank and is considered easy to spawn.

Good to know

Despite being calmer than many mbuna it is still territorial and should not be kept with soft-water community fish. Hard, alkaline water and a mainly vegetable diet help prevent Malawi bloat.