All fish / Cichlidae

Chinyamwezi Mbuna

Tropheops flavus

Also known as pseudotropheus flavus, yellow tail mbuna, flavus mbuna, tropheops flavus, chinyamwezi cichlid

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A small mbuna from rocky shores in Lake Malawi, with males showing bright yellow bodies crossed by dark vertical bars and dark fins, while females are duller. It is kept for its strong colour and lively behaviour in rock-filled Malawi set-ups.

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 community

Diet

Herbivore: algae-based flakes and pellets, spirulina, blanched vegetables, occasional small crustaceans

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lake Malawi (Chinyamwezi and Chinyankwazi islands), Malawi

Breeding

A maternal mouthbrooder; the female carries eggs and fry in her mouth for about three weeks. It breeds readily in a well-kept tank with plenty of rocks and more females than males.

Good to know

Males are territorial and can harass weaker fish, so avoid peaceful tankmates and keep it with other mbuna of similar temperament. Avoid high-protein diets, which can cause Malawi bloat.