African Cichlids
Melanochromis auratus
Melanochromis auratus
Photo: Vlad Butsky from San Jose, CA, USA · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Temperature24–27 °C
- pH7.5–8.5
- Minimum tank250 l
- Adult size11 cm
- Difficulty★★★☆☆
- TemperamentAggressive
- WaterFresh
Full profile
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Lake Malawi
- Size
- 11 cm
- Temperature
- 24 – 27°C
- pH
- 7.5 – 8.5
- GH
- 10 – 20 °dGH
- Difficulty
- ★★★☆☆
- Water type
- tropical freshwater (hard and alkaline)
- Swimming level
- medium – low
- Behavior
- Aggressive (one of the most aggressive mbuna)
- Minimum number of individuals
- 1 male with several females
- Minimum aquarium size
- 250 L
- Diet
- Omnivorous (algae and small invertebrates)
- Reproduction
- oviparous; maternal mouthbrooding
Notes: Females are golden with black bands; males are almost black with light lines. Very aggressive toward others of its own species: only one male per aquarium.
