African Cichlids Care Guides
Our listed African cichlids are Lake Malawi fish or ornamental hybrids derived from Malawi cichlids. Mbuna, peacocks, and large haps differ in diet, temperament, and space needs; they should not automatically be mixed.
General Care
Use a mature aquarium with strong filtration, aeration, stable alkaline water, and securely supported rockwork. Provide territory breaks without eliminating swimming space. Typical Malawi setups use moderately hard to hard water. Match the temperature and pH below, and avoid abrupt chemical adjustments. Keep ammonia and nitrite at zero. Maternal mouthbrooders need protection from harassment; do not assume mixed juvenile packs contain a suitable breeding ratio. Have a separation plan if one fish is persistently bullied.
Tank sizes below are planning recommendations for adult care. Aquarium footprint, group size, filtration, and individual behavior can require more space. Use stable conditions within the listed range; avoid sudden changes.
Species and Variety Guides
- Yellow Lab
- Yellow Tail Acei
- Maingano
- Red Zebra
- Venustus / Giraffe Cichlid
- Blue Dolphin Moorii
- Peacock Hybrids — Dragon Blood, Blue, Captain America OB, and Firecracker OB
Yellow Lab
- Scientific name / group: Labidochromis caeruleus
- Adult size: about 4 inches
- Temperature: 75–82°F
- pH: 7.7–8.6
- Water hardness: hard
- Aquarium: 55 gallons or larger for a group
- Temperament: Milder mbuna; territorial when breeding
Aquarium setup: Provide rock caves, sand, and several visual barriers.
Feeding: Balanced small cichlid pellets with plant content and occasional suitable invertebrate foods.
Tank mates: Choose compatible Malawi fish; avoid predators large enough to swallow it.
Breeding: Maternal mouthbrooder. Keep several females per male when breeding and protect brooding females.
Listed fish / animals: Yellow Lab Cichlid · Mixed Mbuna Cichlid 6-Pack – Yellow Lab, Acei & Maingano
Yellow Tail Acei
- Scientific name / group: Pseudotropheus sp. 'acei'
- Adult size: about 5–6 inches
- Temperature: 75–82°F
- pH: 7.6–8.8
- Water hardness: hard
- Aquarium: 75 gallons or larger for a group
- Temperament: Relatively mild mbuna; active
Aquarium setup: Combine caves and grazing surfaces with plenty of open water.
Feeding: Plant-rich cichlid pellets or spirulina foods with modest varied supplements.
Tank mates: Compatible with moderately assertive Malawi fish; avoid exceptionally aggressive mbuna.
Breeding: Maternal mouthbrooder. Preserve separate color lines and provide refuge for females.
Listed fish / animals: Acei Cichlid · Mixed Mbuna Cichlid 6-Pack – Yellow Lab, Acei & Maingano
Maingano
- Scientific name / group: Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos
- Adult size: about 4 inches
- Temperature: 75–82°F
- pH: 7.6–8.8
- Water hardness: hard
- Aquarium: 55 gallons or larger; extra space improves territory options
- Temperament: Aggressive and territorial
Aquarium setup: Provide multiple rock caves and broken sightlines, with secure rock placement.
Feeding: Plant-rich cichlid pellets and spirulina foods, with appropriate varied supplements.
Tank mates: Best with compatible mbuna; avoid mild peacocks and other similar Melanochromis.
Breeding: Maternal mouthbrooder. Several females per male and adequate cover reduce harassment.
Listed fish / animals: Maingano Cichlid · Mixed Mbuna Cichlid 6-Pack – Yellow Lab, Acei & Maingano
Red Zebra
- Scientific name / group: Maylandia estherae / Metriaclima estherae
- Adult size: about 5 inches
- Temperature: 75–82°F
- pH: 7.6–8.8
- Water hardness: hard
- Aquarium: 55 gallons or larger for a group
- Temperament: Territorial mbuna
Aquarium setup: Use sturdy rock caves and sand, leaving separate territories.
Feeding: Plant-rich mbuna pellets and spirulina foods; avoid a meat-heavy feeding routine.
Tank mates: Choose similarly assertive mbuna; monitor aggression as adults mature.
Breeding: Maternal mouthbrooder. Provide female refuges and avoid mixing breeding lines indiscriminately.
Listed fish / animals: Red Zebra Cichlid (Maylandia estherae) – 4"+ Adult Mbuna
Venustus / Giraffe Cichlid
- Scientific name / group: Nimbochromis venustus
- Adult size: about 10 inches or more
- Temperature: 75–82°F
- pH: 7.6–8.8
- Water hardness: hard
- Aquarium: 125 gallons or larger for adults, with a six-foot swimming area
- Temperament: Predatory; males can be territorial
Aquarium setup: Provide sand, large open areas, and some sturdy shelter.
Feeding: Quality carnivorous-cichlid pellets with suitable aquatic frozen foods; live feeder fish are unnecessary.
Tank mates: Small fish and juvenile cichlids can be eaten. Use suitably large companions and monitor individual behavior.
Breeding: Maternal mouthbrooder. Breeding groups need substantial space and protection for females.
Listed fish / animals: Venustus Cichlid · Venustus Giraffe Cichlid 4-Pack – 2–3 Inch · Venustus Cichlid – 5" Male
Blue Dolphin Moorii
- Scientific name / group: Cyrtocara moorii
- Adult size: about 10 inches or more
- Temperature: 77–82°F
- pH: 7.5–8.8
- Water hardness: hard
- Aquarium: 125 gallons or larger for an adult group
- Temperament: Relatively gentle large hap; territorial while spawning
Aquarium setup: Use sand and a broad swimming area; keep heavy rocks toward the edges.
Feeding: Balanced cichlid pellets and suitable small aquatic frozen foods.
Tank mates: Avoid aggressive mbuna; choose calm fish too large to be swallowed.
Breeding: Maternal mouthbrooder. Groups need enough room for females and subordinate fish to retreat.
Listed fish / animals: Blue Dolphin Moorii Cichlid
Peacock Hybrids — Dragon Blood, Blue, Captain America OB, and Firecracker OB
- Scientific name / group: Aulonocara-derived ornamental hybrids
- Adult size: usually about 5–7 inches; strain dependent
- Temperature: 76–82°F
- pH: 7.5–8.5
- Water hardness: moderately hard to hard
- Aquarium: 75 gallons or larger; adult male displays may need more space
- Temperament: Territorial; male aggression varies
Aquarium setup: Provide sand, cover, and an open swimming area. Keep a separation option available.
Feeding: Quality peacock-cichlid pellets with appropriate aquatic frozen foods.
Tank mates: Use suitably sized, compatible peacocks or calmer haps; avoid aggressive mbuna and tiny fish.
Breeding: Maternal mouthbrooders. An all-male display needs enough territory and monitoring; mixed hybrids do not produce pure-species offspring.
Listed fish / animals: Dragon Blood Peacock Cichlid (Aulonocara sp.) 5 inch · Dragon Blood Peacock Cichlid (Aulonocara sp.) 2 to 3 inch · Blue Peacock Cichlid Hybrid · Captain America OB Peacock · Firecracker OB Peacock · Dragon Blood Peacock
Species references and further reading
Ordering & Shipping
Orders must be placed by Sunday night to ship Monday. Check the individual product listing for available sizes, quantities, and shipping and live-arrival terms.