Labidochromis Caeruleus

The Yellow Labidochromis is a mainstay in the hobby. I have never gone into a pet store that sells fish, and not seen it for sale. this is for a very good reason. The Yellow Labidochromis is a beautiful fish, with a rich golden-yellow color with dark blue-black fins. Everyone can see the beauty of this fish. This fish has been around a while, being first typed by fryer in 1956. The fish that the species was originally described from was white, with blue fins. This fish gets its' name from the blue fins, as caeruleus means blue in Latin. Electric Yellows have a lot of different location types, each yielding change. Probably one of the most commonly kept and easily recognized of the Malawi mbuna. This species is not overly aggressive, and should mix well with other low to medium aggression mbuna.

Common name: Yellow lab, Electric yellow, Canary cichlid
Scientific name: Labidochromis caeruleus
Size: 4" (10cm)
Origin: Lake Malawi, East Africa
Tank setup: Typical rocky Malawi tank
Temperature: 23-28oC (73-82oF)
Compatibility: Combine with other mbuna species, not overly aggressive.
Water chemistry: Hard and alkaline: pH 7.6-8.6 ; GH 7 plus ; KH 10-12
Feeding: Small crustaceans and insect larvae, will accept most aquarium foods. More omnivorous than many mbuna, but the diet should still include a strong vegetable component.
Sexing: There is no obvious colour difference between males and females, but males may show more black on the fins, particularly the ventral fins. They may also exhibit a brownish patch in the area between the eye and mouth.
Breeding: Mouthbrooder. There is no defined territory for spawning.

Iodotropheus Sprengerae

This species is not particularly aggressive and may be bullied by more aggressive tankmates. The base colour of this species is brown, but with the right feeding, the adults should develop an attractive purple sheen.

Common name: Rusty cichlid
Scientific name: Iodotropheus sprengerae
Size: 3-4" (7.5-10cm)
Origin: Lake Malawi, East Africa
Compatibility: Combine with other mbuna species, which are not too aggressive.
Tank setup: Typical mbuna tank with many rock caves
Water chemistry: Hard and alkaline: pH 7.6-8.6 ; GH 7 plus ; KH 10-12
Temperature: 23-28oC (73-82oF)
Feeding: Omnivorous: feed live, frozen and flake foods.
Sexing: Colour is identical, but males have clear egg-spots and a longer anal fin.
Breeding: Mouthbrooder. Spawning may produce between 5 and 60 eggs.

Dimidiochromis Compressiceps

Common name: Malawi Eye-biter
Scientific name: Dimidiochromis compressiceps
Synonyms: Haplochromis compressiceps
Origin: Lake Malawi, East Africa
Size: Up to 10" (25cm)
Tank setup: A large tank (suggest 100 gallons plus if kept with other fish) with some rock caves and plenty of open swimming space. Plants such as Vallis can be added.
Compatibility: Predatory towards small fishes. Combine with other open-water Malawi species which are not too aggressive, such as Copadochromis and Aulonocara.
Water chemistry: Hard and alkaline: pH 7.6-8.6 ; GH 7 plus ; KH 10-12
Temperature: 23-28oC (73-82oF)
Feeding: Predator, feed a meaty diet.
Sexing: Males are much more colourful, females are mainly silver.
Breeding: The male may dig a shallow spawning pit and display to attract the female to it. A mouthbrooder, the female will incubate the eggs and fry for about 3 weeks. The male is likely to eat the fry once released. Feed fry on small frozen/live foods such as baby brine shrimp, cyclops and daphnia.
Comments: As the name implies, this cichlid has a strikingly compressed shape. Despite its common name, it is unlikely to take the eyes of tankmates when fed regularly.