Malawi Cichlids

[Renski]

I've just got these two guys, but know very little about them. Can anyone tell me what they are, exactly, what and how much should feed them, and any tips about how they should be cared for. So far I know they are from Lake Malawi, grow upto 15 cm, like high ph water, and should be kept at around 27-28.

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[sheamurai]

I'm sorry I can't ID them specifically for you, but I think they are mbuna and I don't think they will do well as a pair. Mbuna are notorious for being aggressive. I don't think you will have a pair for very long before you are down to one.
I only have peacocks/haps tho, so I'm no mbuna expert. Someone else with experience with mbunas will chime in, I'm sure.

You may want to start thinking about returning these, tho, and maybe looking into getting shellies instead, for that size of tank.

[sheamurai]

I looked into it a bit - and they look like electric blue johanni's. You'll still want confirmation from a mbuna person, but have a look and see if you think what you have looks like a johanni. If it is, my advice above still stands - I don't think these will do well as a pair in that size of tank.

[kaybee]

They look like sub-adult Electric Blue Johanni's (Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos). They are a type of african cichlid, a member of the mbuna group which originates from Lake Malawi.

They have herbivorous-orientated dietary requirements and should be fed veggie-based flakes, spirulina or high quality/low-protein content (<40%) pellets.

..and any tips about how they should be cared for...

Based on your signature, it appears they are being kept in a 15gal tank.

Being mbuna's they pretty much require a much larger tank (55gal is typically the minimum recommended tank size for these types of fish due to their aggression levels and territorial behavior). They also do best when kept in larger groups (8-15 in a 55gal, etc). Small tanks and small group size will amplify aggression.

Lots of rocks or 'rock substitutes' (pvc pipes, flower pots, etc). "Mbuna" in one of the native languages in the region they're from means 'rock fish', and as rock dwellers they do best in set ups which have lots of hiding spots or areas to claim.

They are polygamous breeders ('harem' breeders) and most thrive in gender ratio's comprise of several females per male.

[Renski]

Yep, pretty certain now they are johannis.

Now I know what they're called ive been able to read up about them. My tank is about half of what they recommend it seems. Really should learn to stop listening to store assistants, and do my own research.

[kaybee]

Yep, pretty certain now they are johannis.

Most likely Electric Blue Johanni's (Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos), not to be confused with a similar mbuna, the Johanni (Melanochromis johanni); the latter start off as yellowish fish and the males undergo a color transformation as the mature and get larger.

What did the store assistants tell you about their requirements?

[Renski]

28 degrees C, high PH (8 ish), upto five in a 65 Ltr tank, grows upto 15cm. Nothing else.

[Lab_Rat]

Yeah, the store people are way wrong about tank size. 65L is not big enough for any mbuna, I'd only go with small shellies in a tank that size. Mbuna need a 200L+ size tank.

[Brhino]

it's possible they don't understand that a liter is not a gallon. :ssuprised: