TankBud

Afra cichlid

Cynotilapia afra

Also known as Dogtooth cichlid

FreshwaterFish

Afra cichlid (Cynotilapia afra)
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Care at a glance

Temperature
77–84°F
25–29°C
pH
7.5–8.5
Adult size
3.9 in
10 cm
Minimum tank
29 gal
110 L
Temperament
Aggressive
Social behavior
Social
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Mouthbrooder · Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Lake Malawi

Overview

The Afra cichlid is an aggressive, territorial mbuna for a rocky Malawi tank. It swims in the middle of the tank and suits a keeper with some cichlid experience.

Did you know

The Afra cichlid's genus name, Cynotilapia, means dog-toothed tilapia, for the small pointed teeth at the front of the jaw. Those teeth help it nip plankton and pick at algae, rather than scrape rock the way some other mbuna do.

Caring for the Afra cichlid

Give Afra cichlids a tank of at least 29 gal (110 L), with a big rockwork setup and open swimming lanes. Keep the water hard and alkaline, at 77 to 84°F (25 to 29°C) and a pH of 7.5 to 8.5.

In the wild they graze algae and small invertebrates. Use a quality cichlid pellet and algae wafers, with occasional frozen food.

Afra cichlids are aggressive and territorial, and males in particular will defend a patch of rock. Keep one male with several females to spread out the aggression, or house them in a busy Malawi setup. Choose any other tank mates with caution.

Males show bright blue with dark bars, while females stay plainer. The female is a mouthbrooder that holds the eggs and fry in her mouth until they can fend for themselves. Breeding them is hard.

Good to know

The Afra cichlid is a mbuna in the family Cichlidae, and its wild populations are currently stable.

In the wild

The Afra cichlid lives along the rocky shorelines of Lake Malawi in East Africa. The lake's water is hard, alkaline and warm, and the fish stick close to piles of rock for cover and grazing.

Common questions

What size tank does an Afra cichlid need?

An Afra cichlid needs at least 29 gal (110 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does an Afra cichlid need?

An Afra cichlid is comfortable at 77–84°F (25–29°C) with a pH of 7.5–8.5.

What does an Afra cichlid eat?

An Afra cichlid eats a quality cichlid pellet and algae wafers, with occasional frozen food. In the wild it grazes algae and small invertebrates.

How big does an Afra cichlid get?

An adult Afra cichlid reaches about 3.9 in (10 cm).

How can you tell a male Afra cichlid from a female?

Males show bright blue with dark bars. Females stay plainer.

How does an Afra cichlid breed?

Afra cichlids are maternal mouthbrooders. The female holds the eggs and fry in her mouth until they can fend for themselves, and breeding them is hard.

Related species