Aurora cichlid

Care at a glance

Overview

Expect aggression, especially from males defending their patch. A 115 liter tank is the floor; keep one male to several females and use rockwork to spread out the territory disputes. Hold water at 24 to 27 C and pH 7.5 to 8.5. They graze algae and plant matter off rocks, so feed a vegetable or spirulina-based food and go easy on protein.

In the wild

Aurora cichlids come from the rocky, shallow margins of Lake Malawi in East Africa. They hold territories around rock formations and duck into gaps for shelter. Set their tank up with lots of rock and hiding spots, and match the lake's warm, slightly alkaline water.

Good to know

This is a mbuna cichlid in the family Cichlidae, sometimes listed under Metriaclima or Pseudotropheus. Males grow to about 12 cm and females stay smaller. It is a maternal mouthbrooder, with the female carrying eggs and fry in her mouth. Wild populations are listed as Least Concern.

Did you know

Color tracks status here. A dominant male shows strong blue with yellow and orange when he is breeding and ready to fight, while subordinate males stay drabber, so the brightest fish in the tank is usually the boss.

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