TankBud

Azureus

Copadichromis azureus

FreshwaterFish

Azureus (Copadichromis azureus)
Greg Hume · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
77–82°F
25–28°C
pH
7.5–8.5
Adult size
5.9 in
15 cm
Minimum tank
79 gal
300 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Mouthbrooder · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Lake Malawi

Overview

The Azureus is a mostly peaceful Lake Malawi cichlid that cruises open water in a group. It asks a little more of its keeper than a beginner fish does.

Did you know

The Azureus does not scrape algae off rocks like many Lake Malawi cichlids. It hovers in open water instead, picking tiny plankton from the current.

Caring for the Azureus

Give a group of Azureus at least 79 gal (300 L), with rockwork along the back and plenty of open swimming room. Build up piles of rock to break the sightlines and give males a base to hold. Leave the center open so the fish can cruise in mid-water, over a sand substrate with bright, steady lighting.

Warm, hard, alkaline water matters in the aquarium. Aim for a temperature of 77 to 82°F (25 to 28°C), with a pH of 7.5 to 8.5 and a high mineral content. Offer a good cichlid pellet or flake with frozen brine shrimp, mysis and cyclops, and keep feedings small and frequent.

It is mostly peaceful and does best in a group. Keep one dominant male with several females to spread out his attention during breeding. Males hold loose territories but chase far less than mbuna, and they mix well with other medium Lake Malawi cichlids of similar temperament.

Dominant males turn an intense metallic blue, while females and subordinate males stay silvery. After a rocky courtship, the female collects the fertilized eggs into her mouth and broods them for around three weeks. She releases the fry only once they can swim and feed on their own. Breeding is manageable for a keeper with stable hard water.

Good to know

The Azureus, Copadichromis azureus, belongs to the cichlid family, Cichlidae. It is one of the utaka, a group of Lake Malawi haplochromines.

In the wild

The Azureus comes from Lake Malawi in East Africa. It lives over rocky slopes and ranges out into open water to feed. The lake is warm, hard and alkaline.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Azureus is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does an Azureus need?

An Azureus needs at least 79 gal (300 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does an Azureus need?

An Azureus is comfortable at 77–82°F (25–28°C) with a pH of 7.5–8.5.

What does an Azureus eat?

An Azureus eats a good cichlid pellet or flake, along with frozen brine shrimp, mysis and cyclops. Feed it small amounts often.

How big does an Azureus get?

An adult Azureus reaches about 5.9 in (15 cm).

How can you tell a male Azureus from a female?

Males that become dominant turn an intense metallic blue. Females stay silvery, as do subordinate males.

How does an Azureus breed?

An Azureus is a maternal mouthbrooder. The female broods the fertilized eggs in her mouth for around three weeks and releases the fry once they can swim and feed alone.

Related species