Blue johanni cichlid
Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos
Also known as Maingano
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–82°F
- 24–28°C
- pH
- 7.5–8.5
- Adult size
- 3.9 in
- 10 cm
- Minimum tank
- 45 gal
- 170 L
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Social
- Own kind
- One male per tank
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Very rare
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Lake Malawi
Overview
This is an aggressive, territorial fish, especially the males, so it needs a tank around 170 liters or larger with lots of rockwork to spread out the aggression. Keep one male with several females and pick tankmates that can hold their own, like other mbuna. Feed a diet built on algae and plant matter, with cichlid pellets and the occasional frozen food. Avoid foods too high in protein, which these fish handle poorly.
In the wild
The blue johanni comes from the rocky coastal zones of Lake Malawi, where broken rock gives every fish a cave to claim and defend. Build the tank the same way, with plenty of stacked rock and tight crevices so fish can break each other's line of sight. The water is hard, alkaline, and well oxygenated, so keep pH at 7.5 to 8.5 and temperatures in the mid to high 20s C.
Good to know
Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos is a mbuna in the family Cichlidae, with males reaching about 10 cm and females a touch smaller. Males are electric blue with darker stripes, and females and young fish look very similar, blue-black with light-blue stripes. It's a maternal mouthbrooder and is listed as Critically Endangered in the wild.
Did you know
The name cyaneorhabdos means "blue stripe." This species was once lumped in with the related Melanochromis johannii, which is why the common name stuck even after it was described as its own species.
Common questions
What size tank does a Blue johanni cichlid need?
A Blue johanni cichlid needs at least 45 gal (170 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Blue johanni cichlid need?
A Blue johanni cichlid is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 7.5–8.5.
How big does a Blue johanni cichlid get?
An adult Blue johanni cichlid reaches about 3.9 in (10 cm).
Related species
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