TankBud

Blue johanni cichlid

Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos

Also known as Maingano

FreshwaterFish

Blue johanni cichlid (Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos)
JanRehschuh · CC BY-SA 3.0

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
Mouthbrooder · Hard
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Lake Malawi

Overview

The blue johanni cichlid is an aggressive mbuna from Lake Malawi for a tank packed with rock. It is a moderate challenge to keep.

Did you know

The species name cyaneorhabdos means blue stripe. This fish was once lumped in with the related Melanochromis johannii. That is why the common name stuck, even after it was described as its own species.

Caring for the blue johanni cichlid

Give the blue johanni cichlid at least 45 gal (170 L), with lots of rockwork to spread out the aggression. Stack plenty of rock with tight crevices, so the fish can break each other's line of sight.

Keep the water hard, alkaline and well oxygenated, at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) with a pH of 7.5 to 8.5. 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.

Blue johanni cichlids are aggressive and territorial, the males especially. Keep one male with several females, and pick tank mates that can hold their own, like other mbuna.

Males are electric blue with darker stripes. Females are a touch smaller, and they look very similar to young fish, blue-black with light-blue stripes. The blue johanni is a maternal mouthbrooder, and breeding it is hard.

Good to know

Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos is a mbuna in the family Cichlidae. It is listed as Critically Endangered in the wild.

In the wild

The blue johanni comes from the rocky coastal zones of Lake Malawi. There, broken rock gives every fish a cave to claim and defend.

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.

What does a blue johanni cichlid eat?

A blue johanni cichlid eats a diet built on algae and plant matter, with cichlid pellets and the occasional frozen food. Avoid foods too high in protein, which it handles poorly.

How big does a blue johanni cichlid get?

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

How can you tell a male blue johanni cichlid from a female?

Males are electric blue with darker stripes. Females are a touch smaller and blue-black with light-blue stripes, much like young fish.

How does a blue johanni cichlid breed?

The blue johanni cichlid is a maternal mouthbrooder. Breeding it is hard.

Related species