Elongate mbuna
Chindongo elongatus
Also known as Pseudotropheus elongatus, Slender mbuna, Elongatus
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 7.8–8.6
- Adult size
- 5.1 in
- 13 cm
- Minimum tank
- 53 gal
- 200 L
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Social
- Own kind
- One male per tank
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Mouthbrooder · Easy
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Rocky shallows of Lake Malawi in East Africa.
Overview
The elongate mbuna is a feisty cichlid for a rocky Malawi tank. It suits a keeper with some cichlid experience.
Did you know
The elongate mbuna's long, slim body suits life in tight rock cracks, where a stockier mbuna could not follow.
Caring for the elongate mbuna
Give the elongate mbuna a rocky tank of at least 53 gal (200 L), with plenty of caves. Its slim shape lets it defend narrow crevices as territory. Keep the water hard and alkaline, at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 7.8 to 8.6.
In the lake it grazes algae and small animals off the rock. Feed a vegetable-based diet of spirulina and algae pellets, with light frozen treats.
The elongate mbuna is aggressive, so its only tank mates should be other assertive rock dwellers. Keep one male with several females. It is a maternal mouthbrooder like other mbuna, and it breeds easily.
Good to know
The elongate mbuna was once grouped under Pseudotropheus, and a 2016 revision made it the basis of the genus Chindongo. Many geographic variants exist under trade names such as Mpanga and Chewere. Males are usually dark with bright blue or yellow highlights, depending on the local form.
In the wild
The elongate mbuna is a slim rock dweller from the shallow rocky zones of Lake Malawi in East Africa. It works its way through the cracks and over the rock faces.
Common questions
What size tank does an elongate mbuna need?
An elongate mbuna needs at least 53 gal (200 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does an elongate mbuna need?
An elongate mbuna is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 7.8–8.6.
What does an elongate mbuna eat?
An elongate mbuna eats a vegetable-based diet of spirulina and algae pellets, with light frozen treats. In the lake it grazes algae and small animals off the rock.
How big does an elongate mbuna get?
An adult elongate mbuna reaches about 5.1 in (13 cm).
How does an elongate mbuna breed?
An elongate mbuna is a maternal mouthbrooder like other mbuna. It breeds easily.
Related species
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