Chipokee cichlid

Care at a glance

Overview

This is an aggressive fish, so go in with that expectation. Give it a tank of at least 200 liters and keep one male with several females to spread out his attention. It feeds on a varied diet in the lake, so offer a quality cichlid pellet with some protein foods, but do not overdo the meat. Lots of rock and breaking up sight lines is the main tool for keeping the peace.

In the wild

The chipokae cichlid is a Lake Malawi mbuna that patrols the rocky shorelines and the sandy zones between them. To keep it well, build a tank around piles of rock with caves and clear sand, which gives it territory to claim and other fish somewhere to hide. The lake water is hard and alkaline, so match that with a high pH and temperatures in the mid to high 20s C.

Good to know

This is Melanochromis chipokae, in the family Cichlidae. Males reach about 12 cm and females stay a bit smaller. It is a maternal mouthbrooder, meaning the female holds the fertilized eggs and then the fry in her mouth for a few weeks until they can fend for themselves.

Did you know

Males and females look like two different fish. Mature males turn dark blue to near black, while females and young stay a yellow-orange, which is why beginners sometimes buy them as separate species.

Related species

• 

  Johanni cichlid

  Melanochromis johannii

  4.7 in (12 cm)42 gal (160 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)

• 

  Auratus cichlid

  Melanochromis auratus

  4.3 in (11 cm)53 gal (200 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

• 

  Blue johanni cichlid

  Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos

  3.9 in (10 cm)45 gal (170 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

• 

  Pearl of Likoma

  Melanochromis joanjohnsonae

  3.9 in (10 cm)45 gal (170 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Aurora cichlid

  Maylandia aurora

  4.7 in (12 cm)30 gal (115 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Zebra obliquidens

  Astatotilapia latifasciata

  4.9 in (12.5 cm)30 gal (115 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)