Clown labidochromis

Labidochromis chisumulae

Also known as Clown lab, Chisumulu labidochromis

FreshwaterFish

Clown labidochromis (Labidochromis chisumulae) — The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature: 75–82°F (24–28°C)
pH: 7.5–8.5
Adult size: 3.1 in (8 cm)
Minimum tank: 42 gal (160 L)
Temperament: Mostly peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Easy
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Common
Origin: Lake Malawi, Chizumulu Island
Family: Cichlidae

Overview

One of the calmer mbuna. Labidochromis chisumulae picks small invertebrates out of rock crevices with fine tweezer teeth instead of grazing algae mats, so it does not carry the constant food-driven aggression of its neighbors. Keep one male with three or more females in a tank with heavy rockwork and plenty of sight breaks. It holds its own in an mbuna community without driving it. Feed a quality granule with frozen cyclops and brine shrimp.

In the wild

Labidochromis chisumulae is endemic to Chizumulu Island in Lake Malawi, where it works the sediment-free rock of the intermediate zone. The lake is hard, alkaline and very stable. Keep it at 24 to 28 degrees Celsius and pH 7.5 to 8.5, with stacked stone reaching most of the way up the tank.

Good to know

Labidochromis chisumulae reaches about 8 centimeters. Males are white to pale blue with dark vertical barring and a cobalt wash over the head, the dressiest member of a genus best known for the plain yellow Labidochromis caeruleus. It is a maternal mouthbrooder, and females hold for around three weeks before releasing fry in a quiet corner.

Did you know

Labidochromis means forceps fish; the clown works the rock like a jeweler at a bench.

Tank mates

Clown labidochromis is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.