TankBud

Cobalt blue cichlid

Maylandia callainos

Also known as Cobalt zebra cichlid, Cobalt blue zebra, Cobalt zebra, Pearl zebra, Pearl zebra cichlid, White pearl zebra, OB callainos, Maylandia callainos OB, Metriaclima callainos

FreshwaterFish

Cobalt blue cichlid (Maylandia callainos)
Ur angel2001 · Public domain

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–82°F
24–28°C
pH
7.5–8.5
Adult size
5.1 in
13 cm
Minimum tank
29 gal
110 L
Temperament
Aggressive
Social behavior
Social
Own kind
One male per tank
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Mouthbrooder · Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Lake Malawi

Overview

The cobalt blue cichlid is an aggressive mbuna that needs a lot of rockwork. It is a step up from the easiest fish.

Did you know

Cobalt blue cichlids can shift their shade with mood and dominance, darkening or paling as they square off over territory. A dominant male holding court usually shows the deepest, most even blue.

Caring for the cobalt blue cichlid

Give the cobalt blue cichlid at least 29 gal (110 L), packed with rock to break up territories. Build the rockwork with caves and crevices for shelter. Keep the water hard and alkaline, at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 7.5 to 8.5.

In the lake it grazes algae off rocks, so its diet should lean vegetable. Feed a quality cichlid pellet plus spirulina, with only occasional protein foods. Too much meaty food causes digestive trouble in mbuna, so go easy there.

Expect aggression from the cobalt blue cichlid and plan around it. Keep one male with several females, and choose any other tank mates with caution.

The female is a maternal mouthbrooder and holds the eggs and fry in her mouth until they are free-swimming. Breeding them is hard.

Good to know

The cobalt blue cichlid is Maylandia callainos, in the family Cichlidae. Both sexes carry the blue color, which is unusual, since in many mbuna only the males are bright.

In the wild

The cobalt blue cichlid is a Lake Malawi mbuna that lives along rocky shores. The water there is clear, hard and alkaline.

Common questions

What size tank does a cobalt blue cichlid need?

A cobalt blue cichlid needs at least 29 gal (110 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a cobalt blue cichlid need?

A cobalt blue cichlid is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 7.5–8.5.

What does a cobalt blue cichlid eat?

A cobalt blue cichlid grazes algae off rocks in the lake, so its diet should lean vegetable. Feed a quality cichlid pellet plus spirulina, with only occasional protein foods.

How big does a cobalt blue cichlid get?

An adult cobalt blue cichlid reaches about 5.1 in (13 cm).

How does a cobalt blue cichlid breed?

A cobalt blue cichlid is a maternal mouthbrooder. The female holds the eggs and fry in her mouth until they are free-swimming. Breeding them is hard.

Related species