Deepwater melanochromis

Care at a glance

Overview

This is a rock-dwelling mbuna with the scrappy temperament the group is known for, kept as a group in a well-structured rock tank. As with other mbuna, stock it with a male and several females and keep the tank fully populated so that aggression is spread out rather than aimed at one fish. It works the lower water among the stones, grazing and foraging, so feed a mainly vegetable diet with some frozen food. It is aggressive with rivals, so choose robust, similarly bold tankmates with care. A group needs around 250 liters of rockwork over sand, in hard, alkaline water.

In the wild

Melanochromis heterochromis is endemic to Lake Malawi, living among the rocks of the lake's stony shores. Malawi is a hard, alkaline rift lake, so keep the pH between 7.5 and 8.5 and the temperature around 24 to 28 C, with stable, mineral-rich water. Build the tank around plenty of piled rock that forms caves, passages, and grazing surfaces over a sandy floor, since rockwork gives this fish both its food and the territory it needs.

Good to know

Melanochromis heterochromis is a mbuna cichlid in the family Cichlidae, reaching about 12 centimeters. The name means differently colored, marking it out as an odd member of a genus whose species usually wear neat horizontal stripes. Like other mbuna it is a maternal mouthbrooder, the female holding the fertilized eggs and fry in her mouth for several weeks before releasing them to fend for themselves.

Did you know

Most Melanochromis are named and known for crisp horizontal stripes that even swap light for dark between the sexes. This one breaks the mold, and its name, meaning differently colored, was chosen precisely because it does not look like the rest of its genus.

Common questions

Related species

• Northern blue melanochromis

  Melanochromis kaskazini

  Freshwater

  5.1 in (13 cm)66 gal (250 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
• Blotch melanochromis

  Melanochromis baliodigma

  Freshwater

  4.3 in (11 cm)66 gal (250 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
• Loria's melanochromis

  Melanochromis loriae

  Freshwater

  5.5 in (14 cm)66 gal (250 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
• Wochepa melanochromis

  Melanochromis wochepa

  Freshwater

  3.1 in (8 cm)53 gal (200 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

• 

  Chipokee cichlid

  Melanochromis chipokae

  Freshwater

  4.7 in (12 cm)53 gal (200 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

• 

  Johanni cichlid

  Melanochromis johannii

  Freshwater

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