TankBud

Loria's melanochromis

Melanochromis loriae

Also known as Melanochromis parallelus

FreshwaterFish

Loria's melanochromis (Melanochromis loriae)
Brian Gratwicke · CC BY 2.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–82°F
24–28°C
pH
7.5–8.5
Adult size
5.5 in
14 cm
Minimum tank
66 gal
250 L
Temperament
Aggressive
Social behavior
Social
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Mouthbrooder · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Lake Malawi

Overview

Loria's melanochromis is a striped, territorial mbuna for a rock-built Malawi tank. It is a fair choice for a keeper with some experience.

Did you know

Loria's melanochromis is the fish the hobby long called Melanochromis parallelus. A 2012 review of the genus folded parallelus into M. loriae. It is still better known in the hobby by the old name.

Caring for the Loria's melanochromis

Give a group of Loria's melanochromis a well-built rock tank of at least 66 gal (250 L). Stack stone over a sand base to form many caves and territories, with sightline breaks and swimming lanes between the piles.

Keep the water hard and alkaline, at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 7.5 to 8.5. Strong filtration keeps it clean and stable. Its diet leans vegetable, so feed aufwuchs and algae-based foods with only modest protein to keep its gut healthy.

Loria's melanochromis is a pushy, territorial fish that works the rock line along the bottom. Keep it as a harem of one male with several females, so aggression stays spread out. House it only with equally firm mbuna, and choose tank mates with caution.

The sexes read like a photo and its negative. Females show dark stripes on a pale body, while dominant males show pale blue stripes on a darker ground. The female mouthbroods the young, as in other mbuna, and breeding is of medium difficulty.

Good to know

Loria's melanochromis is an mbuna in the family Cichlidae. It carries the genus trademark of two dark horizontal stripes.

In the wild

Melanochromis loriae patrols rocky shores around Likoma and Chizumulu islands and along the northwestern coast of Lake Malawi. It lives in the shallow, sunlit rock zone.

Common questions

What size tank does a Loria's melanochromis need?

A Loria's melanochromis needs at least 66 gal (250 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a Loria's melanochromis need?

A Loria's melanochromis is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 7.5–8.5.

What does a Loria's melanochromis eat?

A Loria's melanochromis eats a diet that leans vegetable, built on aufwuchs and algae-based foods. Give it only modest protein, which keeps its gut healthy.

How big does a Loria's melanochromis get?

An adult Loria's melanochromis reaches about 5.5 in (14 cm).

How can you tell a male Loria's melanochromis from a female?

Males and females wear the same stripes in reversed tones. Females show dark stripes on a pale body, while dominant males show pale blue stripes on a darker ground.

How does a Loria's melanochromis breed?

Loria's melanochromis females mouthbrood the young, as in other mbuna. Breeding it is of medium difficulty.

Related species