Melanochromis Auratus

Scientific Name(s): Melanochromis Auratus

 

Common Name(s): Auratus

 

Family: Cichlidae

 

Species Type: African Cichlids, Lake Malawi

 

Maximum Size: 5 inches

 

Life Span: 9 years

 

Natural Habitat: East African Lake Malawi

 

Minimum Tank Size: 35 gallons

 

Tank Region: All over, territorial

 

Possible Tank Mates: Other african cichlids of different appearance.

 

Description: Young individuals have females coloring which consists of a golden-yellow base color with three black bands. Each black band had small white stripes running parallel with it. The caudal fin is spotted and the anal, pectoral, and pelvic fins are golden. When the male reaches two inches, he begins to develop mature male colors. The female colors are reversed on the male, making the base body color black with yellow stripes. Sometimes the yellow stripes are turquoise or blue depending on the location where the fish may be found. The caudal fin is black with a few white stripes and the dorsal fin is yellow. The anal, pectoral, and pelvic fins are black and have a white fringe.

 

Temperature Range 72°F - 82°F

60°F

65°F

70°F

75°F

80°F

85°F

90°F

 

pH Range 7.5 - 9

pH 5.0

pH 6.0

pH 7.0

pH 8.0

pH 9.0

 

Hardness 10° - 25°

0°

10°

20°

30°

40°

 

Breeding Information: Typical malawi mouthbrooder. Breeding is fairly easy as long as male does not kill the females while courting.

 

Sexing Information: The males is larger, has more black coloring, and has yellow dummy-eggs on his anal fins

 

Diet: Standard Mbuna diet of african cichlid flakes or pellets. Fresh vegetables such as peas and romaine lettuce also compliment the diet.

 

Temperment: Very aggressive - even for a malawi cichlid

 

Common Diseases: Malawi Bloat - condition deadly to malawi cichlids. It is caused by too much protein in the diet of some cichlids.

 

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Auratus (Melanochromis Auratus)