| Labidochromis caeruleus is a member Cichlidae to | | | | he managed to breed 20,000 Labidochromis, all |
| the family morer commonly known as a cihclid. | | | | descendants of the original pair. They were |
| The Labidochromis is native to Lake Malawi in | | | | introduced to the public in 1986 and sold for a |
| Africa. Lake Malawi is situated between Malawi, | | | | rather hefty price. This is quite understandable |
| Mozambique, and Tanzania. It is the third largest | | | | given their bright color palette and the fact that |
| lake on the continent of Africa and the eight | | | | they were a previously unknown species. |
| largest in the world. | | | | Since then, the Labidochromis has become popular |
| The Labidochromis is part of a group of fish | | | | with freshwater aquarists because it intense color |
| collectively referred to as African cichlids or | | | | so closely rivals those of saltwater species. They |
| Malawi cichlids. The Labidochromis is commonly | | | | reach 3-4 inches as adults and have a lifespan of |
| called an electric yellow cichlid due to it vibrant | | | | approximately 10 years. |
| yellow palette. Its colors are almost as brilliant as | | | | Labidochromis are docile in nature. They lack the |
| that of the saltwater faring yellow tang. | | | | aggressive instinct common to many African |
| Labidochromis are referred to as a mbuna. Mbuna | | | | cichlids. They make wonderful additions to a |
| means rockfish in the native tongue of the Tonga | | | | community tank provided it has an abundance of |
| people from Malawi. Mbuna refers to a large group | | | | rock formations and caves. You should avoid |
| of cichlids native to Lake Malawi. These | | | | mixing them with more aggressive cichlids or |
| rock-dwellers live in piles of rocks, caves or other | | | | other aggressive species. Labidochromis are very |
| openings in the lake. | | | | social. They function better in groups. |
| The Labidochromis was unknown to aquarium | | | | Lake Malawi's waters are slightly alkaline with a pH |
| keepers until 1986. They where "discovered" by | | | | level of 7.5-8.0. Water temperature range |
| Stuart Grant and his divers at Lion's Cove, Malawi | | | | between 72-78°F. Any species native to the |
| in 1980. Stuart Grant gathered a small number of | | | | lake will thrive in these conditions. |
| specimens but refused to mass-collect them | | | | Labidochromis are omnivores. They will be just |
| because of their small numbers. | | | | fine given a diet of common variety tropical fish |
| Their story becomes even more interesting from | | | | flakes. |
| there. | | | | The Male fish typically have more black on their |
| Two Swedish collectors noticed these beautiful | | | | dorsal fins than the females. Unlike many cichlids, |
| yellow mbuna in Stuart Grant's fish tanks. They | | | | Labidochromis are not monogamous. They have |
| requested that he collect them for export. He | | | | demonstrated no indication of pairing up other |
| promptly refused fearing the exotic species would | | | | than duringthe spawning cycle. |
| be driven into extinction in the wild. The Swedes | | | | All cichlids from Lake Malawi are mouth brooders. |
| bribed one of his divers who took them to Lion's | | | | Their eggs incubate in their mouths until they |
| Cove where they had been discovered. | | | | hatch. The mother will continue to hold the small |
| Two of these exotic creatures were given to | | | | fry in her mouth once they are born to protect |
| Pierre Brichard as a gift. He was so impressed | | | | them from being eaten. They will inhabit her |
| with them that he took them to his fish operation | | | | mouth for the first month of their lives. |
| along Lake Tanganyika, in Burundi. Within six years | | | | |