LAKE MALAWI CICHLIDS.
Order Perciformes
Family Cichlidae
Subfamily ( Pseudocrenilabrinae )
Genus Labidochromis.
Small cichlids, rarely exceeding 7-10 centimeters. Endemic to Lake Malawi. Mbuna cichlids. Labidochromis are small, secretive fishes typically inhabiting tight crevices in the lower parts of rocks. Due to their small size, interesting behavior, and bright coloration of certain species, they have become one of the most popular aquarium fish of Lake Malawi. The main advantage of Labidochromis is their ability to develop normally in aquariums ranging from 120 to 200 liters.
The secret to success lies in the proper aquascaping. It is essential to provide a sufficient number of hiding places. Convenient constructions can be made from flat pieces of sandstone, just a few centimeters smaller than the aquarium dimensions, built on a three-sided PVC pipe frame, along with a few pointed stones reaching the water surface. Such a structure combines an adequate amount of hiding spots with good water circulation.
Fish will emerge into the open territory in the center of the aquarium, and the rock landscape should be diverse enough for males to easily define and maintain territory. In a well-arranged 120-liter aquarium, a harem consisting of one male and 6-8 females can be comfortably maintained. Additionally, another 3-4 pairs of other fish can be kept there.
If fish of both sexes are present, Labidochromis will begin to breed regardless of whether the aquarist wants it or not. Several species of Labidochromis have territorial males that defend their feeding and spawning grounds. All of them are more or less specialized “algae eaters”.
— Labidochromis caeruleus [Fryer, 1956] — Electric Yellow Labidochromis, Canary Cichlid. (English: Blue Streak Hap, Canary Cichlid, Electric Yellow Labidochromis, Electric Yellow Hap, Lemon Yellow, Lemon Drop Cichlid, Lion’s Cove Yellow, Yellow Lab). Lake Malawi – rocky biotopes. Up to 10 cm, in the aquarium 5-8 cm. Fish are colored in pale blue or yellow, some specimens are white. Males are larger than females, with silvery-blue speckles and more developed fins. Pelvic fins, lower chest and belly, as well as the edging of the anal fin are anthracite-black.
Individuals may be found that have a black stripe on the dorsal fin, and others that lack it entirely. The dominant male in a group is typically bright yellow and glossy, with a darker and more prominent black border on the dorsal fin, and may develop a blackish mask extending along the belly. Males and females are theoretically difficult to distinguish by secondary sexual characteristics.
However, practically it is possible — males are more massive and have brighter coloration (yellow, pearl-white, blue), the dorsal line is more curved than in females, and the head profile is slightly less sloping. Also, the black submarginal stripe on the dorsal and anal fins looks brighter and more saturated. During the spawning period, the black stripe in the upper part of the dorsal fin in males turns blue.
In subdominant males, the black pigment is less pronounced, making them look similar to females. Juveniles are colored in a dirty-gray tone. The color of sub-adults differs from that of adult fish (adults are adorned with black stripes on the dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins).
This color variation is found in all varieties of L. caeruleus, including those inhabiting the eastern shore of the lake. The L. caeruleus variety in the northern part near Ruarwe, Nkhoso Point, is paper-white. Approximately 15 miles north of Nkhata Bay, there are two distinct populations: in the northern part, yellower specimens are found, while on the southern side, fish are yellow only in the upper body and white in the lower. South of Kajizinga, all labidochromises have a pure white body color.
This species has many geographical races, some of which are polymorphic. — L. caeruleus “Blue white Tumbi” – males have a bluish coloration, females are creamy-white; — L. caeruleus “Lundo” – Zebra form. Vertical black stripes run across the blue body. The dorsal fin is edged with white, while the anal and pectoral fins are edged with black. The anal fin has 2-3 egg spots. The dominant male is very aggressive; — L. caeruleus “Nkhata Bay” – males are pale bluish. Dorsal and anal fins have a black border, pectoral fins are black.
Peaceful, moderately aggressive, carnivorous fish. Representatives of the species are practically non-territorial, and intra- and interspecific aggression are weak. Already at an early age, they begin to show territorial claims, but without excessive aggression, except possibly during spawning. They are extremely active, their movements are graceful and at the same time unusually maneuverable. In captivity, they can roam freely in all water layers, although the bottom layer is certainly preferred.
The need for hiding places is less pronounced; they like narrow passages arranged from stones and ceramic caves at opposite ends of the aquarium. The fish is harem-type; there should be at least 3 females per male. Females will use all sorts of ways to hide from the male. Substrate: fine sand. Plants are not touched. Aeration, filtration, and regular water changes are mandatory.
Water parameters must be strictly maintained, otherwise the fish are unpretentious. Among aquarium foods, they prefer corethra, daphnia, mosquito larvae, as well as plant matter, including vegetables. Products containing natural carotene improve coloration, and the fish turn a peach color.
Reach maturity at 8-11 months. Spawn in the community aquarium. The male sets up a territory and lures females there; after spawning, the female takes the eggs into her mouth. Subsequently, the fry are protected by the mother for about a month. In a general aquarium, once released, the female does not take the fry back into her mouth. Fry grow quickly. Lifespan up to 6 years. dH 8-20°; pH 7.2-8.5; T 24-28°C.
— Labidochromis caeruleus “Yellow” — Yellow Labidochromis. (English: Electric Yellow). Small cichlids, rarely exceeding 9 cm. Males and females are colored identically in bright yellow. The main coloration is bright yellow, gold, with a wide bluish-black stripe running along the dorsal fin. Often the unpaired fins have a black border. By one and a half years of age, males develop a black throat and part of the belly.
The coloration of females is similar to that of males, but they are somewhat smaller and paler, and their pelvic fins are yellow (unlike the black ones in males). Males are always broader-headed, larger, and have a more contrasting appearance. These cichlids are so popular among aquarists that hobbyist tanks today house a hundred times more individuals than the wild population.
Very often, under the guise of golden labidochromises, crossbred variants with similarly colored Malawi cichlids—mainly the golden form of Pseudotropheus tropheops—are imported. Distinguishing hybrid forms from the nominal form is quite easy by paying attention to the fish’s anal fin.
The nominal form of golden labidochromises lacks egg-spots (bright large spots imitating eggs) on the anal fin, whereas all observed hybrid forms had such markings to some degree. Breeders mature after 10 months. Keep one male with 2-3 females. dH 6-25°; pH 6.8-8.2; temperature 23-28°C.
Identification: Golden Labidochromis — Labidochromis caeruleus.
— Labidochromis freibergi [Johnson, 1974] — Freiberg’s Labidochromis, Dwarf Zebra. (English: Dwarf Zebra). Lake Malawi – rocky biotope. 10 cm, usually 5-8 cm. The coloration of the Labidochromis freibergi male explains its name “Dwarf Zebra”, by which this popular species is often called. The male is light blue with 7-9 contrasting violet-blue stripes across the first two-thirds of the body, extending onto the dorsal fin.
The remaining fins and gill covers are bluish-black. The female’s coloration is gray-blue and not as spectacular as the male’s. Juveniles are colored like the female. Should not be kept with larger fish species having similar coloration. Algae-eating species. Animal diet (70%) and plant diet (30%). Mature in 9-12 months. The female incubates eggs in her mouth.
Labidochromis chisumulae, maculicauda, textilis, zebroides.
Labeotropheus fuelleborni, Labeotropheus trewavasae. 
