LAKE MALAWI CICHLIDS.
Order Perciformes
Family Cichlidae
Subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae
Continued…
Genus Melanochromis.
— Melanochromis johannii [Eccles, 1973] — Melanochromis johanni. Synonyms: Pseudotropheus johanni, daviesi. (Eng: Bluegrey Mbuna, Blue Striped Mbuna, Blue Johanni, Cobalt Cichlid, Cobalt Orange Cichlid, Electric Blue Johannii, Johanni Cichlid, Mbuna). Lake Malawi. Males up to 10 cm, females up to 7 cm. They have coloration that completely distinguishes the male from the female. One of the most popular Malawi cichlids, distinguished by exceptionally beautiful yellow-orange coloration of juveniles and females. Males have a bright attire that appears at 7-10 months of age.
With the onset of sexual maturity, males completely change their coloration, becoming velvety dark blue to velvety black with two bright bluish-blue stripes along the body, which are often broken into light blue spots. There is also a medium blue stripe that runs horizontally across the middle of the body. On the forehead, it has two dark horizontal stripes.
Fins are dark blue to black with edging. The dorsal fin is light blue at the base, black higher up with a light blue border. On the black anal fin with a whitish border, there are several egg-shaped orange spots. The caudal fin is black with whitish-bluish longitudinal stripes. However, at an early age, it is quite difficult to distinguish males and females.
Females and juveniles are golden-orange with indistinct dark horizontal spots running along the body, starting from the area behind the eyes. The dorsal and anal fins have a dark stripe along the edge. The male of this species is outwardly very similar to its close relative Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos.
Adult males from 7-10 months of age have two distinct color variations: — “Makandjila” – blue-black body background with rows of blue spots, and — “Likomaform” the same, but with two blue stripes. Other color variations of males are also known – from dark blue to almost black, with rare specks in place of the upper stripes, and completely dark individuals are also found. Females and young fish are yellow to orange in color. At an early age, it is quite difficult to distinguish males and females.
Males are aggressive towards each other, territorial, but significantly less so than other members of the genus. One male and several females can be kept in a general aquarium with other calm cichlid species of the same size. Keeping more than one male requires a large aquarium. They stay in the middle and lower layers of water, spawning takes place exclusively in the lower layer.
When keeping fish in small aquariums, males show increased aggression and territorial claims. The aquarium should contain large flat stones, boulder structures reaching the water surface, as well as shelters in the form of caves, the number of which must exceed the number of females. Substrate – rounded sand. Plants should be chosen with a strong root system and tough leaves.
The fish are very active and always eagerly accept any food offered to them, it is preferable to feed them with plant-based foods, it is very desirable to give spirulina. Diet: plant-based (60%) and animal-based (40%). They mature at 8-10 months. The male sets up a territory and lures females there. Females, incubating eggs in their mouths for three weeks, hide among the stones. The fish is not as aggressive as many other Mbuna species, but it is demanding regarding aquarium volume and water quality; it can be recommended for beginner aquarists. They live up to 10 years. dH 8-20°; pH 7.5-8.5; T 25-27°C.
— Melanochromis johanni “Red Msobo Magunga”. Bright orange fry with shiny pale yellow eyes look very spectacular. As they grow, potential males gradually darken their fins, becoming more blue-black with age. The body of the males retains an orange tint for a long time, gradually passing through stages of recoloring from orange, through brownish, to violet-blue.
In addition, irregular spots or wide horizontal stripes of dark blue color, which also color the fins and head of the males, can often be observed on the body of the males. Some females also develop dark fin edges with age, while others remain purely orange until deep old age.
Identification: Melanochromis johanni — Melanochromis johannii.
— Melanochromis perileucos [Bowers & Stauffer, 1997] — Melanochromis perileucos. Male coloration – ink-blue background, two rows of small blue spots stretch along the body. The first row is located along the upper part of the body, the second in the lower, which is quite unusual for fish of the genus Melanochromis, whose representatives typically have the lower horizontal stripe running directly along the body axis in the center. A distinctive feature of this species is the unusual coloration of females. The male’s dorsal fin has two ocelli in the rear part, and the caudal fin is light blue with black and white outer rays.
The main body background of the female is white or pale yellow. Sometimes a longitudinal stripe of a slightly darker color than the body background is visible on the body. The dorsal and anal fins have a black border along their entire length. Pectoral fins are dark gray, the anal fin is gray with a white edge and yellow ocelli. Due to the fact that its longitudinal stripes are often interrupted, it can be confused with M. elastodema. They feed on bottom algae and plankton.
— Melanochromis simulans [Eccles, 1973] — Sharp-nosed Melanochromis. Lake Malawi. 12 cm. Juveniles and females are golden yellow, with two black longitudinal stripes outlined in white. Adult males are gray-blue, with two light blue longitudinal stripes. An aggressive species, whose females arrange fights among themselves no less than the stronger sex. Therefore, keeping this species in an aquarium of less than half a ton is considered problematic.
— Melanochromis vermivorus [Trewavas, 1935] — Brown-blue Melanochromis. Synonym: Melanochromis heterochromis, mellitus. (Eng: Purple Mbuna). 12 cm, females are smaller. The coloration of various geographical races has high variability. Males possess a dark body (color ranging from dark brown to blue-black) with two narrow light (blue to bronze) longitudinal stripes – one along the middle part of the trunk, the second located along the back. The dorsal fin is light blue, the base and middle part are black.
Juveniles and females are dark brown to yellow-brown with a black stripe along the body. There is an albino form – males are pearly white, females have a golden tint. Keep one male with several females. Aggressive. A spacious aquarium with plenty of hiding places, hardy plants, but also sufficient swimming space is required. Prefers middle water levels. pH 7.5-8.9; dH 10-25°; T 22-27°C.
Genus Naevochromis, Genus Nyassachromis.
Melanochromis dialeptos, elastodema, interruptus, joanjohnsonae. 
