Yellow-top Mbamba (Labidochromis sp. 'Mbamba')
| Yellow-top Mbamba Labidochromis sp. 'Mbamba' | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Yellow-top Mbamba |
| Name Lat. | Labidochromis sp. 'Mbamba' |
| Family | Cichlids |
| Family lat. | Cichlidae |
| Order | Cichlids |
| Order lat. | Cichliformes |
| Origin | Lake Malawi |
| Habitat | Rocky shore |
| Diet | Omnivore, aufwuchs |
| pH | 7.5-8.8 |
| Behavior | Semi-aggressive |
| Keeping | Harem |
| Care Level | Moderate |
| Reproduction | Mouthbrooder |
| Breeding | Simple |
| Life Span | 6-10 years |
| Protection | No |
| Metric Units | |
| Size | 7-9 cm |
| Temperature | 24-28 °C |
| Hardness | 10-25 °dH |
| Aquarium | ~ 300 l |
| US Units | |
| Size | 2.8"-3.5" |
| Temperature | 75-82 °F |
| Hardness | 178-445 ppm |
| Aquarium | ~ 80 gal |
Distribution and habitat
The range of the Mbamba Malawi Cichlids is exclusively (endemic) to Lake Malawi, where they are found off Mbamba Bay Island and along the rocky coast south of the island. Four site variants are known. They belong to the mbuna group, which lives in the rocky shore zones.
Maintenance
The aquarium setup should have rocky structures that reach the water surface, with plenty of crevices, caves and shelters to provide hiding places, as well as sturdy plants and some open sandy areas
There should be no detectable ammonia, ammonium or nitrite, and the nitrate level should not exceed 100 mg/l. To ensure the water quality and oxygen content, a filter and heater adapted to the aquarium size is required, as well as lighting for the species-appropriate day-night rhythm of the animals.
Diet
They feed mainly on the microorganisms found in the plant cover (growth) as well as insects and insect larvae. The food supply consists of live, frozen and dry food. For a balanced diet, feed once a day with a high-quality dry food for Malawi cichlids (flakes, granules, pellets) as well as cyclops, daphnia, artemia and mosquito larvae (live or frozen). In addition, they also need some vegetable food, such as algae leaves and commercial green food (kelp, spirulina)
Only feed as much as will be eaten within a few minutes. A regular and varied diet promotes health and increases resistance.
Behaviour and compatibility
They are a mostly peaceful, less territorial mbuna species, both intraspecies and towards other fish. They should be kept in a harem, one male with several females. Keeping multiple harems is only recommended in a larger and richly structured tank. They can be socialized well with other cichlids from Lake Malawi
Basically, only compatible fish species with similar demands on water condition and water temperature should be socialized.
Sex dimorphism
The male is larger and usually more intensely colored at spawning time. It has several distinct yellow egg spots on the anal fin, which are weaker or absent in the female.
Reproduction and breeding
They are maternal mouth brooders. Immediately after spawning on a rock, the females take the eggs, 5-30 of them, into their throat sac for mouthbrooding. They keep the fry in their throat sac even after hatching. After about 3 weeks, the fry are released and brood care ends. During the entire brood care, the female does not take any food.
Fry must be fed several times a day with special rearing food (Artemia nauplii). In community tanks breeding is hardly possible, because the fry are easy prey.
Important
The site varieties of Mbamba Malawi cichlids (Chuwa, Luhuchi Rocks, Maunyuni Rocks, Mbamba Bay) should not be kept together, but neither should they be socialized with other Labidochromis sp. as they may interbreed
The well-being of the fish should be monitored regularly. Temperature should be checked daily, pH, hardness and nitrate levels at least every 14 days. Regular partial water changes are recommended, even if the contaminant level has not yet reached the upper limit. Sudden changes in water quality should be avoided. Newly introduced fish must be accustomed slowly to the water in the aquarium.
Further literature can be found in your pet store.
References
Text: petdata; Image: Franz Lowak
Source: BMELV (1998): Tierschutzgutachten - Haltung von Zierfischen (Süßwasser); ENGELMANN (2005): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Fische, Verlag Harri Deutsch
- Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF