M. Auratus Cichlid

M. Auratus Cichlid comes from Lake Malawi and was first described by Boulenger back in 1897. It is currently classified as Melanochromis auruatus and is a member of the "rock dwelling" cichlids, also known as the Mbuna. Juveniles have a yellow body with horizontal black stripes, and while the female keeps this coloration, the male almost reverses having a body with black coloration and horizontal yellow/white stripes. Ounce per ounce, this male is one of the most aggressive African Cichlilds you can own. It might require a small group of 6 juveniles to obtain males and females, but when they are adults, it is best to keep one male and several females. M. Auruatus requires a rocky environment with some open areas in which to spawn. The Auratus is a mouth brooder. After the female lays the eggs and they are fertilized by the male, she will pick up the eggs and incubate them in her mouth for 14-21 days. If you plan to keep this fish with other Mbuna, make sure they have very dissimilar coloration so they do not pose as much of a "threat" to the males. Since the Auratus will spend most of its time in or near the rocks, it can be kept with open water swimmers. Reaching a size of up to 4" in length, the males generally grow larger than the females. The Auratus makes an active and attractive addition to the aquarium and will require a vegetable based diet, with occasional treats of meaty foods like bloodworms or brine shrimp.

Detailed Information about this species