| Scientific Name | Labidochromis Caeruleus |
| Common Name(s) | Yellow Lab | Electric Yellow | Perl Labidochromis |
| Geographical Origin | Ruarwe | Nkhata Bay | East coast of Tanzania |
| Habitat | Inhabits the deeper rocky regions at a depth of 10-30 m | 35-100 feet |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Aquarium Temperament | Peacefull |
| Gender Differences | Monomorphic | Males can sometimes be identified by the spots on the tails, but that is not 100% accurate. |
| Breeding | Maternal Mouthbrooder |
| Maximum Size | ~ 5 inches | 11 cm |
| pH | 7.8 – 8.6 |
| Water Hardness | Hard |
| Temperature | 78 – 82°F | 25 – 27°C |
| Recommended Aquarium | 50 Gallons | 200 Liters |
| Aquarium Notes | Possibly the most peaceful Mbuna. They are not territorial and will accept other Mbunas. A very good choice for beginners. |
- Labidochromis Caeruleus is the most emblematic of the Malawi Cichlids; its the face of Lake Malawi and one of the most beloved cichlid. This is all attributed due to its bright yellow coloring coupled with a very peaceful temperament makes for a solid pick in any Malawi aquarium.
- It is also a very sturdy cichlid health wise and due to its omnivore diet it accepts more versatile foods and stays clear of the most common disease “Bloat”.
- Since this Mbuna was first introduced to the hobbyist in the early 1980s by Pierre Brichard, it has become a pillar of every Malawi aquarium and possibly one of the species that have numbers in aquariums much bigger than the actual population from the lake.
- In the wild, they feed on insects and other soft prey between regions of rocky habitat and beds of Vallisneria.
- The only thing I would recommend as caution with this species is that it can be very easily bullied into not spawning. If you have other more aggressive Mbuna species in the aquarium, the gentle nature of Labidochromis Caeruleus will make them
to forfeit reproducing at all.
Special thanks go towards people that provided pictures and videos to make this article possible: AD Konings with his relentless research on African Cichlids.
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