Mbunas are most well-known for their anger. They are territorial and feuds often end in a few fallen soldiers. Mbunas are more than just angry fishes. They are versatile, hardy, and can be combined to create an explosion of color.

Mbuna Cichlids Introduction

Let me introduce you to Mbuna cichlids. These beautiful fishes are made up of over 100 species and all come from Lake Malawi, the ninth largest lake on the planet. Mbuna is a general term that refers to any one of the many rock-dwelling cichlids species found in Lake Malawi.

Over a thousand species are found in Lake Malawi. 13 genera are Mbunas. These are:

1. Tropheops
2. Pseudotropheus
3. Abactochromis
4. Cyathochromis
5. Petrotilapia
6. Melanochromis
7. Cynotilapia
8. Genyochromis
9. Gephyrochromis
10. Maylandia
11. Labidochromis
12. Labeotropheus
13. Iodotropheus

Mbunas cichlids are unique in that they can all be kept together in one tank.

You read it right! A typical Mbuna tank can hold up to 30 species. Bigger tank? Over 50 species.

It is amazing how they can all be kept in the exact same environment and fed exactly the same food.

It is impossible to keep thirty different species of South/Central American fish together in one tank. It would be chaos. It would cause mayhem in a fish tank that holds only one species.

Mbuna is a cult favourite of all time, ever since they were introduced to the hobby.

Mbunas: A Myriad Of Colors

Mbunas can come in so many vibrant and unusual colors, that they are often mistakenly thought to be marine fish. To be considered an aquarium staple, a fish must have a certain color. Mbunas are able to fly with flying colors, no pun intended.

There are many Mbunas available in every color imaginable. Although orange and yellow are the most common shades, they can also be found in any color you can think of.

There are approximately 100 different species of Mbunas, each with a different shade of blue.

These fish also hit the jackpot in another area. Males in most species are brighter than females. Mbunas have both males (and females) that display vivid colors.

Water Chemistry For Mbunas

Temperature	75-79degF
pH	7.5 and up
General Hardness	7°C or more
Carbonate Hardness	10-12 degrees
Nitrate	Below 40ppm
Minimum Tank Size	40 gallons
Ideal Tank Size	55 gallons or more
Decors	Rocks are used for territory marking and hiding.
Oxygenation	Venturi or airstone

It is important to understand the natural life of mbunas in order to give them the best possible living conditions within the tanks. Mbuna cichlids, also known as Mbuna cichlids, are natives to Lake Malawi in Africa’s Great Rift Valley.

It would be fair to call this lake an ocean of fresh water. Although it might seem a stretch, early explorers did mistake this lake for an ocean. It measures 50 miles in width, 360 miles long and 706 meters deep.

This lake is full of sandy beaches and rocky cliffs. The mbunas that you and I love swim in the blue, sunlit waters around the rocky hills.

As you can see, the water parameters of this large lake are very stable. Mbunas are used for clearing pollutant-free, highly oxygenated water. How can you replicate this chemistry in your tank?

For this, you will need to support mechanical filtration, biological filter, frequent water changes, and lots of aeration.

Because of the high level of tectonic plates activity beneath the lake, Malawi is extremely rich in minerals that lend it high levels pH, general hardness, and carbonate hardness.

To buffer pH, GH, and KH, decors can be made from lime-based, calcareous decorations, or filter media. It is a bad idea to use reverse osmosis water if you don’t have enough Malawi cichlid salts.

Here’s a link for Seachem’s Cichlid lake Salt. It’s fortified to contain essential minerals such as calcium and magnesium, to maintain the water’s alkalinity.

Ideal Tank Size For Mbunas

Mbunas can plateau at 3-4 inches in the wild. They can reach up to 6 inches if they are fed rich food. They are territorial and aggressive, which you probably already know. A 120cm/4ft tank is the best size to get started.

Do not be tempted to raise them in a small aquarium because you have seen a breeder or shop do it. It’s not a good idea to raise them in a small tank.

Even though they can thrive in tanks of 90-100cm/36-40in, afras and mbambas are still dwarf cichlids. If you can, consider a taller tank that is wider and has a volume of 40 gallons or more.

Always consider the natural habitat of mbunas when choosing a tank to house them. A deep, wide tank is ideal. A 120x60x60cm/48x24x24 tank would echo the lake-like feeling better than a 120x30x30 cm/48x12x12in tank. At best, the latter would mimic a small, shallow stream. This is far from what mbunas are accustomed to.

How to Breed Mbunas?

All mbuna species, like all haplochromine species in Lake Malawi, are mouthbrooders. They are polygamous fish and can mate with multiple females in one breeding season. Mbunas can also reproduce quickly in captivity. It is best to keep the fry separate from your tank if you are serious about raising them.

Mbunas reach sexual maturity at 3 inches in length. They usually reach this milestone around their first birthday. Males are larger and more vibrantly colored than females. The dominant male will be the one with the most rich colors.

Mbunas are known for their love of rocks and spawn in rocks, crevices, and caves. If you want to breed mbunas it is important to have several rocky hiding places in your tank.

The male will claim a small area that he considers the best spawning spot to begin the breeding season. After securing the spot, he will display himself to the female. As he tries to lure the female to his nesting spot, he will dance, shimmy, and vibrate his body.

If the female is spawning she will eventually give her consent to travel with the male to the nesting site. The couple will meet up and swim in close proximity in a circling manner.

The female will then lay the eggs on a flat surface, and scoop them into her mouth. This is an interesting fact. The anal fins of all male mbunas have egg spots that look eerily like eggs.

The male will display the egg spots on the anal fins of the female as he picks up her eggs. Unassumingly, the female assumes that it is her eggs and runs behind the male to retrieve them. The male will then release milt directly into the female’s mouth, effectively fertilizing the eggs. The male will chase away the female ungratefully after fertilizing the eggs.

The eggs will be incubated by the mother for approximately 4 weeks. The mother will fast throughout the entire holding period. You should move your pet to the fry pan at the end of the holding period. It will reduce the likelihood of her swallowing the eggs or spitting them.

After the eggs hatch and the fry are born, the mother can be moved back to the main tank. This is because she will be de-ranked in the pecking list if she’s absent for too long. She’ll also be subject to bullying and torture.

Mbuna fry typically contain 25 to 35 individuals in a single batch. For the first few days, they rely on the yolk sac’s nutrients for nutrition. By the time they are able to swim freely, they can eat baby brine shrimps, flake food and cyclops.

Don’t Hybridize Mbunas!

Mbunas are prone to hybridize within a group. We are all for equality and acceptance. However, we do not encourage the hybridization of mbunas. For starters, ensure that you do not keep females without a male from their species in a community aquarium.

If you suspect that the fry may be hybrids, please do not allow them to be spread in the hobby.

Hybridizing mbuna won’t create new species. It will jeopardize the unique patterns and colors that have developed over many millions of years. It would reduce the remarkable variety of mbunas.

Mbuna Cichlid’s Diet

Except for the Labiochromis species, all Mbuna cichlids can be considered herbivores. These fish eat aufwuchs in the wild. Aufwuch is a special growth that forms on rocks and is made up of biofilm, algae, and other small creatures.

They will even eat zooplankton blooms that are higher up in the water during certain seasons.

Cichlids with an underslung mouth can access the best algae growth in choppy water. They do this by effortlessly levering their bodies against rocks while they nibble.

You can provide them with commercial pellets, flakes and granules that are specifically made for herbivorous species kept in captivity. You can also give them freshly blanched vegetables and seafood wafers.

You should not give South American carnivorous Cichlids protein-rich or fatty foods.

Here is a link to my selection for cichlid food that has been enriched with vegetables, fruits, minerals, protein, and other nutrients. It is specifically formulated for African Cichlids. It’s also by Ron, who has been breeding African cichlids over 25 years.

He must know what he is doing, I’m sure!

Sometimes, you can give animal protein sparingly.

Each species of Mbuna in the wild uses its specificization, whether it is for eating long or short algae, or eggs. These specializations are rarely used in captivity.

The infamous Malawi Bloat is often caused by constant snacking on rich and fatty foods. However, there are other factors such as excess salt and stress.

The symptoms of Malawi bloat are swelling in the stomach and neck. The eyes can bulge. This disease can be fatal if it is not treated promptly.

There is an effective and proven solution. Here’s the link if you want to learn more!

How to Manage Anger in Mbunas?

Mbunas, particularly males, are known for their anger. And for good reasons. They want to be the only male haplochromine found in Lake Malawi. This means they will fan their fins on the most valuable real estate and have a female visit every hour. Unfortunately, this is not true in our small tanks.

A male male will undoubtedly encounter rival males and non-sexual women within the aquarium’s four walls. This leads to bloodbaths, and sexual assaults.

The first step in managing aggression in mbunas involves playing up with their decors. Use lots of rocks. Mbunas feel connected to rocks, which gives them a purpose in life. This is not an exaggeration. They will eat, rest and continue to breed.

Don’t forget to stack the rocks so that the subdominant males, females, and fry can hide from the dominant male in the crevices.

To completely obscure the line, you can stack the rocks higher. Two males can coexist peacefully if they create visible barriers to prevent them from monopolizing their own small territory.

Overstocking is another option. You can do whatever you want if your tank has filtration and/or aeration systems. Overstocking is limited to 20. You can keep as many as 30 or 40.

Overstock your tank with fish of similar size and age. Make sure that each male is outnumbered by at least two females so that the female isn’t bullied.

Overstocking works by ensuring that angry males don’t leave their rock too often to harass and chase females. Subdued males can also be distracted and chased away by subdued males.

The ability to pass on one’s genes is more powerful than any other emotion in nature. This article will give you proven ways to manage aggression in cichlids.

What Is The Best Mbuna Cichlid For You?

There are many species of mbuna Cichlids on sale. It can be overwhelming to choose the right one for you. Popularity doesn’t always correlate with ease of care.

Melanochromis auratus is, to my knowledge, the most popular mbuna in fishkeeping. They are hardy, durable, and beautiful as young fish. They are also the most aggressive of all species and will dominate your tank. As adults, they lose most their beautiful humbug patterns, and have a duller color.

Similar to the previous example, most people’s first attempt at dazzling blue fish is with baby blue-colored pseudotropheus Socolofi or metriaclimalombardoi with vertical blue bandings. Both of these fish can be very offensive and cause problems in community tanks.

So, even though it may look good on paper, you might not be making the right decision for yourself.

Don’t worry.

Here’s A List Of Beginner-Friendly Mbuna Cichlids For You:

• Chilumba Cichlid (Tropheops chilumba)
• Livingstonii Cichlid. (Pseudotropheus livestonii).
• Maingano Cichlid Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos
• Perlmutt Cichlid (Labidochromis perlmutt)
• Freibergi Cichlid (Labidochromis freibergi)
• Pearl Of Likoma Cichlid by Melanochromis Joanjohnsonae
• Yellow-tail Acei Cichlid (Pseudotropheus acei)
• Perspicax Cichlid (Pseudotropheus perspicax)
• Dialeptos Cichlid (Melanochromis dialeptos)
• Electric Yellow Cichlid, Labidochromis Caeruleus

For novice keepers, larger and more aggressive cichlids may be difficult to handle.

Here’s a list of large and aggressive mbuna species to avoid:

• Blue Mbuna Cichlid (Labeotropheus fuelleborni)
• Bumblebee Cichlid (Metriaclimacrabro)
• Kennyi Cichlid (Metriaclima lombardoi)
• Pindani Cichlid (Pseudotropheus socolofi)
• Ice Blue Cichlid (Metriaclima greshakei)
• Auratus Cichlid (Melanochromis auratus)

My opinion is that all mbuna-cichlids can be considered equal. However, not everyone is suited for every situation. There will undoubtedly be a list of the ‘best mbuna-cichlids’, based on factors like appearance, behavior, and popularity.

Here’s a list of the best mbuna cichlids:

• Bumblebee Cichlid (Pseudotropheus.crabro)
• Yellow Lab Cichlid. (Labidochromis Caeruleus).
• Red Zebra Cichlid (Maylandia estherae)
• Yellow Tail Acei Cichlid (Pseudotropheus sp. )
• Golden Cichlid (Melanochromis auratus)
• Auratus Cichlid (Melanochromis auratus)
• Elongatus Jewel Spot Cichlid (Pseudotropheus elongatus)
• Clown Lab Cichlid, Labidochromis Chisumulae
• Blue Zebra Cichlid (Maylandia callainos)

Mbuna Cichlids Compatibility Chart

Mbunas can survive in all water conditions. However, they can be paired with almost anyone. When choosing the right partner for them, you should consider their aggressive nature.

Herbivore Mbunas Are Compatible With:

• Other herbivores mbunas
• Omnivore mbunas
• Lake Victoria haplochromis
• Lake Tanganyika Herbivores (the aquarium should be large enough).

Omnivore Mbunas Are Compatible With:

• Lake Malawi Herbivore Mbunas
• Lake Victoria Haplochromis
• Lake Tanganyika Herbivores
• Lake Malawi Aulonocara and peaceful predators

Mbunas Are Incompatible With:

• Lake Tanganyika Carnivores (They will nip at fins and even eat small mbunas).
• Giant predator fish

Final Words: Mbuna Cichlids Guide

Here’s the summary of all you need to know about mbuna cecichlids in order to maintain a healthy mbuna tank. If you do these things correctly, you will have the most impressive-looking and arresting fish tank that you could ask for.

Happy reading!