Yellow-tail Acei

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Sandy coasts of Lake Malawi (popular variants come from Msuli or Luwala). Despite being an "Mbuna" (which literally means "rock-beater"), the Acei has colonized a different habitat: it stations in immense schools on expanses of sand around large trees fallen into the water or submerged forests of trunks, not among the sharp rocks of the cliff.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Classified in the Pseudotropheus group (although often reclassified in Gephyrochromis or Chindongo), it is a slender, tapered and very hydrodynamic cichlid, perfect for open and prolonged swimming. It has a mouth equipped with specialized teeth not to scratch stones, but to remove soft epiphytic algae from the bark of wet wood. It easily reaches 13-15 cm (5-6 inches), being one of the most massive but elegant Mbunas.

Social Behavior: The "Gentle" schooling Mbuna. Its behavior is a rarity: in nature it travels in gigantic peaceful gatherings of hundreds of individuals. Even in the aquarium it hates loneliness and is not a fanatic cave territorial. Rather, it will happily swim for hours back and forth along the front glass, in the upper half of the tank, in small dense and choreographic schools, completely ignoring the furious territorial struggles of the other cichlids in the rocks below.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: A hypnotic chromatic contrast in motion. The "Msuli" strain (the most famous) presents a body entirely wrapped in a silky and compact NEON BLUE-PURPLE or metallic periwinkle, completed by the dorsal and caudal fins painted in a bright and clear phosphorescent SUN YELLOW. There is almost no sexual dimorphism visible to the naked eye: females and males share the same stunning colors, although alpha males are slightly larger and with more marked ocelli (fake eggs) on the anal fin.

Aquarium Setup: Demands "Free swimming tracks and Woods" (Tank min. 120 cm / 48 inches long). Unlike the other Mbunas that require impenetrable stone walls, two scenic boulders are enough for the Acei, but it necessarily demands a clean bottom of fine sand, the insertion of some large fake branches or well-smoothed purged woods and above all the entire medium and high water column totally clear for the parades of the school. Does not uproot plants (anchored Vallisneria or Anubias are excellent).

Diet and Feeding: Omnivore / Specialist Herbivore (Epiphyte grazer). In nature it scrapes tender algae from submerged trunks. In the aquarium the diet MUST be predominantly plant-based (70% Spirulina, Kelp, sinking or soft green flakes and blanched zucchini). An excessive intake of animal proteins or blood binges will cause lethal and putrescent deadly intestinal occlusions (Bloat).

Water Quality: Rigorous Great Lakes water: extremely alkaline pH (7.8 - 8.6) and very high GH (10-25). Needs very pure water, super oxygenated by rippled surface movement pumps and with zero nitrates to maintain the exuberant liveliness of the school and the bright flashy happy colors.

Compatibility and Cohabitation: Aquarium model: "Malawi Haven of Peace". Obligatory to keep it in large groups (minimum 5-6 specimens, ideal 8) to make it thrive. It is the perfect "Dither Fish" (reassuring fish) for Malawi. Can peacefully coexist both with placid Haps (Placidochromis, Aulonocara) and to dampen aggressiveness and fill the upper floor of tanks dominated by less bellicose Mbuna (Labidochromis caeruleus, Iodotropheus sprengerae). Absolutely unadvisable to pair it with fierce psychopathic territorial smashers (Melanochromis auratus, Pseudotropheus lombardoi).

Aquarium Breeding: Furious and prolific maternal oral incubation (Maternal Mouthbrooder Polygamous). Once reached estrus, the male temporarily detaches from the school, digs a slight pit near a branch and invites the female with the classic trembling "T" dance. The female prodigiously incubates dozens of eggs in her mouth for 3 or 4 weeks of iron asphyxiating fasting. Once spat out, the swarming and compact young will already form a fascinating lively bluish gray micro-school, self-sufficient and very voracious.

Risks and Diseases: Excellent hardiness, but lethality deriving from the deadly ascitic dropsy "Malawi Bloat" (occlusive and asphyxiating swelling) induced solely by dietary ignorance or diets for American cichlids with a high rate of fleshy adipose animal protein, which irreversibly and sadistically clogs their long and delicate rotting intestines. Acute loneliness wasting stress if kept as a single solitary exiled specimen, refusing anti-social terrified faded treatments.