Maingano Cichlid
Pseudotropheus cyaneorhabdos
The Maingano Cichlid (Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos) is an enchanting and very elegant Mbuna famous for its hydrodynamic "torpedo" silhouette (typical of Melanochromis) and for its extraordinarily homogeneous livery: both males and females sport a dark blue or inky black background color, crossed horizontally by sharp luminescent electric blue (neon blue) stripes. This lack of evident chromatic sexual dimorphism distinguishes it from its close cousin M. johannii (where the females are yellow/orange). Behind this hypnotic and tapered beauty, however, lies a ruthless territorial killer: it is one of the most aggressive, intolerant and bellicose Mbuna of the lake, capable of literally exterminating any male of its own species or fish with similar striped patterns if not kept in huge rocky tanks.
Température de l’eau
24 - 28 °C
Valeur du pH
7.8 - 8.6
Type d'eau
Eau douce
Niveau dans le bac
Fond et milieu
Taille adulte
10 cm
Volume minimal du bac
>= 200 L
Groupe minimal
>= 4
GH
10 - 25 dGH
KH
5 - 12 dKH
TDS
200 - 495 ppm
Conductivité
313 - 773 uS/cm
Description de l'espèce
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa (specifically localized around Likoma Island). It is an "Mbuna" strictly confined to steeply sloping, rocky coastlines and sheer underwater cliffs devoid of sandy sediments, dwelling entirely within deep, dark rocky crevices.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Universally known in the hobby as the "Maingano". Belongs to the notorious Melanochromis genus, characterized by incredibly elongated, slender, torpedo-like bodies designed for rocketing through tight rocky labyrinths at blistering speeds. Reaches a maximum length of about 10 cm (4 inches).
Social Behavior: Highly dynamic, lightning-fast, and hyper-aggressive. It is considered one of the "bad boys" of the Malawi cichlid world, though slightly less psychotic and murderous than its infamous cousin, the Auratus (Melanochromis auratus). An incredibly tough fighter, it stubbornly claims a network of caves and relentlessly attacks trespassers with rapid-fire chases and lethal bites.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: A spectacular display of horizontal striping. The entire body is slashed by alternating, thick horizontal bands of dark blue (almost black) and a blazing "Electric Neon Blue". **Extreme Lack of Dimorphism:** Unlike most Melanochromis (where males and females are opposite colors), Maingano BOTH males AND females share the exact same beautiful blue/black striped livery. Only an expert eye can tell them apart: dominant males have an intensely dark belly and brighter yellow "egg-spots" on the anal fin.
Soins, reproduction et cohabitation
Aquarium Setup: Demands an extreme "Mbuna-style" setup. Minimum tank size is 120 cm / 4 feet (250+ liters / 65+ Gallons). It is absolutely imperative to build a massive, labyrinthine wall of rocks stacked almost to the water's surface, creating countless escape routes, dark caves, and visual barriers. Without dense rockwork to break lines of sight, the dominant male will systematically murder every tankmate in open water.
Diet and Feeding: Omnivore / "Aufwuchs" grazer. Requires a high-fiber, plant-based diet. Feed strictly with premium sinking Mbuna pellets rich in Spirulina and Kelp. While it can tolerate small amounts of animal protein (like occasional frozen mysis or krill), a diet based on heavy meaty carnivore foods will rapidly cause lethal intestinal bloating.
Water Quality: Strict African Rift Lake chemistry is required: hard and alkaline. pH must be locked between 7.8 and 8.6, with a high GH of 10-25. Temperature: 24-27°C (75-81°F). The controlled overstocking required to disperse Mbuna aggression demands titanic biological filtration and massive, weekly water changes to keep the water pristine and oxygen-rich.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: Social management is a minefield. A Harem system is required (1 male to a strict minimum of 3-5 females); keeping a single female with a male is a death sentence for her. Compatible only with equally robust Mbuna (Metriaclima, Labeotropheus) that DO NOT have horizontal stripes and are NOT blue/black. Mixing them with similarly patterned fish (like Pseudotropheus johannii) will trigger mistaken-identity bloodbaths.
Aquarium Breeding: Highly active Maternal Mouthbrooders. Spawning occurs deep within a dark cave. The male shivers violently to seduce the female. She lays up to 30 eggs, scoops them into her mouth, and inhales the male's sperm to fertilize them in her buccal cavity. Because the tank is a warzone, the brooding female (who fasts for 3 weeks) must have access to tiny, inaccessible crevices to survive the incubation without spitting her eggs from stress.
Risks and Diseases: 1. Stress-Induced Murder: the #1 cause of death is the dominant male butchering subdominant males or his own females due to a lack of hiding spots. 2. Identification Catastrophe: because males and females look identical, hobbyists often unknowingly buy multiple males at the store, leading to a guaranteed massacre. 3. Malawi Bloat from improper diet.
Origine et répartition géographiques
Endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa (specifically localized around Likoma Island). It is an "Mbuna" strictly confined to steeply sloping, rocky coastlines and sheer underwater cliffs devoid of sandy sediments, dwelling entirely within deep, dark rocky crevices.
Origine
Sélection et cultivarsAfrique et Madagascar
Profil de poisson
- Tempérament
- Territorial
- The temperament is extremely aggressive. Dominant males fiercely defend their structures. Careful planning of tank mates is required.
- Régime alimentaire
- Herbivore
- They are primarily herbivorous grazers. Feed them high-quality vegetable-based flakes. Avoid excessive protein to prevent digestive issues.
- Espérance de vie
- 5-10 years
- Taille adulte
- 10 cm
- Ratio des sexes
- Harem
- Keep one male with several females. This disperses the male's intense aggression. Multiple males require very large tanks.
- Fréquence d'alimentation
- Twice daily
- Feed small amounts twice daily. Overfeeding rapidly degrades water quality. Frequent small meals mimic natural grazing.
- Charge biologique
- Medium to High
- This species produces a high bioload. Regular water changes are crucial. A strong filtration system prevents waste buildup.
- Courant
- Strong
- They prefer moderate water flow. This ensures adequate oxygenation in the tank. Stronger surface currents facilitate gas exchange.
- Risque de saut
- No
- Reproduction
- Oviparous
- They are maternal mouthbrooders. Females hold eggs for about three weeks. Fry are released fully formed.
- Compatibilité et compagnons
- With caution
- It is a highly aggressive cichlid. Keep only with other assertive Mbuna. It will harass peaceful community fish.
- Niveau dans le bac
- Middle/Bottom
- They dwell in the lower and middle levels. They actively defend rocky territories. Open swimming is mostly during feeding.
Modèles et paramètres scientifiques
FishBase
Fenêtre sur les données scientifiques officielles de l’espèce
FishBase v25.04Données synchronisées le : 15/06/2026
- Niveau trophique
- 3,5 ± 0,41 se
- Résilience
- Élevée (moins de 15 mois)
- Singularité phylogénétique (PD50)
- 0.5
- Relation bayésienne longueur-poids
- a = 0.01445, b = 2.99
- VulnérabilitéVulnérabilité faible (10 / 100)
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