Group care guide
Lake Malawi mbuna
- Hard, alkaline water (pH 7.8–8.6) and lots of stacked rock with caves; a long tank (often 4 ft+).
- Keep in crowded groups of one male to several females per species, to spread aggression.
- Choose diet by mbuna species. The L. caeruleus profile offers vegetable foods alongside live or frozen foods; do not impose a universal ban on animal protein.
| Water | 76–82°F |
No federal permit
Blue mbuna
Labeotropheus fuelleborni
Aquarium hobby
Easy
No federal permit
Blue streak hap
Labidochromis caeruleus
Aquarium hobby
Easy
No federal permit
Cynotilapia afra
Cynotilapia afra
Aquarium hobby
Easy
No federal permit
Golden mbuna
Melanochromis auratus
Aquarium hobby
Easy
No federal permit
Lavender mbuna
Iodotropheus sprengerae
Aquarium hobby
Easy
No federal permit
Scrapermouth mbuna
Labeotropheus trewavasae
Aquarium hobby
Easy

No federal permit
William's mbuna
Maylandia greshakei
Aquarium hobby
Easy
No federal permit
Zebra mbuna
Maylandia zebra
Aquarium hobby
Easy
📷No free-license photo yet
No federal permit
Melanochromis chipokae
Melanochromis chipokae
Aquarium hobby
Easy
No federal permit
Maylandia callainos
Maylandia callainos
Aquarium hobby
Easy
📷No free-license photo yet
No federal permit
Melanochromis lepidiadaptes
Melanochromis lepidiadaptes
Aquarium hobby
Easy