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No federal permit to keep

Blue mbuna

Labeotropheus fuelleborni

Also known as Fuelleborn's cichlid

Fishes › Cichlids (Cichliformes) › Cichlidae (Cichlids)

The blue mbuna (Labeotropheus fuelleborni) is a species of cichlid found in Lake Malawi where it inhabits areas with rocky substrates.

Aquarium hobby

Experience: Easy

Blue mbuna — Photo: Gareth J. Fraser, C. Darrin Hulsey, Ryan F. Bloomquist, Kris, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo: Gareth J. Fraser, C. Darrin Hulsey, Ryan F. Bloomquist, Kris, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

FamilyCichlids

Adult lengthup to 11.8 in

WaterFreshwater

HabitatLives in freshwater

Care at a glance

Species-specific aquarium care

Tank: At least 60 in long and 24 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 11.8 in / 30 cm).
Water: Freshwater.
Temperature: 72–77°F (range recorded for this species).
pH: 7.5–8.5.
Hardness: 0–12 dGH.
Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.
Diet: A grazer on plants and algae: base the diet on vegetable foods (algae wafers, blanched vegetables, spirulina). FishBase classes it as a herbivore.

Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.

Care guide

Species care notes

Tank: a base of at least 35 × 18 in (roughly 41 US gallons); space needed is rated “large tank”.
Water: hard, alkaline water, 75–82 °F, pH 7.6–8.8, 10–25 dGH.
Behaviour: temperament territorial.
Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).

Short excerpts from the species profile:

Setup: “Much of the aquarium should contain piles of rocks arranged to form caves with small areas of open water between.”
Tankmates: “Aggressive and territorial.”

From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167

Group care guide

Lake Malawi mbuna

Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Rocky shores of Lake Malawi. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.

Housing & setup

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.

Sources 117 119 164 118 255

Climate & lighting

Water

76–82°F

Sources 117 119 164 118 255

Diet

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.
Feed small amounts once or twice a day.

Sources 117 119 164 118 255

Social life

Territorial; overstock mbuna-only tanks rather than mixing with peaceful fish.

Sources 117 119 164 118 255

Health watch

Monitor water quality, feeding and aggression. Do not present dietary protein alone as a confirmed diagnosis or universal cause of abdominal swelling.

Sources 117 119 164 118 255

Understanding the animal

About this animal

This species can reach a length of 30 centimetres (12 in) SL. This species is important to local commercial fisheries as well as being found in the aquarium trade. Some of its mottled forms are sometimes known as marmalade cat.

Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Blue mbuna” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174

In the wild

From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.¹

Where it lives	Lives in freshwater, in lakes. Uses both the bottom and open water. Is territorial over rocky substrate.
Water it lives in	Freshwater, 72–77 °F (22–25 °C), pH 7.5–8.5, hardness 12 dH, depth 1–6 m.
Climate	Tropical climate.
Wild diet	Grazing on aquatic plants.
Behavior to plan for	Breeding: external brooders.

What this means for care

Keep water within its wild range, 72–77 °F.

FishBase species summary: Labeotropheus fuelleborni

Native climate (measured)

Warm-season highs	about 86°F (up to 89°F in the hottest sampled areas)
Cool-season lows	about 60°F (down to 55°F in the coldest sampled areas)
Average temperature	71–76°F across sampled records
Relative humidity	67–70% on average (driest month about 56%)
Rainfall	about 1222 mm a year, with strong wet and dry seasons

Measured at 23 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.

From the sources

Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.

Overview	The blue mbuna (Labeotropheus fuelleborni) is a species of cichlid found in Lake Malawi where it inhabits areas with rocky substrates. This species can reach a length of 30 cm SL. This species is important to local commercial fisheries as well as being found in the aquarium trade. Some of its mottled forms are sometimes known as marmalade cat. — Wikipedia (community-edited)
Where it lives	Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase
Reproduction	Female takes brood into her mouth and takes care of the young. — FishBase
Biology	Is territorial over rocky substrate. Usually feeds alone, or in small groups with other species, on the Aufwuchs cover on rocks in shallow water. Occasionally, however, members band and form feeding schools of several hundred fish which raid the rich algal gardens of other species. — FishBase

Data and studies

The numbers

Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.

Adult length

Average of sources9.4in

FishBase 16411.8

Seriously Fish species profiles 1676.9

Maximum recorded length. Measured as standard length (snout to the base of the tail, not counting the tail fin). Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.

Water temperature

Average of sources73.5–79.5°F

FishBase 16472–77

Seriously Fish species profiles 16775–82

Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.

pH

Average of sources7.5–8.7

FishBase 1647.5–8.5

Seriously Fish species profiles 1677.6–8.8

Water hardness

Reported10–25dGH

Seriously Fish species profiles 16710–25

Minimum tank footprint

Reported35in

Seriously Fish species profiles 16735

Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 35 × 18 in (about 41 US gallons).

Federal legal snapshot

No federal permit to keep

No federal law singles out this species for private keepers. State and local rules still apply.

State law decides most of it. Each state sets its own permits and bans for exotic, native, venomous and dangerous animals, and cities and counties can be stricter. Find your state agency →

Not covered by the Animal Welfare Act

The Act only covers warm-blooded animals. Reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates have no federal care standards, even at licensed facilities; state and local rules may still apply.

Kept in captivity?

Every species on this site needs evidence that people actually keep it. For this one:

Has a Seriously Fish aquarium species profile
FishBase records it in the aquarium trade (Aquarium=commercial; AquariumFishII=based mainly on breeding; aquarium reproduction record)
9 iNaturalist observations of captive animals

Sources for this sheet

FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of aquarium fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
Merck Veterinary Manual: Types and features of aquatic systems Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutritional diseases of fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
Seriously Fish — Labidochromis caeruleus Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.