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No federal permit to keepMaylandia callainos
Maylandia callainos
Fishes › Cichlids (Cichliformes) › Cichlidae (Cichlids)
Maylandia callainos (sometimes referred to as cobalt zebra, cobalt blue mbuna or cobalt blue zebra cichlid) is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where they only occurred naturally in Nkhata Bay though it has now been introduced to other locations.
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 24 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 3.2 in / 8.01 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 75–79°F (range recorded for this species).
- pH: 7.5–8.3.
- Hardness: 5–30 dGH.
- Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.
- Availability: Rarely or never seen in the aquarium trade; expect to source it from specialists or not at all.
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 47 × 12 in (roughly 29 US gallons); space needed is rated “large tank”.
- Water: hard, alkaline water, 75–82 °F, pH 7.6–8.8, 8–25 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.”
- Diet: “It will accept most foods offered, but vegetable matter in the form of spirulina flakes, blanched spinach etc.”
- 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
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.
Climate & lighting
| Water | 76–82°F |
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.
Social life
- Territorial; overstock mbuna-only tanks rather than mixing with peaceful fish.
Health watch
- Monitor water quality, feeding and aggression. Do not present dietary protein alone as a confirmed diagnosis or universal cause of abdominal swelling.
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
This species can reach a length of 8 centimetres (3.1 in) SL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. Maylandia callainos was formally named Pseudotropheus callainos and is often referred as such in the scientific literature.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Maylandia callainos” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
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. Uses both the bottom and open water. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 75–79 °F (24–26 °C), pH 7.5–8.3, hardness 5–30 dH, depth 3–4 m. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 75–79 °F.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 86°F (up to 88°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 61°F (down to 56°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 71–76°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 68–71% on average (driest month about 58%) |
| Rainfall | about 1226 mm a year, with strong wet and dry seasons |
Measured at 14 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
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 | Maylandia callainos (sometimes referred to as cobalt zebra, cobalt blue mbuna or cobalt blue zebra cichlid) is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where they only occurred naturally in Nkhata Bay though it has now been introduced to other locations. This species can reach a length of 8 cm SL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. Maylandia callainos was formally named Pseudotropheus callainos and is often referred as such in the scientific literature. — 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 |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Adult length
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
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 47 × 12 in (about 29 US gallons).
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.
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