African cichlids

133 freshwater aquarium species in the african cichlids group, including Aulonocara chizumulu, Aulonocara Fort Maguire and Blue mbuna. 72 have a full care profile with tank size, temperature, pH and temperament, compared in the table below.

African cichlids care compared

SpeciesAdult sizeMin. tankTemperaturepHTemperamentCare
Aulonocara chizumuluAulonocara korneliae15 cm (5.9 in)210 L (55 US gal)23–27°C (73–81°F)7.5–8.5PeacefulEasy
Aulonocara Fort MaguireAulonocara hansbaenschi15 cm (5.9 in)210 L (55 US gal)25–29°C (77–84°F)7.5–8.8Semi-aggressiveEasy
Blue mbunaLabeotropheus fuelleborni18 cm (7.1 in)210 L (55 US gal)22–28°C (72–82°F)7.5–8.5–Easy
Blue orchid aulonocaraAulonocara maylandi kandeensis10 cm (3.9 in)115 L (30 US gal)22–28°C (72–82°F)7.5–8.3PeacefulEasy
Blue streak hapLabidochromis caeruleus11.4 cm (4.5 in)–23–28°C (73–82°F)7.5–8.5–Easy
Bluegray mbunaMelanochromis johannii10 cm (3.9 in)210 L (55 US gal)22–28°C (72–82°F)7.8–8.6–Moderate
Blunthead cichlidTropheus moorii13 cm (5.1 in)115 L (30 US gal)22–28°C (72–82°F)7.3–9.2Semi-aggressiveEasy
Eastern happyAstatotilapia calliptera15 cm (5.9 in)150 L (40 US gal)24–28°C (75–82°F)7.4–8.4Aggressive–
Elongate mbunaPseudotropheus elongatus10 cm (3.9 in)150 L (40 US gal)22–27°C (72–81°F)7.5–8.0Aggressive–
Emperor cichlidAulonocara nyassae8 cm (3.1 in)75 L (20 US gal)25–26°C (77–79°F)7.8–8.5PeacefulEasy
Fairy cichlidAulonocara jacobfreibergi15 cm (5.9 in)210 L (55 US gal)22–26°C (72–79°F)7.8–8.6–Easy
Featherfin cichlidCyathopharynx furcifer20 cm (7.9 in)210 L (55 US gal)24–26°C (75–79°F)8.0–9.0Semi-aggressiveEasy
Flavescent peacockAulonocara stuartgranti12 cm (4.7 in)210 L (55 US gal)22–28°C (72–82°F)7.3–9.2Semi-aggressiveEasy
Golden mbunaMelanochromis auratus13 cm (5.1 in)115 L (30 US gal)22–27°C (72–81°F)7.0–8.5AggressiveEasy
Greenface aulonocaraAulonocara saulosi11 cm (4.3 in)210 L (55 US gal)22–26°C (72–79°F)7.8–8.6PeacefulEasy
Haplochromis borleyi redfinCopadichromis borleyi18 cm (7.1 in)210 L (55 US gal)25–28°C (77–82°F)8.0–8.5Semi-aggressiveEasy
Humphead cichlidCyphotilapia frontosa33 cm (13 in)285 L (75 US gal)22–30°C (72–86°F)7.8–9.5PeacefulModerate
JewelfishHemichromis bimaculatus12 cm (4.7 in)210 L (55 US gal)21–23°C (70–73°F)6.5–7.5AggressiveEasy
Lavender mbunaIodotropheus sprengerae11 cm (4.3 in)115 L (30 US gal)23–28°C (73–82°F)7.8–8.6PeacefulEasy
Malawi eyebiterDimidiochromis compressiceps25 cm (9.8 in)210 L (55 US gal)22–28°C (72–82°F)7.5–8.3PeacefulEasy
Masked julieJulidochromis transcriptus15 cm (5.9 in)75 L (20 US gal)23–25°C (73–77°F)7.4–9.0Semi-aggressiveEasy
Nkhomo-benga peacockAulonocara baenschi12 cm (4.7 in)210 L (55 US gal)22–28°C (72–82°F)7.2–8.2Semi-aggressiveEasy
Parallel striped mbunaMelanochromis parallelus11.5 cm (4.5 in)210 L (55 US gal)22–27°C (72–81°F)7.5–9.0–Easy
PindaniPseudotropheus socolofi11 cm (4.3 in)150 L (40 US gal)25–28°C (77–82°F)7.8–8.6–Easy
Red zebraMaylandia estherae14 cm (5.5 in)210 L (55 US gal)25–28°C (77–82°F)7.8–8.6––
Redbelly tilapiaTilapia zillii40 cm (16 in)475 L (125 US gal)11–36°C (52–97°F)6.0–9.0Semi-aggressiveEasy
Scrapermouth mbunaLabeotropheus trewavasae11 cm (4.3 in)210 L (55 US gal)22–28°C (72–82°F)7.5–8.5Semi-aggressiveEasy
Spindle hapProtomelas taeniolatus14 cm (5.5 in)285 L (75 US gal)22–27°C (72–81°F)7.5–8.0Aggressive–
Super VC-10 hapPlacidochromis milomo18 cm (7.1 in)210 L (55 US gal)23–26°C (73–79°F)8.0–8.5Semi-aggressiveEasy
Zebra mbunaMaylandia zebra15 cm (5.9 in)210 L (55 US gal)23–27°C (73–81°F)7.2–9.0AggressiveEasy
Altolamprologus calvus15 cm (5.9 in)210 L (55 US gal)24–28°C (75–82°F)7.2–9.0Peaceful–
Aulonocara koningsi11 cm (4.3 in)210 L (55 US gal)23–27°C (73–81°F)7.5–8.5PeacefulEasy
Aulonocara rostratum19 cm (7.5 in)285 L (75 US gal)22–26°C (72–79°F)7.4–8.3PeacefulEasy
Callochromis pleurospilus10 cm (3.9 in)150 L (40 US gal)23–28°C (73–82°F)7.0–8.5AggressiveModerate
Cynotilapia afra10 cm (3.9 in)210 L (55 US gal)23–28°C (73–82°F)8.0–8.5AggressiveEasy
Haplochromis latifasciatus12.7 cm (5 in)210 L (55 US gal)22–26°C (72–79°F)7.2–8.6AggressiveEasy
Hemichromis lifalili8 cm (3.1 in)150 L (40 US gal)23–26°C (73–79°F)6.5–7.5AggressiveModerate
Iodotropheus stuartgranti11 cm (4.3 in)115 L (30 US gal)23–28°C (73–82°F)7.8–8.6PeacefulEasy
Julidochromis dickfeldi10 cm (3.9 in)115 L (30 US gal)25–26°C (77–79°F)8.0–9.0Semi-aggressiveEasy
Julidochromis marlieri13 cm (5.1 in)115 L (30 US gal)23–27°C (73–81°F)7.4–9.0Semi-aggressiveEasy
Labidochromis chisumulae7.6 cm (3 in)75 L (20 US gal)25–28°C (77–82°F)7.8–8.6–Easy
Lamprologus callipterus12.5 cm (4.9 in)–23–28°C (73–82°F)8.6––
Lamprologus ocellatus5 cm (2 in)40 L (11 US gal)25–26°C (77–79°F)8.0–9.0––
Lamprologus speciosus5 cm (2 in)–23–27°C (73–81°F)7.4––
Maylandia lombardoi13 cm (5.1 in)210 L (55 US gal)23–27°C (73–81°F)7.5–8.3AggressiveEasy
Melanochromis baliodigma6.4 cm (2.5 in)210 L (55 US gal)25–28°C (77–82°F)7.3–8.5–Easy
Melanochromis brevis12 cm (4.7 in)210 L (55 US gal)25–28°C (77–82°F)7.3–8.5–Easy
Melanochromis chipokae12 cm (4.7 in)210 L (55 US gal)25–28°C (77–82°F)7.3–8.5–Moderate

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