Golden mbuna (Melanochromis auratus) fish species and information / pictures of Golden mbuna - Melanochromis auratus

Golden mbuna (Melanochromis auratus) fish species information

Scientific Name
Melanochromis auratus

Common Name
Golden mbuna

Biology
Found in rocky habitats. Feeds from the biocover by nibbling and picking on the algae (Ref. 5595). Aquarium keeping: aggressive towards conspecifics; many females for one male; minimum aquarium size 100 cm (Ref. 51539).

Classification

Classified By
Boulenger, 1897
Class
Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)
Order
Perch-like fish (Perciformes)
Family
Cichlids (Cichlidae)

Distribution

Region
Africa
Distribution
Africa: Endemic to Lake Malawi. Occurs in the southern part of the lake from Jalo Reef, north of Nkhota Kota southward along the entire western coast down to Crocodile Rocks including all islands and reefs. Not known on the eastern shore (Ref. 5595).
Range
12°S - 15°S

Environment

Climate
Tropical
Water Temperature From
22 °C
Water Temperature To
26 °C
Depth From - meters
Unknown m
Depth To - meters
Unknown m
Zone
demersal
Environment
Freshwater; ; pH range: 7.0 - 8.5; dH range: 10 - 15 demersal
Trophic Level
2 s.e. 0.00 Based on diet studies.
Occurs in Marine / Salt water
False
Occurs in Brackish water
False
Occurs in Fresh Water
True
Occurs on Reefs
False
Is kept in Aquariums
True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length
11.0 cm
Common Length
Unknown cm
Phylogenetic Diversity Index
PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses
Aquarium: highly commercial
Vulnerability
Low vulnerability (13 of 100)
Resilience
High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (tm
Threat To Humans
  Harmless
IUCN Red List Status
  Least Concern (LC)