Mbuna

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos
displaying behaviour typical of mbuna

Mbuna (pronounced Mmm-boo-nah

sexually dimorphic, although many are not. Almost all of the cichlid species of Lake Malawi, including mbuna and non mbuna such as the utaka, are believed to have descended from one or a very few species that became isolated in the lake. With rising water levels, new habitats could be colonized and the many isolated rocky outcrops allowed new mbuna species to form.[3] Their striking colors, intriguing behavioral characteristics, and relative hardiness make them very popular despite their unique demands for the home aquarist
.

Mbuna in aquaria

While many haplochromines tend to be colorful in males though dull in females, both sexes of mbuna often have striking coloration. This is a pair of kenyi cichlids, Maylandia lombardoi.

These cichlids are some of the most colorful

Java fern
, which may become the object of mbuna aggression, but will not be eaten due to an undesirable taste.


Social behavior

Mbuna exhibit strong social behavior and establish a clearly visible social hierarchy including well-defined and enforced territories. A dominant male maintains a spherical territory, only allowing females to enter this territory for breeding purposes. Overcrowding helps spread out the aggression caused by these territorial conflicts. They, like Astatotilapia burtoni, are maternal mouthbrooders and breed readily in good conditions.

Water parameters

All species from Lake Malawi thrive in the temperature range of 77-84 °F. pH 7.5-8.4 is ideal with an almost pristine (near 0 ppm) ammonia and ammonium nitrite content.

Notable mbuna cichlids

Many mbuna cichlids are regularly stocked and sold by pet shops. Some of the most common ones are the Bumblebee Cichlid or Hornet Cichlid (

Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos
. Many of these species are considered to have large territorial needs and aggressively defend these territories. Cichlids belonging to any of the genera listed below are considered mbuna.

An electric yellow cichlid, Labidochromis caeruleus.
Labidochromis sp.
Rusty cichlid,Iodotropheus sprengerae
Labeotropheus fuelleborni
Pseudotropheus "acei"
Female M. auratus

The list below includes groups of nonmbuna mouthbrooding cichlids from Lake Malawi.

References

[5] [6] [7]

  1. ^ "Mbuna Cichlids". Aquatic Community. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  2. .
  3. .
  4. ^ M. K. Oliver, Ph.D. (2002) Maylandia, Metriaclima or Pseudotropheus? from www.malawicichlids.com [1]
  5. ^ Info on keeping Malawi cichlids
  6. ^ African Cichlid Genus Gallery
  7. ^ Ad Konings biography

See also

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