Malawi Cichlid Fact Sheet

I have put together this handy fact sheet so you can get all the facts at a glance.

	Community Malawi Cichlids are NOT a community fish and should only be kept with their own kind.
	Easy Relatively easy to keep just like any other cichlid but be aware of what they require before you start.
	Sizes Average size for an adult mbuna (rock dwelling malawi) is around 5 inches (12cm) Adult non-mbuna (haps) can grow upto 14 inches (35cm) but are rarely seen this size in an aquarium.
	Aggressive Mbuna can be very aggressive unlike non-mbuna (haps).
	PH Level PH levels between 7.4 - 8.6
	Temperature Between 78 - 80° f
	Territorial Mbuna are very territorial unlike non-mbuna (haps).
	Preditory Most of the larger non-mbuna (haps) such as Nimbochromis Aristochromis Rhamphochromis are preditory fish so they must NOT be kept with the smaller mbuna family.
	Enviroment Mbuna need a built up rocky enviroment and non-mbuna (haps) need large open swimming spaces.
	Substrate A sandy bottom is best for both mbuna and non-mbuna (haps).
	Plants Not native to mbuna but giant vallis is found in the lake where non-mbuna live (haps). Mbuna will dig up or destroy any plants that they find in the aquarium.
	Feeding Mbuna need good quality vegetable based foods but will eat anything while non-mbuna (haps) need fleshy foods such as shrimps, mussles and prawns but will also eat good quality pellet and stick foods.
	Sexing Some general guide lines for sexing malawi cichlids are that some males have egg spots on their anal fins and are much more colourful while the females can be smaller with rounded fins but this is not guranteed. If you need to know you can have them vented which is sometimes frowned upon.
	Breeding These cichlids have a tendency to breed quickly and easily once you have an established pair. Many of them produce large batches of young so if you are thinking of breeding your malawi cichlids then make sure you have some tanks available for all the fry.
	Mouthbrooders The female will incubate the eggs in her mouth and once hatched will hold them for a further three weeks.

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