The eye-catching Maingano is a Lake Malawi African cichlid with a striking coloration!
Species – Melanochromis Maingano – Pseudotropheus cyaneorhabdos
Current Size – 4cm
Adult Length – 10cm
Temperature Range – 24 – 28 °C
pH Range – 7.6 – 8.8
Water Hardness – 10 – 25 °H
Special Requirements – Much of the aquarium should contain piles of rocks, arranged to form caves with small areas of open water between. A sandy substrate is best and the water should be well oxygenated.
Tanks Mates and Compatibility – Aggressive and territorial. It should not be kept with peace loving species, such as Peacocks or Utaka, but it can be combined with other Mbuna. The tank should be overcrowded to reduce aggression and territory formation. It is intolerant of others of its species and the presence of heterospecifics helps to dissipate this. Several females should be kept per male in order to reduce harassment by the male.
Feeding – It will accept most foods offered but vegetable matter in the form of spirulina flakes, blanched spinach etc. should form a large proportion of the diet. This can be supplemented with live and frozen varieties.