INFO - "ELECTRIC YELLOW"

NAME: Electric Yellow Cichlid

GENUS: Labidochromis

SPECIES: Caeruleus

ENDEMIC TO: Lake Malawi - AFRICA

MAX SIZE: 15 cm

WATER PARAMETERS: 24-28C / PH : 7.2 to 8.5

CLASS: Mouth brooding Mbuna

SEXUAL DIMORPHISM: Males and females are the same colour. The males possess darker finnage and in some instances contain egg spots in their anal fins. At a mature age diagnosis from the vents is most accurate.

TEMPERAMENT: Males can be territiorial, especially around breeding time, however due to their size, the aggression that they display towards other cichlids usually does not result in fatalitys or serious injury. Electric Yellows are considered a peaceful species amongst african cichlids.

DIET REQUIREMENTS: Electric Yellows are an omnivore. Their diet in the wild would consist of predominantly vegetable matter with the opportunistic feeding of insects and small invertebrates. In captivity they readily take dry foods (sinking pellets, flakes), frozen blood worms/brine shrimp and live foods. Alternate their feeding allowing them variety but also bear in mind that excessive feeding of high protein products can lead to internal bacterial problems.

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

• Typical Mbuna. Most suited to a habitat with plenty of caves and crevices.
  
• Can be housed with hardy aquarium plants - anubias/vallisneria/java fern.
• Electric Yellows are a shy fish. Either house them in large numbers of 12 and above or include dither fish as tank mates. These fish will serve a purpose of leading the yellows from their caves to confidently feed and feel safe in their environment.
• Purchase a batch of young individuals (6 or more). Select 2 of the largest from the batch and 4 smaller ones to enhance the possibilty of a higher ratio of females than males.
  
• Electric yellows breed best in colonys of 2 males to 4 or more females.
• Pairs residing in communal aquariums can also successfully spawn.
• Generally an adult mouth brooding female holds up to 35 eggs.
• From spawning date, fry should be free swimming after 12 days depending on water temperature.
• Electric yellows can begin breeding at a relatively young age. Even small juveniles at 6cm may hold small mouthfuls of ten fry.
• High quality food with shrimp meal will enhance stronger colours. Water quality can also play an important factor.
• Easy to house and rear. Raise temperatures and feed live foods to optimise breeding.
• Electric Yellows will rarely inter breed with other mbuna species.
• Moderately easy to breed in optimum water conditions.
• This species is a gorgeous addition to any aquarium as they possess such vibrant and contrasting colours.
  

photo courtesy of aquariumlife.net