INFO - "FUELLEBUORNI"

NAME: Fuelleborni Cichlid

GENUS: Labeotropheus

SPECIES: Fuelleborni

ENDEMIC TO: Lake Malawi - AFRICA

MAX SIZE: 15cm

WATER PARAMETERS: 24-28c / ph 7.2 to 8.5

CLASS: Mouth brooding Mbuna

SEXUAL DIMORPHISM: L.Fuelleborni females are always a light cream/yellow/off white based fish either with black spots or without. Male colouration varies as their are several variants. In the OB(orange blotch) variety both sexes remain the same colour until dominant males begin to acquire highlights of red, blue or orange in their fins and body.
Egg spots in the male's anal fin region are very prominent in the OB species.
Males and females are sexually dimorphic from birth in the other variants of Fuelleborni as males begin life as a dark navy blue colour. Male Fuelleborni will exhibit colours ranging from red dorsals, blue, yellow and orange. When uncertain, diagnosis is most accurate via the vents of the fish.

TEMPERAMENT: Males can be extremely territorial especially towards their own species. Males in breeding condition will terrorise females to a point of missing scales and fins so adequate space in the aquarium and caves for the female to seek refuge must be available.


DIET REQUIREMENTS: Fuellebornis are herbivores and in their natural environment predominantly feed on algae and vegetation. Their nature also leads them to occasionally feed on crustaceans, insects and small invertebrates. In captivity, they readily take dry foods (sinking pellets/flakes), frozen blood worms/brine shrimp and live foods. Varying their diet is a healthy practise but bear in mind their primary food source should be high in vegetable content.

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

• Typical mbuna species most suited to habitat with plenty of caves and rockery.
  
• Their distinct under turned mouth structure is an adaptation for this species to constantly graze food (algae) off caves and rock ledges.
  
• L.Fuelleborni is a larger growing species than L.Trewavasae. Fuellebornis are also shorter in body length and taller in overall height leaving them with a stubbier appearance.
  
• Their jaw structure makes extracting fry manually more of an effort. Be firm with opening the brooding female's mouth but be weary to not cause damage.
  
• Occasionally it may be harder to distinguish brooding females from non brooding ones so it is important to observe feeding patterns and behavioural changes from your fish.
  
• Eggs in this species are bigger than in most mbuna.
• Selecting breeding stock is relatively easy as juvenile fish at 5-6cm should exhibit sexual differences in all the variants of Fuelleborni.
• This species is most successful when kept in colonies of 2 males and 4 females.
  
• Do not house Fuelleborni and Trewavasae together for breeding purposes as they will inter breed.
  
• Generally an adult mouth brooding female will hold up to 60 eggs depending on size of the mother.
  
• From date of spawning, fry should be free swimming after 14 days depending on water temperature.
• Easy to House and rear. Raise temperatures and feed live foods to optimise breeding.
• On a scale of 1-10 (ten being hard) Fuelleborni scores a 5 for ease of breeding.
• Labeotropheus is capable of co-existing with other cichlids in a community aquarium.
  

photos courtesy of wikimedia.org/plecos.com/tricoti.co.uk