Mbuna

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Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos displaying behaviour typical of mbuna Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos.jpg
Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos displaying behaviour typical of mbuna

Mbuna (pronounced Mmm-boo-nah [1] ) is the common name for a large group of African cichlids from Lake Malawi, and are members of the haplochromine family. The name mbuna means "rockfish" in the language of the Tonga people of Malawi. [2] As the name implies, most mbuna are cichlids that live among the piles of rocks and along the rocky shores of Lake Malawi, as opposed to the utaka, cichlids that live in the open water or on sandy shores or soft substrates. Some species of mbuna are highly 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.

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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. Maylandia lombardoi.jpg
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 freshwater fish for the home aquarium. Mbuna are very aggressive and territorial fish, they are not suitable for beginner fishkeepers. A suitable aquarium setting includes many rocks, adequate filtration, caves, and hiding places; plants may be uprooted, so they are best avoided, but a small number will work well in the aquarium. One of these is 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 ( Pseudotropheus crabro ), Golden Cichlid ( Melanochromis auratus ), Electric Yellow or Yellow Lab Cichlid ( Labidochromis caeruleus ), Red Zebra Cichlid ( Maylandia estherae ), Blue Zebra Cichlid ( Maylandia callainos ), and Blue Johannii 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. Electric Yellow Lab Cichlid.jpg
An electric yellow cichlid, Labidochromis caeruleus .
Labidochromis sp. Labidochromis sp "hongi".jpg
Labidochromis sp.
Rusty cichlid,Iodotropheus sprengerae Iodotropheus sprengerae.jpg
Rusty cichlid, Iodotropheus sprengerae
Labeotropheus fuelleborni Labeotropheus fuelleborni1.jpg
Labeotropheus fuelleborni
Pseudotropheus "acei" Yellow tailed acei.jpg
Pseudotropheus "acei"
Female M. auratus Melanochromis auratus (female).jpg
Female M. auratus

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

Related Research Articles

<i>Labidochromis caeruleus</i> Species of fish endemic to part of Lake Malawi

Labidochromis caeruleus is a species of cichlid endemic to the central western coastal region of Lake Malawi in East Africa. It is also known as lemon yellow lab, the blue streak hap, the electric yellow or yellow prince, depending on the colour morph. A naturally occurring yellow-coloured variant from Lion's Cove is one of the most popular cichlids amongst aquarium hobbyists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electric yellow cichlid</span> Species of freshwater fish

The electric yellow cichlid is a popular freshwater aquarium fish. It is a naturally occurring variant of Labidochromis caeruleus endemic to the central western coastal region of Nkhata Bay in Lake Malawi in East Africa. It is the most popular African cichlid amongst aquarium hobbyists. These fish are mouthbrooders; the female lays her eggs on the surface of rocks and then scoops them into her mouth where they brood for 18 days before being released.

<i>Maylandia estherae</i> Species of fish

Maylandia estherae is a haplochromine cichlid. It is a rock dwelling fish or mbuna from Lake Malawi. This fish, like most cichlids from Lake Malawi, is a mouthbrooder - females hold their fertilized eggs then fry in their mouths until they are released after about 21 days.

<i>Pseudotropheus</i> Genus of fishes

Pseudotropheus is a genus of fishes in the family Cichlidae. These mbuna cichlids are endemic to Lake Malawi in Eastern Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shell dwellers</span>

The terms shell dwellers or shelldwellers, shell-breeding, or ostracophil are descriptive terms for cichlid fish that use the empty shells of aquatic snails as sites for breeding and shelter. The terms have no taxonomic basis, although most shell-dwelling cichlids are from Lake Tanganyikas lamprologine lineage. Many shell dwelling cichlids are popular with fishkeepings and are frequently kept in aquaria.

<i>Aulonocara</i> Genus of fishes

Aulonocara is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. All Aulonocara species are maternal mouth brooders. Particularly in the aquarium hobby, Aulonocara species are also known as peacock cichlids, aulonocaras or simply "peacocks". This genus is strongly sexually dichromic, even by haplochromine standards.

<i>Maylandia</i> Genus of fishes

Maylandia or Metriaclima is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. They belong to the mbuna (rock-dwelling) haplochromines.

<i>Maylandia lombardoi</i> Species of fish

Maylandia lombardoi, is a 13 centimetres (5.1 in) long freshwater fish from the family Cichlidae. This species is popular in the aquarium hobby where it is sold under a variety of common names including: lombardoi mbuna, kenyi mbuna or kennyi mbuna or kenyi cichlid. This species is sometimes seen in the genus Metriaclima owing to a dispute in which a minority of cichlid researchers do not consider Maylandia valid (see Maylandia for discussion. The specific name honours the exotic fish dealer John Lombardo.

<i>Melanochromis</i> Genus of fishes

Melanochromis is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in Eastern Africa. Ecologically, they belong to the rock-dwelling mbuna cichlids of Lake Malawi.

Ethelwynn Trewavas was an ichthyologist at the British Museum of Natural History. She was known for her work on the families Cichlidae and Sciaenidae. She worked with Charles Tate Regan, another ichthyologist and taxonomist.

<i>Copadichromis</i> Genus of fishes

Copadichromis is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in Eastern Africa. Copadichromis are part of a group known as utaka and are popular with aquarists, as this genus is relatively peaceful in captivity compared to the mbuna.

<i>Iodotropheus</i> Genus of fishes

Iodotropheus is a small genus of cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in east Africa. The genus is distinguished from other genera of mbuna by the upper lip which is usually connected medially to the skin of the snout by a frenum; by its small, terminal mouth; by the outer teeth of both jaws, which are unequally bicuspid and loosely spaced, the tooth shafts inclined slightly toward the jaw symphysis; by the anterior teeth of the upper jaw being much longer and more robust than the lateral and posterior teeth. The rusty cichlid or lavender mbuna, Iodotropheus sprengerae is the most commonly encountered member of the genus in the aquarium trade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haplochromine</span> Tribe of fishes

The haplochromine cichlids are a tribe of cichlids in subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae called Haplochromini. This group includes the type genus (Haplochromis) plus a number of closely related genera such as Aulonocara, Astatotilapia, and Chilotilapia. They are endemic to eastern, southern and northern Africa, except for Astatotilapia flaviijosephi in the Middle East. A common name in a scientific context is East African cichlids – while they are not restricted to that region, they are the dominant Cichlidae there. This tribe was extensively studied by Ethelwynn Trewavas, who made major reviews in 1935 and 1989, at the beginning and at the end of her career in ichthyology. Even today, numerous new species are being described each year.

<i>Pseudotropheus johannii</i> Species of fish

Pseudotropheus johannii or the bluegray mbuna is an African freshwater fish from the family Cichlidae.

<i>Maylandia callainos</i> Species of fish

Maylandia callainos is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where they only occurred naturally in Nkhata Bay though it has now been introduced to other locations. This species can reach a length of 8 centimetres (3.1 in) SL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. Maylandia callainos was formally named Pseudotropheus callainos and is often referred as such in the scientific literature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William's mbuna</span> Species of fish

William's mbuna, also known as ice blue zebra mbuna or ice blue zebra or the Pseudotropheus ice blue among the aquarium enthusiasts, is a species of cichlid fish endemic to Lake Malawi where it is only found at Makokola in the southeastern arm of the lake. This species can reach a length of 13.4 centimetres (5.3 in) TL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. The specific name honours the German ornamental fish importer Alfons Greshake.

Maylandia lanisticola is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. This species is alternatively classified in the genus Pseudotropheus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zebra mbuna</span> Species of fish

The zebra mbuna is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi in Africa. This species can reach a length of 11.3 cm (4.4 in). It feeds on aufwuchs, a surface layer of mostly algal material that grows on rocks. This cichlid is a mouthbrooder and the female broods the eggs in her mouth for about three weeks. This fish can sometimes be found in the aquarium trade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Labidochromis sp. "Hongi"</span>

Labidochromis sp. "Hongi" is an undescribed species of cichlid fish from Eastern Africa. Other names for the fish include kimpuma, Hongi red top and Hongi cichlid. It is well known in the aquarium trade. The maximum size of the species is about 5 inches for the males while the females stay around 3.5 inches.

Maylandia flavifemina is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Malawi.

References

[5] [6] [7]

  1. "Mbuna Cichlids". Aquatic Community. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  2. Loiselle Paul V. (1988) A Fishkeepers Guide to African Cichlids. p 97. Salamander Books, London & New York, ISBN   0-86101-407-3.
  3. Givnish, T.J.; and K.J. Sytsma, editors (1997). Molecular Evolution and Adaptive Radiation, p. 598. ISBN   0-521-57329-7.
  4. M. K. Oliver, Ph.D. (2002) Maylandia, Metriaclima or Pseudotropheus? from www.malawicichlids.com
  5. Info on keeping Malawi cichlids
  6. African Cichlid Genus Gallery
  7. Ad Konings biography

See also