The word Mbuna means rockfish in the language of the locals in lake Malawi. and it is used as the common name of a large group of African cichlids living in lake Malawi.
Mbuna cichlid group consists of many fish species that have common characteristics.
Always keep Mbuna in groups, these fish breed in groups where one male will mate with multiple females. They like to live in groups which introduces the challenge of keeping your water clean as mbuna are active fish that eat a lot and produce lots of waste. So keep in mind that you will need good filtration in your mbuna tank and change about 25 percent of your tank water every week to keep your water in good condition and clean.
Another thing to keep in mind when you plan to keep mbuna, you need to give them enough room as these fish are active and like to swim and chase each other.
They love rocks and caves. So it would be best if you supplied them with enough rock and caves to allow them to hide and feel safe.
Mbnua species
Mbuna refers to any rock-dwelling cichlid fish species in lake Malawi. There are mainly 13 species that are classified as Mbuna; they are:
- Rusty cichlid ( iodotropheus)
- Blue Mbuna ( Labeotropheus
fuelleborni)
- Electric yellow cichlid ( Labidochromis caeruleus)
- Kenyi Cichlid – Red Zebra Cichlid (Maylandia lombardoi – Maylandia Estherae )
- Lawsi Cichlid (gephyrochromis)
- Genyochromis mento
- Cynotilapia
- Golden mbuna (melanochromis)
- Petrotilapia tridentiger
- Cyathochromis obliquidens
- Melanochromis labrosus
- Demasoni (Pseudotropheus Demasoni)
- Tropheops
What Is the best tank size for Mbuna?
Mbuna tank needs to be at least 55 gallons (208 liters). It is the best size to start with Mbuna. You can keep from 10 to 12 Mbuna fish in a 55-gallon tank. Remember bigger tank is the best in terms of water condition and space for your fish to swim and grow.
Mbuna Diet
Mbuna cichlids are herbivores that mainly depend on a diet with high vegetable content. In the wild, they will be grazing, picking off algae from the rocks, and eating other small growing things in the lake. But that doesn't mean that mbuna is a strict vegetarian; they can eat both vegetable and animal proteins.
So what is the best food for Mbuna?
Mbuna cichlids need a well-balanced diet that mainly contains algae like spirulina and a small amount of live food like blood worms or brine shrimp. Therefore, it would be best if you only fed them live food once a week and the rest of the week with spirulina and an algae-based diet.
One thing to keep in mind here is that if you feed mbuna meaty food like bloodworms or brine shrimp every day, your fish will have a big chance of developing Malawi bloat, which is a block of their stomach, and it is a deadly disease for mbuna.
And by experience, many manufacturers produce the perfect food for mbuna. You can use a mix of the following fish food products that will be the best for your fish's health and growth:
- Xterme cichlid pewee
- Xterme spirulina flakes
- Tetra TetraCichlid Balanced Diet Flakes
Home Made food mixture for Mbuna:
You can also make your homemade mixture to feed your mbuna cichlid using the following ingredients:
- spinach
- shelled peas
- Zucchini
- Broccoli
- 1 clove garlic
- 2 teaspoons spirulina powder
Why is my Mbuna fish not breeding?
There could be several reasons why your MBuna fish are not breeding. Here are a few things you could consider:
Age: MBuna fish typically reach sexual maturity at about 6-8 months of age. If your fish are younger than this, they may not be ready to breed yet.
Health: If your fish are not in good health, they may not be able to breed. Make sure they are getting the proper nutrition and water conditions they need.
Tank size: MBuna fish are known to be territorial and need plenty of space to establish their own territories. If your tank is too small, this could be preventing your fish from breeding.
Tank mates: MBuna fish can be aggressive towards each other, especially when breeding. Make sure you have enough space for each fish to establish its own territory and consider separating any fish that are behaving aggressively towards each other.
Environmental conditions: MBuna fish prefer a pH of 7.5-8.5 and a water temperature of 76-82°F. Make sure your tank is properly cycled and that the water conditions are within these ranges.
Stress: MBuna fish can be sensitive to changes in their environment and may not breed if they are stressed. Make sure you are not overcrowding the tank, and try to minimize any other stressors in their environment.
Reviewed by Steve Mans
on
10/11/2022
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