Maingano Cichlid

Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos

The maingano cichlid, Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos, is a small mbuna from the rocky shores around Likoma Island in Lake Malawi. It is sold in the aquarium trade for its electric blue and black horizontal striping, and both sexes keep a similar blue pattern, which helps separate it from look-alike johanni-type cichlids whose females are often yellow or orange. Like other mbuna, it grazes algae and the tiny organisms living in aufwuchs on rocks, and females brood eggs and fry in the mouth after spawning.

Aquarists keep mainganos in hard, alkaline water with extensive rockwork that breaks lines of sight and gives subdominant fish places to retreat. They are assertive for their size, so tankmates are usually other compatible Lake Malawi mbuna rather than peaceful community fish. Vegetable-rich prepared foods, spirulina-based diets, and restrained feeding suit them better than heavy meaty fare. Buyers should favor healthy captive-bred stock and avoid mixing closely related Melanochromis forms if fry may be distributed, because accidental hybrids can confuse both hobby lines and conservation-minded collections.