Mbuna

Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos displaying behaviour typical of Mbuna.

Mbuna (pronounced mboo-na) is the common name for a large group of African cichlids from Lake Malawi. The name mbuna means "rockfish" in the language of the Tonga people of Malawi. As the name implies, mbuna are the cichilds that live among piles of rocks, as opposed to the utaka, cichlids living in the open water like many other haplochromines.

Mbuna in aquaria

While many haplochromines tend to be colorful in males though dull in females, both sexes of mbuna often have striking colorations. 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, caves and hiding places; plants may be uprooted so they are best avoided but a small number will work well in the aquarium. These include Java fern, which may become the object of mbuna aggression but will not be eaten due to an undesirable taste.

Sand or gravel were the ideal substrate. The hobbyist will want to mix in some sort of so-called "tufert rock" as a pH buffer. However, Limestone, Holey rock, crushed coral and especially mixed bags of subsarate do. Generally, tanks of no less than 120 centimetres (3.9 ft) in length is required for mature Mbuna; 110 litres (24 imp gal; 29 US gal) tanks will work beautifully for juvenile fish but will need to be upgraded as they mature, grow and become more aggressive and territorial (this will occur in just a matter of weeks or months).

These Cichlids are usually kept in well filtered, heavily stocked mbuna-specific aquariums. Over-crowding helps spread out the aggression and no particular individual gets bullied to death. They are maternal mouthbrooders and breed readily in good conditions. Mbuna are mostly omnivores, and generally benefit from a varied diet.

Notable mbuna cichilds

Many mbuna cichlids are regularly stocked and sold by pet shops. Some of the most common ones are the bumblebee cichlid, auratus cichlid, electric yellow cichlid, red zebra cichlid, Maylandia callainos and Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos(Blue Johanni) cichlid. Cichlids belonging to any of the genera listed below are usually considered mbuna.

An electric yellow cichlid, Labidochromis caeruleus.

Labidochromis sp. Hongi

Rusty Cichlid,Iodotropheus sprengerae

Labeotropheus fuelleborni

"Pseudotropheus acei

• Cyathochromis Trewavas 1935
• Cynotilapia Regan 1922
• Genyochromis Trewavas 1935
• Gephyrochromis Boulenger 1901
• Iodotropheus Oliver & Loiselle 1972
• Labeotropheus Ahl 1926
• Labidochromis Trewavas 1935
• Maylandia Meyer & Foerster 1984. (syn. Metriaclima Stauffer, Bowers, Kellogg, & McKaye 1997 )
• Melanochromis Trewavas 1935
• Petrotilapia Trewavas 1935
• Pseudotropheus Regan 1922

The list below includes groups of non-mbuna mouthbrooding cichilds from Lake Malawi.

• Peacock cichilds
• Haplochromines

See also

• List of freshwater aquarium fish species
• Utaka