Malawi Cichlids

When it comes to colour, Malawi cichlids often rival marine fish. They come in two basic groups – Mbuna (the rock fish) and the Haps (short for Haplochromines which includes a bit of a mix of more placid fish) which tend to be less persistently territorial. These are fairly arbitrary distinctions, especially as many of the Peacocks seen today tend to be hybrids involving the placid Aulonocara with the more aggressive mbuna. This gives an attitude which still tends to be on the milder side of things.

Mbuna are all about sex and violence. Males vigorously defend territories from which they court females and expel rivals, making them hard company in small aquaria. To dilute aggression, successful mbuna communities tend to be crowded and bustling places where constant distractions prevent conflicts from getting too personal. Not all species are equally aggressive, and a bit of research can help determine which combinations work best. Avoid mixing similar-looking species, as this not only helps avoid conflict, it can also help minimise the risk of hybridisation.

Unlike their rock dwelling cousins, the Haps tend to prefer more open layouts. Ancestral Peacocks are fishes that tend to inhabit fairly substantial voids and caves between rocks, where their facial sensory pits (their genus name translates as ‘flute face’ just in case you’re ever in a pub quiz where that’s relevant) enable them to hunt invertebrates in the substrate. They’re fishes that enjoy a bit of peace and quiet. A few of the less aggressive mbuna can be added with minimal friction in large tanks, providing there’s plenty of room and they’re sufficiently outnumbered.

A large tank equipped with big filters is the starting point to creating this type of community and as you can imagine, largescale water changes are a must. This is fish keeping on a grand scale and if you’re in a soft water area you’ll want to use buffers to ensure the hard, alkaline conditions these fish require. Short of that, it’s just a case of stopping them from harassing one another excessively and that’s easier in the crowded conditions of a busy community. A less commonly seen method is to dedicate a large tank to a single male with a harem of females, but most keepers prefer the riot of colour approach.