Acei Cichlid
Pseudotropheus acei
Cichlidae
About
The acei is a slender, sky-blue mbuna from the sandy, driftwood-strewn shallows of the northern reaches of Lake Malawi, most familiar in the hobby as the bright yellow-tailed form. Unusually for a mbuna it grazes algae and micro-organisms directly off sunken wood, and it ranks among the most peaceable rock-dwelling cichlids of the lake, thriving in sociable groups in hard, alkaline water. Its easy temperament and hardiness make it one of the best mbuna for a first Rift Lake tank.
Care
Keep a group of 5 or more in hard, alkaline water (pH 7.8-8.5) over sand with open swimming space, rockwork and some driftwood in a tank of 200 L or larger. Far calmer than most mbuna, but still needs Malawi tankmates of similar water needs rather than a soft-water community.
Diet
Herbivorous aufwuchs grazer that browses algae off wood and rock; feed spirulina- and vegetable-based foods with blanched greens and strictly limit protein to avoid bloat.
Tankmate compatibility
Possible with care (106)
Avoid (15)
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.