Auratus Cichlid
Melanochromis auratus
Cichlidae
About
The auratus is a strikingly banded rock-dwelling mbuna endemic to the shallow, rocky shores of Lake Malawi, where it grazes the algae-rich biocover known as aufwuchs. Females and juveniles wear golden-yellow flanks crossed by black-and-white lines, while dominant males invert to near-black with pale stripes. Despite its modest size of around 11 cm, it is among the most relentlessly aggressive cichlids in the hobby and demands an experienced keeper.
Care
Keep one male with three or more females in a hard, alkaline 400 L+ tank with a long footprint of at least 120 cm, sand substrate and dense stacked rockwork. Reserve for experienced mbuna keepers and avoid mixing with similar-looking or peaceful cichlids.
Diet
Herbivorous aufwuchs grazer; feed spirulina- and vegetable-based foods and strictly limit protein to prevent 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.