AquaSage
Species library

Electric Yellow Lab

Labidochromis caeruleus

Cichlidae

FishDifficulty: ●●○○○Data: well-established

About

The electric yellow lab is arguably the most peaceful and popular of the Lake Malawi mbuna, blazing a solid lemon yellow with contrasting black fin edges. Endemic to the rocky shores of Lake Malawi, it lives in hard, alkaline water and grazes aufwuchs from boulders. Far milder than most mbuna, it still needs the classic Rift Lake setup: rockwork, higher pH and hardness, and management of its aggression in a colony.

Care

Keep in hard, alkaline water (pH 7.8-8.4) with abundant rockwork in a tank of 200 L or more. Best in a harem of one male with several females; peaceful for an mbuna but still territorial around rocks.

Diet

Herbivore-leaning omnivore; feed vegetable- and spirulina-based cichlid foods. Limit high-protein foods to avoid Malawi bloat.

Tankmate compatibility

Possible with care (66)

Avoid (43)

Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.

Sources