Johanni Cichlid
Melanochromis johannii
Cichlidae
About
The johanni cichlid is a striking rock-dwelling mbuna endemic to the rocky shorelines of Lake Malawi, where it grazes aufwuchs among the boulders. It is famous for its dramatic dichromatism: dominant males are deep blue-black etched with electric-blue horizontal stripes, while females and juveniles are a solid bright orange. Aggressive and territorial like most mbuna, it needs hard, alkaline water, plenty of rockwork, and a spacious tank kept as a harem of one male to several females.
Care
Keep in hard, alkaline water (pH 7.8-8.5, high GH) at 25-27 C over sand with heavy rockwork in a tank of 200 L or more. House as a harem of one male to three or more females to spread aggression, and expect boisterous, territorial behaviour toward tankmates.
Diet
Herbivore-leaning aufwuchs grazer; feed spirulina- and vegetable-based foods with blanched greens, and strictly limit protein-rich foods to avoid Malawi bloat.
Tankmate compatibility
Possible with care (155)
Avoid (116)
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.
Telling males from females
What works for this species, most reliable first.
- VentingStrong · only on a mature fish, easiest when she is in breeding condition
The method breeders use when the answer has to be right. Hold the fish upside down in a wet hand or soft net and look at the two openings ahead of the anal fin. The forward one is the anus; the one behind it is what you are reading.
- Egg spotsA hint only · from about 6 months
The yellow or orange ocelli on the anal fin of Malawi cichlids, traditionally explained as a lure that draws the female into mouthing them, fertilising the eggs she is already holding.
- Adult sizeA hint only · only across animals of the same age
In many cichlids, catfish and loaches one sex simply grows larger — usually the male, though there are well-known reversals.
Also in these lists
Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Johanni Cichlid need?
- A Johanni Cichlid needs an aquarium of at least 200 litres (52.8 US gallons) with a footprint at least 120 cm (47.2 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Johanni Cichlid need?
- Johanni Cichlid does best at 23–27 °C (73.4–80.6 °F), pH 7.6–8.8 and a general hardness of 10–25 °dGH.
- Is the Johanni Cichlid suitable for beginners?
- Johanni Cichlid sits in the middle of the difficulty scale — manageable for a careful beginner who has done the reading, but it has specific needs worth researching first.