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Scientific name: Labidochromis caeruleus Common name: Electric yellows, yellow labs Region: Lake Malawi Size: Males up to 5 inches, females up to 4 inches
 Color: A striking deep yellow, with black fins and highlights. The males have darker fins, and will tend to have a black strip through the eyes as well. The intensity of the color will vary with quality of breed, as well as maturity. They do not show egg spots, unlike most other mbunas.The black streak along the top of the dorsal fin turns blue on males during breeding.
Water Chemistry: pH: 7.5-8.5, medium to quite hard
Temperature: 72-83
Aggression: can be somewhat aggressive, especially while breeding. Ironically, they can also be very timid if kept alone, and usually require more bold fish as tankmates to draw them out.
Compatibility: Mbuna Cichlids such as the Auratus, Cobalt Blue, Johanni, Pindani, Red Zebra, Tropheops, and Kenyi. Also synodontis catfish. I almost always keep a few dolphin cichlids in the same tank to draw them out.
Diet: Algae and spirulina flakes are an important staple. They will also eat flake foods, cichlid pellets, freeze-dried bloodworms and small fish. You should be careful with live worms or live brine shrimp, as these can potentially bloat and kill the fish, although the Electric Yellow is less susceptible than other mbunas.
How to breed: Males exhibit more aggressive behavior when ready to breed. You should perform a water change, and rqaise the temperature a couple of degrees. Breed one male with several females. Electric Yellows are mouth brooders. The female cares for 10 – 25 eggs in her mouth, and will keep the fry in her mouth for up to 3 weeks. The female should be isolated after breeding. The fry can be fed brine shrimp, or mashed spirulina powder. You may have to strip the female to prevent her from eating her babies.
General: I absolutely love this fish. They're a pleasure to look at, they have a nice personality, and it always brightens up a tank to have a colony of yellows thriving in it. Also, if you keep them in a fish tank with black aquarium gravel, their colour stands out even more! |
African Cichlids 
