They won’t refuse any type of protein source, although they don’t really like carnivorous diets. These include insect or fish eggs, insect larvae, different types of algae, invertebrates, fish fry, etc. If periphyton isn’t available for some reason, Mbuna cichlids will also consume other food sources. This mix provides cichlids with all the nutrients they need to remain healthy and full. These organic accumulations comprise of algae, microbes, cyanobacteria, detritus, and even small crustaceans. The word defines the accumulation of various plant and animal matter either at the water’s surface or underwater on rocks that typically house Mbuna cichlids. The same thing is also called periphyton, which sounds better and makes you wonder why everybody mentions the German version of the word. They won’t consume willingly some types of foods but will do so when forced.įor instance, the Mbuna cichlids’ favorite food is something called aufwuchs which stands for ‘surface growth’ in German. In this sense, you can say that the Mbuna cichlids are more opportunistic eaters. An interesting aspect about these cichlids is that their diet can change based on the available food in their environment. Most Mbuna cichlids are herbivorous, but not all. The bulk of the fish comprises several groups of cichlids like the haplochromines and tilapia, each with its own subgroups and species. There are other life forms to consider, like crustaceans, mollusks, and a variety of fish species (catfish, African tetra, spotted killifish, cyprinids, etc.).

The lake spans over 11,400 square miles and is 360 miles long and 47 miles wide.Īn interesting fact about the Malawi lake is that most of its wildlife consists of cichlids. Lake Malawi is the home of around 700 species (some claim more) of Mbuna cichlids, while the lake itself crosses state lines in Mozambique, Tanzania, and Malawi. This, corroborated with other aspects of the fish’s behavior and environmental needs, ranks Mbuna cichlids as non-beginner-friendly. These species are notorious for their violent outbursts and propensity towards aggression, most of which comes from their need for territorial domination. While all cichlids are rather violent and territorial, it’s the Mbuna species that take things to the next level. They display an amazing color diversity, especially males and especially dominant males. These cichlids are different from their regular counterparts in appearance and overall behavior. Several species, actually, all contained within the Mbuna family. They had to adapt to their new habitat, and, over time, they formed a new species.

Apparently, these species were separated from other cichlids when the lake was formed, causing the Mbuna cichlids to become stranded in an enclosed environment.

The Mbuna is a large cichlid group describing cichlids that only reside in Lake Malawi. With this out of the way, let’s discuss Mbuna cichlids and see what makes these so different. Generally speaking, cichlids aren’t exactly the best species to introduce into a community tank for obvious reasons. Males, especially, are extremely territorial and display a strong sense of hierarchy. I am violence – Cichlids are notorious for their appetite for destruction.Some species protect the eggs until hatching, others even care for their young upon birth, while many others display mouthbrooding behavior. Parental care – All cichlids provide parental care to their young in some form or another.An official estimate pushes the number of potential cichlid species at over 3,000. Fortunately, there are a lot of species to account for, around 1,650 recognized and many others remaining to be discovered. Endangerment – The Cichlidae family contains the highest number of endangered species of all the vertebrate families, which is an impressive feat in and of itself.But before getting to that, what exactly are cichlids?Ĭichlids are a group of fish that belong to the Cichlidae family and are popular thanks to several interesting aspects. Today, we will discuss a fascinating family of fish – the Mbuna cichlids. Although to be fair, the latter category isn’t as bad as the first one. This is how you end up with piranha and cichlid lovers. And then you have a few that would like to see the world burn and get the meanest and most vicious fish they can find. Others like to focus on one species and prioritize the environment and aqua sculpture instead. Some people like to have colorful aquariums with a variety of fish species.

Red zebra cichlid lifespan