Get a Huge Tank

All fish

Fuelleborn's Cichlid

Labeotropheus fuelleborni

Freshwater Lake Malawi, Africa Usually captive bred

A heavy-bodied mbuna featuring a characteristic fleshy overhanging snout adapted for scraping algae from rocks. Males are highly territorial and intolerant of rivals, necessitating a hareem setup with multiple females. Construct an extensive network of rocky caves and feed predominantly plant-based foods to avoid digestive illness.

Also called: Blue mbuna, Fuelleborn's cichlid, Malawi blue cichlid.

18 cm adult length, drawn to scale. deep body.

Try it in the planner Opens a tank sized to its minimum with 1 fish added.

What it needs

ItemValueBecause
Adult length 18 cm Used for the Space check: the tank must be long enough for the fish to turn round.
Smallest tank 300 L, at least 120 cm long estimated The least water and floor length this species is kept in for good, as a single fish or smallest group.
Extra water per added fish 30 L estimated What each further fish adds once the minimum is met.
Waste load Class 3 of 5 estimated How much waste an adult makes against its size. Feeds the Load check.
Temperature 24 to 28 C Stock sharing a tank need overlapping ranges.
pH 7.8 to 8.6 Compared with tankmates in the Water check.
Hardness GH 10 to 25, KH 8 to 18 Degrees of general and carbonate hardness.
Flow Medium Low-flow fish are stressed in a strong current.
Light Bright Matched to the lighting class on the needs sheet.
Group size Single fish is fine Not a schooling species.
Temperament Aggressive Territorial: strong.
Swims in Near the bottom Fish that use different levels share a tank more easily.
Lifespan About 8 years A fish is a long commitment.
Experience Suits a first tank A guide to how forgiving the species is of mistakes.
Jumps Yes Keep the tank covered.

Tags marked estimated are judged from the size and habits of the species rather than measured, so treat them as a sensible default.

Diet and tank layout

Fuelleborn's Cichlid is an herbivore that swims in the lowest part of the tank. It eats or uproots plants, so choose hard-leaved species or none. Give it plenty of cover. It digs, so anchor plants and keep hard rock off loose sand. It nips fins.

Tankmates

Works with

Depends

Avoid

Compare any two fish on the compatibility page, or print the equipment for a stock on the needs sheet. How this is worked out: the method.