Yellowfin Borleyi Cichlid

General information

Males are blue with yellow fins and can reach 8 inches while females are a brownish silver and are smaller than males. To keep these fish in captivity, water pH should be between 7.5 and 8.5 and temperatures should range from 77ºF to 84ºF. The tank should have open areas for swimming, a sandy substrate, rocks and caves. It is a peaceful species that can be kept in a community tank as long as its tankmates are equally peaceful. Tankmates to avoid are Mbunas, other Copadichromis and similarly colored fish. Good tankmates are Aulonocara species and Haps. This species is best kept in groups of 3 or more females and one male.

This species is omnivorous. In the wild it feeds on zooplankton. In captivity it can be fed with live, frozen and dried foods. It’s diet should be complemented with vegetable matter like spinach or spirulina flakes.

Males are more colorful and larger than females.

The male starts by choosing and cleaning a spawning site while displaying intense coloration to attract a female’s attention. When a female is interested she will lay her eggs on the spawning site, pick them up and follow the male’s eggs spots on his anal fin, she will then nib on these eggs spots which will make the male release his sperm and fertilize the eggs in her mouth. The female will carry the eggs in her mouth for 3 to 4 weeks before releasing the free swimming fry, once the fry are released they can be fed with Artemia nauplii. To breed this species in captivity, it is best to keep it in a breeding tank in a group of 1 male to 3 or 4 females, the tank should be 48 inches .

This species can be found in rocky areas in Lake Malawi, Africa.