25 Types of Lake Malawi Cichlids (with Images)

Lake Malawi cichlids are among the most vibrantly colored and fierce fish species. If you have some experience in freshwater fishkeeping, raising these African fish will bring you immense joy. And a cichlid-themed aquarium is just what you need to level up as an aquarist!

But there are so many of these cichlids that it’s hard to pick the right one and put them together.

What We'll Cover:

What are the Types of Mbuna Cichlids?

Typically, Mbunas are popular for being colorful with unique patterns, oval bodies, flat faces, and pointy snouts. They are smaller than most African cichlids and range from 6-15 cm (2.5-6 in).

There are about more than 200 known Mbunas from 14 genera. But let’s know about the most notable ones here!

1. Red Zebra Cichlid (Maylandia estherae)

Red zebra cichlid
  • Common Names: Red zebra mbuna, Esther Grant’s zebra
  • Average Size: Up to 13.5 cm (5.3 in), males; Up to 10 cm (3.9 in), females
  • Average Lifespan: Usually up to 5 years, 10 years with ideal care
  • Tank Level: Middle and bottom dwellers
  • Temperament: Slightly aggressive
  • Diet: Primarily herbivorous, with slight carnivorous feed
  • Tank Mates: Own school, other similarly sized slightly aggressive species
  • Minimum Tank Average Size: 90 gallons for 4

The stocky, muscular fish has an ovoid body. Though the fish has “red” and “zebra” in its name, the fish has many color variants for each gender. Some of these have stripes like that of a zebra, while some don’t.

Males come in light blue, and females in brown-beige, orange-red colors.

Male color morphs also include red-blue, red-red, and albino variants. In comparison, females include yellow, orange, or just orange with dark mottling and up to 3 egg spots on anal fins.

If there’s no male fish in the tank, a female fish might exhibit male colors and attract females to lay eggs.


2. Cobalt Blue Zebra Cichlid (Maylandia callainos)

Cobalt blue zebra cichlid
  • Common Names: Cobalt blue mbuna, cobalt zebra, cobalt cichlid
  • Average Size: Up to 12.5 cm (4.9 in)
  • Average Lifespan: On average, up to 5 years; up to 10 years with ideal care
  • Tank Level: Middle to upper levels
  • Temperament: Moderately aggressive
  • Diet: Primarily herbivorous, with slight carnivorous feed
  • Tank Mates: Own group, other cichlids of similar size and temperament
  • Minimum Tank Average Size: 90 gallons for 4

The male cobalt blue mbuna has a faded cobalt blue body. However, it is much more brightly colored than the female fish. On its anal fins, it also flaunts four orange egg spots. The female cobalt cichlid, on the other hand, varies from light blue to white.

Sometimes, you might also notice some bluish-black bars on its back.

The fish loves to play around in the substrate so much that it often ends up pulling on plant roots.


3. William’s Mbuna (Maylandia greshakei)

William's mbuna
  • Common Names: Ice blue zebra mbuna, ice blue zebra, ice blue cichlid, Pseudotropheus ice blue, ice blue red top zebra, red top cobalt, ice blue Malawi, Greshakei zebra
  • Average Size: Up to 13.5 cm (5.3 in)
  • Average Lifespan: Up to 5-8 years, 10 years with quality care
  • Tank Level: Top dweller
  • Temperament: Moderately aggressive
  • Diet: Primarily herbivorous, with slight carnivorous feed
  • Tank Mates: Own group, other similar-sized similar-temperament cichlids
  • Minimum Tank Average Size: 150 gallons for 4

The ice-blue zebra has an elongated and stocky body. The male fish has an ice-blue body with faint vertical bars. While the dorsal fin and upper half of the caudal fin are orange, anal fins have multiple egg spots.

The female fish has a brownish-grey body with prominent vertical bars. It may also have a pink body with blue sides.

The fish is pretty hard to spot in the aquarium trade.


4. Kenyi Cichlid (Maylandia lombardoi)

Kenyi cichlid
  • Common Names: Lombardoi mbuna, kenyi mbuna, kenyi mbuna, golden zebra cichlid, blue kenyi cichlid
  • Average Size: Up to 13 cm (5.1 in)
  • Average Lifespan: Up to 8-10 years, Up to 15 years with ideal care
  • Tank Level: Middle and bottom dwellers
  • Temperament: Aggressive
  • Diet: Herbivorous, Algivorous
  • Tank Mates: Own group, other equally aggressive mbunas of similar size of a different family, with a completely different appearance
  • Minimum Tank Average Size: 90 gallons for 4

This elongated fish has a stocky body, with the male fish being a little more deep-bodied. The male kenyi is pretty much golden yellow with semi-visible vertical stripes on its back and a lighter abdomen. On its anal fin, it also has some egg spots.

The female kenyi fish exhibits a blue or purple body with a light stomach and faint vertical bars on the back. The juvenile fish also look similar to the female kenyi.

Unlike all other mbuna cichlids, the male fish flaunts yellow shades and the female exhibits bluish shades.


5. Rusty Cichlid (Iodotropheus sprengerae)

Pair of rusty cichlids
  • Common Names: Lavender mbuna, lavender cichlid
  • Average Size: Up to 108 cm (4.2 in)
  • Average Lifespan: Up to 5-8 years, rarely 10 years, with best care
  • Tank Level: All levels
  • Temperament: Very slightly aggressive
  • Diet: Primarily herbivorous, but omnivorous
  • Tank Mates: Own group, other species of similar size and similar behavior
  • Minimum Tank Average Size: 90 gallons for 3

The torpedo-shaped mbuna cichlid has a rusty orange rounded head that transitions into the deep lavender shade on its body. The male fish is more brightly colored than the females. The juvenile rusty fish has faint purple vertical bars on its back.

This cichlid is one of the least aggressive and smallest mbunas.


6. Auratus Cichlid (Melanochromis auratus)

Auratus cichlid closeup
  • Common Names: Golden mbuna, golden cichlid, Malawi golden cichlid
  • Average Size: Up to 11 cm (4.3 in)
  • Average Lifespan: Up to 5 years, 6 years with best care
  • Tank Level: Middle and bottom dwellers
  • Temperament: Aggressive towards same species
  • Diet: Primarily herbivorous with little carnivorous feed
  • Tank Mates: A group (1 male, 3 females), other aggressive mbunas of similar size but different appearance
  • Minimum Tank Average Size: 125 gallons for 1 male and 3 females

The elongated auratus cichlid has a narrow mouth, round snout, and incessant dorsal fin. Its teeth are like incisors – closely placed for aufwuch consumption.

The male auratus back transitions from a golden yellow to a light yellow. The remaining body is black. It also has a yellow transparent dorsal fin. This fin is black-speckled, which seems like a line.

Through the middle of the fish’s body, there’s also a thin yellow horizontal line with neon blue edges. This runs from behind its gills until the tail fin.

It has a black tail fin with yellow edges and black anal and pelvic fins with neon blue edges.

The female auratus fish has a golden body, a black back, and a black-edged bluish-white horizontal line from the middle of its body. The stripe begins behind the eye and ends at the tail fin.

It also has a gold-edged black dorsal fin and white tail fin with black spots on the upper edge and golden on the bottom. The remaining fins are golden.

The golden cichlid wants to dominate almost any and all species.


7. Electric Yellow Cichlid (Labidochromis caeruleus)

Electric yellow cichlid closeup
  • Common Names: Labidochromis yellow, Labidochromis white, yellow prince, blue streak hap, yellow lab, lemon yellow lab, lemon drop cichlid, labido
  • Average Size: Up to 10-13 cm (3.9-5.1 in) in captivity, varies in the wild
  • Average Lifespan: Up to 6-10 years, 14 years with ideal care
  • Tank Level: Bottom and middle-level dwellers
  • Temperament: Peaceful but territorial and aggressive during breeding
  • Diet: Omnivorous (captivity), carnivorous (wild)
  • Tank Mates: Own mate, other peaceful cichlids in a spacious tank
  • Minimum Tank Average Size: 55 gallons for 5, 30 gallons for 2-3 non-breeding males

The elongated yellow lab has a small mouth, a big rounded head, well-developed fins, and a unique elongated dorsal fin.

The common yellow lab has a bright yellow body with black-lined dorsal and anal fins.

However, other variants are also available with a white body, white body with a dark blue bar on the dorsal fin, white-bodied blue fins, yellow-bodied blue dorsal, and yellow-bodied white belly.

When anxious, the fish exhibits prominent black stripes throughout its body.


8. Bumblebee Cichlid (Pseudotropheus crabro)

Bumblebee cichlid
  • Common Names: Hornet cichlid, bumblebee mouthbrooder
  • Average Size: 10-16cm (4-6 in)
  • Average Lifespan: Up to 10 years, longer with best care
  • Tank Level: Middle and bottom dwellers
  • Temperament: Aggressive
  • Diet: Omnivorous
  • Tank Mates: Harem (1 male, 6 females), other similar-sized aggressive cichlids
  • Minimum Tank Average Size: 55 gallons for 1

All adult bumblebee cichlids have a thick body. The male bumblebee has a black body with blue vertical stripes. However, the body becomes completely black with only bright blue speckles in mating season. All fins are dark blue.

On the other hand, the female bumblebee has a golden body with zig-zag dark brown vertical stripes which fade near the abdomen. It also has a horizontal brown bar till the tail.

The fish has the habit of cleaning parasites from other fish’s bodies. It often even removes the scales of other fish.


9. Demasoni Cichlid (Chindongo demasoni)

Demasoni cichlid
  • Common Names: Midnight demasoni, dwarf mbuna
  • Average Size: 6.3-7.6 cm (2.5-3 in)
  • Average Lifespan: Up to 5-10 years
  • Tank Level: Middle dwellers
  • Temperament: Extremely aggressive
  • Diet: Primarily herbivorous, accepts omnivorous feed
  • Tank Mates: Group of 12, other aggressive similar-sized species
  • Minimum Tank Average Size: 40 gallons for one

The demasoni cichlid has an elongated torpedo-shaped body with alternating 5 light blue and 6 dark, almost black or dark blue vertical bars on its back. The stripes begin behind its gill covers and end with a dark bar right before the tail fin.

There are 3 light blue stripes on the head which alternate with 2 dark blue ones. One of these dark blue bars lies between the eyes. The other one across its forehead, which intersects behind the gill cover.

The dorsal fin has stripes angled backward with thin, light blue stripes toward the back. The tail fin has horizontal dark and light blue stripes.

This is the only dwarf cichlid that can reach up to 3 inches.


10. Electric Blue Johannii Cichlid (Pseudotropheus johannii)

Electric blue Johannii cichlid
  • Common Names: Bluegray mbuna, johanni cichlid, blue johanni, blue mbuna
  • Average Size: Up to 10 cm (4 in) in captivity; Up to 7.6 cm (3 in) in the wild
  • Average Lifespan: Up to 10 years, rarely 12 years
  • Tank Level: Middle to bottom dwellers
  • Temperament: Aggressive, territorial
  • Diet: Omnivorous
  • Tank Mates: Harem of 1 male, several females, other similar-sized, similar-tempered species
  • Minimum Tank Average Size: 40 gallons for 1

The male fish is light-blue colored with a dark-bluish to black horizontal stripe across its back. The stripe irregularly gets broken with light blue spots.

Through the middle of its body, a medium blue stripe runs across. There’s an almost checkered pattern around it of the same color. Its fins have dark blue edges with light blue tips, and the anal fins have egg spots.

The female fish is golden orange with a dark horizontal band across its body from behind its eyes.

All genders of this fish are torpedo-shaped.

The male fish is often confused with Maingano fish (Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos).


11. Socolofi Cichlid (Chindongo socolofi)

Socolofi cichlid
  • Common Names: Powder blue cichlid, pindani
  • Average Size: Up to 6.7 cm (2.6 in)
  • Average Lifespan: Up to 6-8 years
  • Tank Level: Bottom dwellers
  • Temperament: Aggression among males and towards identical species
  • Diet: Primarily herbivorous, accepts omnivorous feed
  • Tank Mates: Harem (1 male, several females), other peaceful, similar-sized, non-identical species
  • Minimum Tank Average Size: 75 gallons for a group

Both the male and female fish are blue, but the female looks dull. The fish has 8-10 vertical black stripes on the back. A few specimens may also have horizontal bands.

Its anal, chest, and back fins are adorned with small black stripes. The tail fin is symmetrical, translucent, and black-striped. However, dominant males lack marks on the flanks.

The torpedo-shaped fish flaunts a rounded snout with a continuous dorsal fin.

There’s also an albino variant of this fish called snow white socolofi.


12. Yellow-tail Acei (Pseudotropheus sp. “acei” (Msuli))

Yellow tail acei
  • Average Size: Up to 15 cm (6 in)
  • Average Lifespan: Up to 8 years
  • Tank Level: Mid to upper levels
  • Temperament: Mildly aggressive
  • Diet: Primarily herbivorous, accepts omnivorous feeds
  • Tank Mates: Own group, other mild-tempered, similar-sized species
  • Minimum Tank Average Size: 75 gallons for a group

As the name suggests, the fish has yellow tails and fins. It has a silver body with a bluish or purple sheen. The male fish has small spots on the back fins, and its body color darkens during mating season.


13. Afra Cichlid (Cynotilapia afra)

Afra cichlid
  • Common Names: Dogtooth cichlid, red top afra, white top afra
  • Average Size: Up to 10 cm (3.9 in)
  • Average Lifespan: Up to 7-10 years
  • Tank Level: Middle and bottom dwellers
  • Temperament: Aggressive and territorial
  • Diet: Primarily herbivorous, accepts omnivorous feed
  • Tank Mates: Own harem (1 male, multiple females), aggressive similar-sized species
  • Minimum Tank Average Size: 30 gallons for a pair, 55 gallons for a harem

The elongated muscular afra cichlid has unicuspid teeth. It is available in several colors – blue, light blue, lavender, yellow, and many more.

Based on every color morph, the top of the dorsal has a different color. The fish exhibits vertical bars, but their presence depends on the mood of the fish. Some variants also have more bars than others.

In most variants, the male fish can transform its head and back color into golden yellow.

The fish is pretty similar to Melanochromis sp. except for its unicuspid. Melanochromis sp. has bicuspid teeth.


14. Saulosi Cichlid (Chindongo saulosi)

Saulosi cichlid
  • Average Size: 8-9 cm (3.15-3.5 in)
  • Average Lifespan: Up to 5-6 years usually, 8 years with best care
  • Tank Level: Middle to bottom dwellers
  • Temperament: Females are sociable and aggression among males, territorial
  • Diet: Herbivorous, algivorous, with slight carnivorous feed
  • Tank Mates: Harem (1 male, 2 females), other non-identical larger species
  • Minimum Tank Average Size: 55 gallons for a harem

The adult male saulosi has a blue body with black vertical stripes/bars. It also shows a dark tail and fins with silver. Dominant males are colored intensely, while other males are dull-colored.

The female fish is deep and bright yellow without any patterns or spots. Other than that, the fry of this fish is also yellow.

The fish is often confused with demasoni cichlid.


What are the Types of Peacock Cichlids?

These cichlids belong to the Aulonocara genus of haplochromine cichlids. You can tell apart peacock cichlids due to the extreme differences between male and female specimens (sexual dichromatism).

Though there are 22 recognized species of this genus, let’s go through the most popular ones!

15. Blue Peacock Cichlid (Aulonocara nyassae)

Blue peacock cichlid
  • Common Names: Blue cichlid, emperor cichlid
  • Average Size: Around 10 cm (4 in)
  • Average Lifespan: Up to 5-8 years
  • Tank Level: Middle to bottom dwellers
  • Temperament: Semi-aggressive
  • Diet: Primarily carnivorous with little herbivorous feeds
  • Tank Mates: Own group, Malawi cichlids of similar size and temperament
  • Minimum Tank Average Size: 55 gallons for 1, 125 gallons for 5

The blue peacock cichlid has a royal blue body with metallic shine and highlights. It also sports a red patch behind its gills and around the abdomen. It has bright fins and a forked tail.

It has faint bars from behind the gills until the base of the tail fin, which brightens based on mood and during the breeding season.

Some flaunt a red hue in their tain and lighter-shaded stripes in the dorsal region.

Females are comparatively less vibrant than males. Some even seem grey when both are placed adjacently. Female fish have blue and light yellow accents.

Males also have red or orange accents on the fins and a white stripe across their lateral line.

People often mix it up with the electric blue hap.


16. Red Peacock Cichlid (Aulonocara jacobfreibergi)

Red peacock cichlid
  • Common Names: Malawi butterfly, eureka red peacock, Freiberg’s peacock, fairy cichlid
  • Average Size: Around 15 cm (5.9 in)
  • Average Lifespan: Up to 8-12 years
  • Tank Level: Middle dwellers
  • Temperament: Aggression among males and towards identical species
  • Diet: Omnivorous
  • Tank Mates: Harem (1 male, several females), non-identical, similar-tempered, similar-sized species
  • Minimum Tank Average Size: 125 gallons for a harem

The red peacock cichlid exhibits a red coat on the dorsal area and a blue or purplish coat on the bottom half. It also shows multiple blue or purple vertical bars from behind the gills until the base of the tail fin.

The dorsal and anal fins are shorter at the front and longer towards the end. The ventral fin is longer at the front and shorter at the back. All fins have bluish edges.

The male fish is more vibrantly colored than the female.

There are multiple color variants of this fish based on origins. Some are Reginae, Undu Reef, Iwanda, Bodazulu Island, Mbowe Island, Jalo, Cape Maclear, Mamela, and Otter Point.


17. Flavescent Peacock (Aulonocara stuartgranti)

Flavescent peacock
  • Common Names: Ngara aulonocara, grant’s peacock cichlid
  • Average Size: Around 12 cm (4.7 in), varies based on origins
  • Average Lifespan: Up to 5-10 years
  • Tank Level: Middle to bottom dwellers
  • Temperament: Usually peaceful, aggression among males and toward identical species
  • Diet: Primarily carnivorous with slight herbivorous feeds
  • Tank Mates: Harem of 1 male and 3 females, other peaceful to semi-aggressive, similar-sized species
  • Minimum Tank Average Size: 55 gallons for one, 90 gallons for 1 male and 3 females

This peacock cichlid varies in color, like yellow, blue, and many other color combinations. The female fish is much smaller than the male and is faintly colored.

There are plenty of other colored specimens available depending on the cichlid’s origin. Some are rubin red peacock, German red peacock, Maulana bicolor peacock, flametail peacock, and Chilumba peacock.

Of all the different variants, the rubin red peacock and the German red peacock are in-bred variants from Germany.


What are the Types of Utaka Cichlids?

In the local language around Lake Malawi, “Utaka” refers to semipelagic fish, i.e., fish that dwells in the bottom and above water columns. Some also call them open-water dwellers and sand dwellers. These species are usually dull-colored until they reach adulthood.

It comprises 25 Copadichromis species and 6 Mchenga genera. But let’s check out the most admired one here!

18. Redfin Borleyi (Copadichromis borleyi)

Redfin borleyi
  • Common Names: Yellow fin, borleyi cichlid, haplochromis borleyi redfin, haplochromis goldfin, happy
  • Average Size: Around 13-16 cm (5.1-6.3 in)
  • Average Lifespan: Usually 7-10 years
  • Tank Level: All levels
  • Temperament: Usually peaceful, aggressive toward lively, active, and visibly identical species
  • Diet: Omnivorous
  • Tank Mates: Harem of a male and 3 females, peaceful haps and Aulonocara species
  • Minimum Tank Average Size: 125 gallons for 1 male and 3 females

The redfin has a curved body with protruding mouth. Females and juveniles have red to orange fins, which led to this name. However, the color of the fish varies based on the origin of Lake Malawi.

However, the most common color out of all is the gold-fin variety. The male has a blue face, blue fin, and red body and it is more brightly colored than the females.

The female has a silver body, orange anal fins and pectoral fins, and orange-tipped dorsal fins. It also has multiple faint vertical stripes from the head towards the tail.

Some other color variants are called Kadango or red fin Kadango, Liuli, and Sambia reef.

Its mouth can protrude to suck food.


What are the Types of Haps?

Haps, happies, haplos, or haplochromis is the largest fish genus with 229 species. However, it is mainly used as a wastebin taxon for the cichlid subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae.

Now, let’s check out the most popular haps here!

19. Electric Blue Hap (Sciaenochromis ahli)

Electric blue hap
  • Common Names: Haplochromis electric blue, hap ahli, ahli
  • Average Size: Up to 20 cm (7.9 in)
  • Average Lifespan: Up to 7-10 years, 11 years rarely with proper care
  • Tank Level: Bottom to middle dwellers
  • Temperament: Slightly aggressive, predator
  • Diet: Omnivorous
  • Tank Mates: Harem of one male and several females, other similar-tempered, similar-sized, but different-colored species
  • Minimum Tank Average Size: 90-gallon tank for 1 male and 3 females

Lake Malawi electric blue haps differ in their physical appearance based on regions. The only common fact is that they all have about 9-12 vertical stripes and yellow, orange, to red anal fins.

In Southern Lake Malawi electric blue haps, the dorsal fins are edged with white trimming. The Northern Lake Malawi electric blue haps don’t have this white trimming, but they are visibly bigger.

The male fish exhibits extreme blue shading, while the females show a silver body with light blue spots or sheen.

When stressed, the fish scratches itself and bumps into the tank repeatedly.


20. Red Empress Cichlid (Protomelas taeniolatus)

Red empress cichlid
  • Common Names: Spindle hap, haplochromis red empress, haplochromis fire blue
  • Average Size: Up to 15 cm (6 in)
  • Average Lifespan: Usually 5-7 years, 10 years with great care
  • Tank Level: Bottom and middle dwellers
  • Temperament: Semi aggressive
  • Diet: Primarily herbivorous with slight carnivorous feed
  • Tank Mates: Harem of 1 male and 3 females, other similar-tempered, similar-sized species
  • Minimum Tank Average Size: 125 gallons for 1 male and 3 females

The male red empress is usually orange or red colored. Based on the locality, some male fish also have brownish-red-hued anal fins. Some of them have a blue and yellow body.

It also has two faintly visible horizontal stripes from the forehead and another from behind the gills to the tail. The fish may also flaunt 3-4 faded ovaloid spots on its back.

The female red empress is known for its silver body. It also exhibits three darker ovaloid shapes on the back and two darker horizontal stripes than males.

Both male and female red empress have deep bodies and forked tails.

The captive-bred morphs of this fish can be rich red like the super red empress.

The fish has multiple natural color variants named after color or location. They are – fire blue, Chizumulu Island, Likoma Island, Namalenje Island, and Chilumba Jetty.


21. Livingstonii Cichlid (Nimbochromis livingstonii)

Livingstoni cichlid closeup
  • Common Names: Kalingono
  • Average Size: Up to 25 cm (9.8 in), male; Up to 20 cm (7.9 in), female
  • Average Lifespan: Up to 10 years
  • Tank Level: Bottom dwellers
  • Temperament: Aggressive
  • Diet: Omnivorous, piscivorous
  • Tank Mates: Own group, other similar tempered similar sized mbunas
  • Minimum Tank Average Size: 65 gallons for 1

This cichlid exhibits a white ground body shade with brown spots. Four bright dark bars spread out from its eyes. It also has silvery, yellowish, or blue skin with black blotches and horizontal and vertical details.

Its dorsal fins have orange to red bands with white stripes. There are faint spots on the pectoral fins.

It acts dead to attract prey and then ambushes them.


22. Giraffe Cichlid (Nimbochromis venustus)

Giraffe cichlid
  • Common Names: Venustus hap, giraffe hap, venustus
  • Average Size: Up to 22.5 cm (8.9 in) in captivity; Up to 25 cm (9.8 in) in wild
  • Average Lifespan: Up to 5-10 years, 12 years with best care
  • Tank Level: Bottom dwellers
  • Temperament: Loner, peaceful, but predatory, aggression among males
  • Diet: Piscivorous
  • Tank Mates: Harem of 1 male and 2 females, larger species that can defend themselves
  • Minimum Tank Average Size: 150 gallons for 1 male and 2 females

The stocky fish has an elongated body with a large mouth. The male venustus usually has a solid golden body, blue face, or completely blue body.

There are black faded giraffe-like spots all over its body. A tan stripe from the nose to the dorsal top is also visible.

The female and juvenile venustus fish has a light beige body with brown yet more prominent giraffe-like spots all over. It also has a gold shimmer on its head, anal fin colored yellow towards the bottom, and a light-colored dorsal fin.

The juvenile fish looks similar to the females, but they have a silvery white body.

This fish is pretty sedentary, i.e., it stays in one place for long periods.


23. Blue Dolphin Cichlid (Cyrtocara moorii)

Malawi blue dolphin
  • Common Names: Hump-head, Malawi blue dolphin cichlid, moorii
  • Average Size: Around 20 cm (7.9 in)
  • Average Lifespan: Usually 8-10 years, 15 years with best care
  • Tank Level: Middle to bottom dwellers
  • Temperament: Usually calm, aggression among males during
  • Diet: Carnivorous
  • Tank Mates: Small harem, similar-sized or larger peaceful species
  • Minimum Tank Average Size: 150 gallons for a harem of 1 male and 3 females

The blue dolphin has a stocky elongated body with a snout similar to a dolphin. It has a lumpy forehead or nuchal hump. The fish is overall blue in color, with some black marks on the back and fins. These spots vary with the geographical region of the fish.

This is the only known species in this genus, making it a monotypic genus.


What are Other Types of Cichlids in Lake Malawi?

There are also other popular lake malawi cichlids other than the ones mentioned above, like the following:

24. Star Sapphire Cichlid (Placidochromis phenochilus)

Star sapphire cichlid closeup
  • Average Size: Usually around 20-22 cm (7.87-8.66 in), reported up to 25 cm (9.8 in)
  • Average Lifespan: Up to 5-8 years
  • Tank Level: Bottom dwellers
  • Temperament: Semi-aggressive
  • Diet: Primarily carnivorous
  • Tank Mates: Harem of 1 male with several females, other mildly aggressive similar-sized cichlids
  • Minimum Tank Average Size: 180 gallons for 3

Star sapphires have a standard oval body and a square tail. The young fish is light blue, which gets intense as it grows.

The adult male star sapphire cichlid has a vibrant dark blue body with white and blue metallic blotches all over it.

The mature female star sapphire cichlid is silver-colored with a blue shine and black vertical bars. It also has a black throat and lacks white shiny spots or blue coloration.

There are two kinds of Placidochromis phenochilusPlacidochromis sp. “phenochilus Tanzania” aka star sapphire cichlid, and Placidochromis sp. “phenochilus Mdoka” aka white lips cichlid.


25. Malawi Eyebiter (Dimidiochromis compressiceps)

Malawi eye biter
  • Common Names: Eyebiter, compressiceps
  • Average Size: Up to 23-25 cm (9-10 in)
  • Average Lifespan: Up to 5-8 years, rarely 10 years, with great care
  • Tank Level: Middle to bottom dwellers
  • Temperament: Moderately aggressive, predator
  • Diet: Primarily carnivorous, piscivorous, accepts omnivorous feed
  • Tank Mates: Harem of one male, multiple females, other similar-sized, similar-tempered species
  • Minimum Tank Average Size: 125 gallons for 1, 225 gallons for 2

The deep-bodied thin, and compressed fish has a protruding lower jaw. The male eyebiter has a metallic blue to green body and orange anal fin with egg spots. On the other hand, female eyebiters are silver-colored, while the young fish has light skin.

Males, females, and juvenile eyebiters also sport a dark horizontal stripe from behind their eyes, extending to the tail fin.

The fish often ambushes its prey by attacking their eyes first, which led to its name.


What type of fish does Lake Malawi have?

Lake Malawi houses many other fish types which are bream, catfish, bass, mudfish, trout, carp, and perch. It also comprises 28 freshwater snail species, 9 bivalves, and Malawi blue crab.

Due to the lake’s depth, rocky shores, and pollution, the underwater fauna is less diverse than other cichlid habitats. The lake mainly has Vallisneria (eelgrass), algae, and some non-native plants like water hyacinth.

Around (and in) this lake, wildlife like Nile crocodiles, hippopotamus, fish eagles, hyrax, antelopes, baboons and monkeys, and birds like kingfishers, cormorants, and herons can be found.

Which Types of Cichlids are found in Lake Malawi?

Other than that, over 1000 cichlid species call Lake Malawi their home. However, the exact number of species is yet to be known.

The temperament of Lake Malawi cichlids ranges between aggressive and semi-aggressive. Most of them can’t coexist in peaceful community tanks. The most compatible tank mates for them are other African cichlids of similar size and temperament.

They have also been popular for being maternal mouthbrooders, i.e., the mother fish keeps the eggs in her mouth throughout the incubation period. This helps the newly-hatched fry to be larger with greater survival chances.

They belong to the family Cichlidae and order Cichliformes.

Cichlids have always been popular among aquarists because of their unique behaviors, expressions, personalities, vibrant colors, and high sexual dichromatism.

They are also popular among scientists to study the evolution of fish. Some cichlids are also valued game fish and nutritious sources of food.

Most of these are endemic to Lake Malawi, but not all. Lake Malawi cichlids can be further distinguished into the following:

1. Haplochromines

Haplochromine is a cichlid tribe under the Haplochromini or Pseudocrenilabrinae subfamily.

It includes various cichlid genera, like Aulonocara, Haplochromis, Chilotilapia, and Astatotilapia. All of them are endemic to northern, southern, and eastern Africa (exception: Astatotilapia flaviijosephi).

Haplochromines are further subcategorized into the following main groups:

a. Mbunas (Rock dwellers)

The word “Mbuna” refers to “rockfish” in the native dialect of the Lake Malawi area. So, Mbuna cichlids imply the cichlids that are found near the rocky shores and rock caves and crevices of Lake Malawi. They’re known for their high aggression.

b. Haps (Free swimmer)

This is a genus of ray-finned piscivorous cichlids. Most haps were at one point a temporary member of this genus. The haps of Lake Malawi are known for brighter males and dull females.

They all are aggressive but mellow compared to Mbunas. They are long and torpedo-shaped and freely explore the open water. They are mostly dull-colored when young; males become bright when old, while females stay dull.

c. Peacocks (Free swimmer)

Peacock cichlids are often spotted at the lake bottom; they explore through the substrate for food. In their natural habitat, you can find them along the rocky and sandy shores because they freely swim throughout the lake.

It’s also known that all peacock cichlids are one fish that has different color variants based on their origin in the lake. It’s assumed that the other color variants have undergone cross-breeding, as all females look somewhat similar.

They are also known to stand still in one spot until they notice the activity of prey. Then they pounce on their target immediately.

2. Tilapia

In Lake Malawi, two genera of tilapias are available, totaling to 6 species. Namely: redbreast tilapia (Coptodon rendalli), shire tilapia (Oreochromis shiranus), and four chambos (Oreochromis karongae, Oreochromis lidole, Oreochromis saka, and Oreochromis squamipinnis).

All of these, despite being freshwater species, can withstand brackish waters and wide temperature ranges of 50-90 °F (10-32 °C). They grow up to 35-45 cm (13.8-17.7 in).

They are schooling, aggressive, and herbivorous – mainly feed on phytoplankton, algae, and sometimes detritus.

When it comes to breeding, only the redbreast tilapia is a substrate spawner. While the remaining five tilapias are all mouthbrooders.

Frequently Asked Questions

Now, if you’re still curious about Lake Malawi cichlids or want to adopt a few of them, then you must keep reading to get your answers!

What is unique about Lake Malawi cichlids?

Compared to other cichlids, most Lake Malawi cichlids are way more robust, territorial, and aggressive. Of course, there are peaceful ones as well, but only a handful.
And since so many cichlids share the lake, they often cross-breed naturally, and unique-looking species are continuously produced.

How to set up Lake Malawi Cichlid tank?

To set up a safe and comfortable living environment for these, you must focus on recreating a Lake Malawi biotope. Invest in the biggest aquarium you can afford and accommodate. Don’t go overboard with the number of fish so each can have its own territory.
Maintain the following parameters to mimic the natural habitat:
Water Temperature: 75-82 °F (24-28 °C)
pH Levels: 7.5-8.8
Water Hardness: 4-6 dGH
Carbonate Hardness: 6-8 dKH
Use crushed coral sand, gravel in the sand, crushed Oyster shell, and limestone to maintain alkaline conditions. Or, keep the water change rate under 25% to maintain the pH.
Filter: Use canister or hang-on-back filters. Avoid under gravel filters (UGF), as the cichlids may dig out the UGF plate and diminish its efficiency.
Lighting: Use fluorescent lights to avoid irritating the cichlids.
Décor: For Mbunas, use a rocky décor and install an attractive 3D rock-like background and thick sand substrate. For haps and peacocks, use sand substrate.
Plants: This setup doesn’t need much vegetation or decor, but you can add Vallisneria.

Can Lake Malawi Cichlids be mixed with other cichlids?

Lake Malawi has a vast area, so each area has a different environment. Mbunas live in rocky areas, while haps and peacocks live in sandy regions.
So, according to my experience, it’s better to keep Mbunas in a separate tank, while haps and peacocks can be kept together in another tank. Otherwise, due to the clash in biotopes between them, they may get stressed and sick.
Other than that, let’s check their compatibility with other cichlids:
Lake Tanganyika Cichlid: Don’t mix these with Malawi cichlids, or else it’ll make the Malawi cichlids aggressive, stress Tanganyika cichlids, and lead to disease or loss of specimens.
Lake Victoria Cichlid: These cichlids can coexist with Malawi ones so long there is enough shelter and hiding places in a spacious tank.
South/Central American Cichlid: Amazon cichlids thrive in acidic soft water environments, while Malawi cichlids need alkaline hard water conditions. So, they are not compatible.

A word from FishInAquarium

The best part about having Lake Malawi cichlids is their high activity. When multiple uniquely-colorful species swim about in your tank, it’s fun to just sit and watch them. It can even give you a serotonin boost! 😉

That said, if this article helped you get one step closer to building your personal Lake Malawi cichlid tank, share this with other enthusiasts. But if any question is still bugging you, mail us, and we’ll sort it out together!

Minnie B Miller - Professional aquarist and owner of FishInAquarium

About Minnie B Miller

Minnie B. Miller, a professional aquarist and owner of FishInAquarium, has over 8 years of expertise in fish breeding and care, gained through her roles at AquaticTX and Sea Lion Landing. Having honed her skills with various aquatic species, she is dedicated to empowering fellow enthusiasts by sharing her knowledge and experience.