Electric yellow lab

Care at a glance

The electric yellow lab is the friendliest way into Malawi cichlids: bright yellow with a black dorsal fin, and far more tolerant than most other mbuna. It also keeps its colour with age, which in this group is the exception rather than the rule.

Malawi does call for a different setup than an ordinary community tank: hard, alkaline water, plenty of stacked rock with sight lines broken up, and a high stocking level to dilute aggression. Plants usually do not survive, apart from tough species such as anubias. Feed vegetable food and in moderation — mbuna are prone to Malawi bloat when given too much protein-rich food.

Good to know

• Territorial

Related species

• Convict cichlidAmatitlania nigrofasciata
• Paradise fishMacropodus opercularis
• OscarAstronotus ocellatus
• Sparkling gouramiTrichopsis pumila
• Boesemani rainbowfishMelanotaenia boesemani
• Bolivian ramMikrogeophagus altispinosus