Hajomaylandi Cichlid care guide
Hajomaylandi Cichlid (Maylandia hajomaylandi) — minimum tank 300 L, temperature 24-27 °C, pH 7.8-8.6.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Maylandia hajomaylandi is a mbuna from the Tanzanian shore of Lake Malawi, with a yellow body crossed by darker vertical bars in males and a pale silvery tone in females. Adults reach about 13 cm.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Maylandia
- Scientific name: Maylandia hajomaylandi
- Common synonyms: Metriaclima hajomaylandi
Habitat
Endemic to the rocky shore (mbuna zone) of Lake Malawi in the African Rift Valley, where it lives over wave-washed boulder slopes. The lake is exceptionally hard and alkaline — pH 7.8-8.6, KH 6-15 — and warm year round. The species is highly site-attached and territorial males defend small rock caves.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 300 L (79.3 US gal)
- Adult size: 10-13 cm
- Temperature: 24-27 °C (75-81 °F)
- pH: 7.8-8.6
- GH: 10-20 °dGH
- Water flow: medium
- Lifespan: 6-10 years
Diet
In the wild it grazes the aufwuchs layer of algae, biofilm and associated micro-invertebrates that coats the rocks. In aquaria a vegetable-rich diet of spirulina and algae-based cichlid pellets, blanched vegetables and occasional frozen brine shrimp is appropriate; high-protein foods such as bloodworm should be avoided to prevent "Malawi bloat".
Compatibility
Aggressive and territorial; best kept in a large mbuna community with several other rock-dwelling species so that aggression is dispersed. A typical stocking is one male to several females (1:3-4). Avoid mixing with very different lake faunas (e.g., New World cichlids) and with similar-coloured congeners that may hybridise.
Breeding
A polygamous maternal mouthbrooder. The male defends a small rock territory, displays to passing females and entices each to spawn on a flat surface; the female collects the eggs into her mouth immediately and incubates them for about three weeks before releasing free-swimming fry.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: see species page. The Lake Malawi cichlid radiation has been intensively assessed; most mbuna are evaluated and many are categorised Least Concern, though species with restricted ranges along single sub-shores are more vulnerable.
Hajomaylandi Cichlid (Maylandia hajomaylandi) Breeding Guide
Overview
Maylandia hajomaylandi is a mbuna endemic to Lake Malawi, known from the rocky shores around Chizumulu Island and Chiwi Rocks, where it lives in the transition zones between rock and sand. The species, whose name honours the cichlid author Hans Joachim Mayland, is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. Males reach about 10.5 cm in the wild but can grow to around 16 cm in the aquarium, while females stay smaller at around 8.5 cm. It is a maternal mouthbrooder that can be bred by an intermediate keeper.
Sexing
Males are larger and more brightly coloured, with a steel-blue body crossed by nine to ten dark vertical bars and a yellow-to-orange head extending onto the belly and fins. Females are smaller with a yellowish to beige base colour and less pronounced bars, and juveniles resemble females.
Conditioning
Condition the group on a good herbivore-leaning diet in stable hard, alkaline water within the species' maintenance range. Well-fed females in firm condition produce the best clutches.
Breeding Setup
Keep a harem of one male with two or three females to reduce aggression directed at any single fish, and provide rockwork with caves and flat surfaces as spawning sites. Although less aggressive than the related Kenyi, the male is still territorial and chases other males away.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
The female lays her eggs and immediately takes them into her mouth, where they are fertilised in the typical mbuna fashion. The clutch is not large, usually about 15 to 30 eggs. Males turn pale and become more territorial when ready to spawn.
Egg & Fry Care
The female incubates the eggs orally and releases the fry roughly 18 to 21 days after spawning. Released fry can be fed finely crushed flake food, and in a matured aquarium they will also graze on algae.
Common Challenges
Because the clutch is small, yields per spawn are modest. The female does not feed while holding and loses condition, so she should be left undisturbed; moving a holding female risks her spitting out or eating the brood. As with all Maylandia, keep only one species per tank to avoid hybridisation.