Breeding Maylandia aurora (Aurora Cichlid)

Maylandia aurora is a maternal mouthbrooding mbuna from Likoma Island, Lake Malawi. The female broods ~40-70 eggs in her mouth in hard, alkaline water.

Overview

Maylandia aurora (also written Metriaclima aurora) is a Lake Malawi mbuna found at Likoma Island and along the Mozambique coast (FishBase). The genus Maylandia, like most Lake Malawi cichlids, practises maternal mouthbrooding (Wikipedia). Males usually occupy upper surfaces of rocks, and some defend sand-scrape nests at the base of rocks (FishBase).

Sexing

The genus is valued for pronounced sexual dimorphism (Wikipedia). FishBase records males reaching about 8.7 cm SL and females about 8.0 cm SL. Dominant males are the most strongly coloured.

Conditioning

FishBase records 24-26 °C and pH 7.5-8.5 for the species, consistent with Lake Malawi's hard, alkaline water. Feed a vegetable-rich omnivorous diet of the aufwuchs type typical of rock-dwelling mbuna to bring fish into condition.

Breeding Setup

Provide rockwork with open sand at the rock base, reflecting the sand-scrape nests that males dig (FishBase). A sand substrate and abundant rock create territories; keeping a dominant male with several females (harem) helps spread aggression.

Spawning Behavior & Trigger

Males establish and defend a nest area; spawning follows the maternal mouthbrooding pattern of the genus (Wikipedia). The female produces about 40-70 eggs (FishBase). Warm, hard, alkaline water and an established male territory support spawning.

Egg & Fry Care

Following the maternal mouthbrooding pattern, the female incubates the eggs and larvae in her mouth before releasing free-swimming fry that shelter among rocks. Released fry accept fine first foods; brooding females may be isolated to protect the brood.

Common Challenges

Aggression and the need for hard alkaline water are the key considerations. Because it is less common than some mbuna, sourcing unrelated stock for genetic diversity, and keeping it away from similar yellow mbuna to avoid hybridisation, is advisable.