Maylandia fainzilberi Care Guide
Maylandia fainzilberi is a rock-dwelling mbuna from Lake Malawi. Males are blue with bars and females show an orange-blotch pattern; it is an aggressive maternal mouthbrooder.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Maylandia fainzilberi is a rock-dwelling cichlid (mbuna) endemic to Lake Malawi, described by Staeck in 1976. Maylandia are small, brightly coloured and often markedly sexually dimorphic haplochromines; in this species males are blue with brown bars while females develop an orange-blotch (OB) pattern.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Maylandia (= Metriaclima)
- Scientific name: Maylandia fainzilberi
- Authority: Staeck, 1976
Habitat
FishBase records the species from Lake Malawi (roughly 9-15 degrees south) as a freshwater demersal fish, with a pH range of 8.0-9.0 and hardness of 10-18 dH. Maylandia are rock-dwellers that graze the rocky littoral zone.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 300 L
- Temperature: 24-27 °C (75-81 °F)
- pH: 7.8-8.6
- GH: 10-20 °dGH
- Maximum size: about 12.9 cm TL (FishBase)
- Substrate: sand with abundant rockwork
- Lifespan: 6-10 years
Diet
The species is a herbivore. Like other mbuna it grazes algae and aufwuchs from rocks, so a vegetable-based diet suits it; excess animal protein can cause digestive problems.
Compatibility
This is an aggressive, territorial mbuna for experienced keepers. Suitable companions include Synodontis petricola, Synodontis multipunctatus and other mbuna of similar aggression. Gentle fish such as Discus, angelfish, tetras, Apistogramma and rams should be avoided.
Breeding
Maylandia are maternal mouthbrooders; the female incubates the eggs and fry in her mouth.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2018).
Maylandia fainzilberi Breeding Guide
Overview
Maylandia fainzilberi (syn. Pseudotropheus fainzilberi, Metriaclima fainzilberi; Staeck, 1976) is an mbuna endemic to Lake Malawi, reaching about 12.9 cm TL with IUCN status Least Concern. AquaInfo describes it as an oviparous mouthbrooder in which the female assumes brood care, that is, a maternal mouthbrooder. It is an aggressive, territorial rock-dweller.
Sexing
Per AquaInfo, males reach about 12-13 cm and show bright blue coloration with dark vertical bands and a golden breast, while females stay around 10 cm and are grayish-blue with faint bands; some females carry the orange-blotch (OB) pattern. Males also bear black-bordered egg-spots on the anal fin.
Conditioning
AquaInfo stresses a varied, nutritious diet that emphasizes plant-based foods such as high-quality spirulina flakes or pellets, supplemented with small amounts of animal foods like Artemia or mysis. Overfeeding rich animal foods to this largely herbivorous mbuna is discouraged.
Breeding Setup
AquaInfo recommends a harem of one male to about three or four females because the male is polygamous and territorial, housed in a tank with plenty of rocks and caves over a sandy substrate. Reported breeding parameters are pH 7.5-8.5, temperature 22-26 °C and GH 12-16.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
AquaInfo describes courtship in which the male seduces the female with trembling movements; the pair circles over the sand, the female lays eggs, the male fertilizes them, and the female then takes the eggs into her mouth. The male's egg-spots on the anal fin help stimulate the female during fertilization.
Egg & Fry Care
Per AquaInfo, the female incubates the eggs and larvae for about three weeks, with the eggs hatching in her mouth after a few days, before the fully developed fry are released to forage.
Common Challenges
Aggression is the main hurdle: the male can be hard on females and on other mbuna, so the harem ratio and abundant rockwork are important. As with other Maylandia, keeping the species pure and avoiding hybridization with related zebra-type mbuna is a concern for line integrity.