Yellow Lab Cichlid care guide
Yellow Lab Cichlid (Labidochromis caeruleus) — minimum tank 150 L, temperature 24-28 °C, pH 7.5-8.5.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
The Yellow Lab (Labidochromis caeruleus) is a small mbuna cichlid from Lake Malawi, the popular yellow morph being known as the Electric Yellow Cichlid. Adults display an even bright yellow body with a contrasting black sub-marginal band on the dorsal and anal fins.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Labidochromis
- Scientific name: Labidochromis caeruleus
- Common synonyms: Electric Yellow Cichlid
Habitat
Endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa, occurring at depths of 10-30 metres along the intermediate habitat between sandy and rocky shore zones, where it forages over rock surfaces in hard, alkaline rift-lake water.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 150 L (39.6 US gal)
- Adult size: 8-10 cm
- Temperature: 24-28 °C (75-82 °F)
- pH: 7.5-8.5
- GH: 10-20 °dGH
- Water flow: moderate
- Lifespan: 6-10 years
Diet
Predominantly an insectivore and micropredator in the wild, taking aufwuchs invertebrates from rock surfaces. In aquaria a mixed diet of high-quality cichlid pellets, frozen foods (mysis, brine shrimp) and modest amounts of vegetable matter maintains colour and growth.
Compatibility
One of the most peaceful mbuna; suitable for a mixed African rift-lake community. Stock multiple females per male and combine with other mid-aggression mbuna such as Pseudotropheus or Cynotilapia; provide extensive rockwork to break sightlines. Do not combine with soft-water community fish.
Breeding
A maternal mouthbrooder. After courtship over a flat rock the female collects 10-30 eggs and broods them in her buccal cavity for about three weeks; fully-formed fry are released and can be raised on crushed flake from day one.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern. The species has a moderate distribution within Lake Malawi and is one of the most widely captive-bred Malawi cichlids in the trade.
Breeding Yellow Lab Cichlid
Overview
The Yellow Lab Cichlid (Labidochromis caeruleus), also called the Electric Yellow Cichlid, is a maternal mouthbrooding mbuna from Lake Malawi. It breeds in a polygamous arrangement and the KB record rates breeding difficulty as beginner-level.
Sexing
Males are larger and display brighter coloration during spawning, and may develop increased black pigmentation in the fins, although this is an inconclusive method of sexing.
Conditioning
The recommended setup is a harem of one male and at least three females in a large tank to spread out the male's aggressive courtship behaviour. Condition the fish on plenty of vegetable, live and frozen foods.
Breeding Setup
As a Lake Malawi species, it requires hard, alkaline water. Reported breeding parameters are about 25-27 °C (77-80 °F) at pH 8.2-8.5, matching the conditions of the lake.
- Temperature: 25-27 °C (77-80 °F)
- pH: 8.2-8.5
- Water: hard and alkaline
- Group: one male with at least three females
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
The male cleans and then displays around his chosen spawning site, showing intense colour. Fertilisation uses the typical mbuna mechanism: the male has egg-shaped spots on his anal fin and the female is attracted to these, taking the eggs into her mouth where they are fertilised.
Egg & Fry Care
Females carry 5-30 eggs in the mouth for up to three or four weeks before releasing free-swimming fry, and do not eat during this period. The fry are large enough to take brine shrimp nauplii from release. Some breeders artificially strip and rear the fry from about the two-week stage to increase survival.
Common Challenges
A holding female may spit or swallow the brood if stressed, so disturbance should be minimised; sexing is also unreliable, making it harder to confirm a working group.