What a day and age we live in today. We have Internet access to the entire world. With the modernization of third world areas and modern transportation things are now possible that 40 years ago were never heard of. No where else is this more evident than in the importation of Mbuna cichlids from Lake Malawi. In the 1960's pictures of very colorful fish started to appear in fish publications but actually obtaining one was nearly impossible. Then in the 1970's these fish started appearing in pet shops here in the U.S. Today keeping Mbunas is a hobby enjoyed by millions of people

     The name "Mbuna" is from the Chitonga language of local fishermen around Lake Malawi. It is the name describing cichlids found along the rocky coast line. The species that make up this group are all maternal mouth brooders consisting of the following:

Gephyrochromis
Cynotilapia
Pseudotropheus
 Labeotropheus
Cyathochromis
 Genyochromis
 Labidochromis
 Melanochromis
 Petrotilapia
 Lodotropheus
Maylandia

     The husbandry of these cichlids isn't demanding.  As long as the hobbyist keeps in mind the personalities of these interesting fishes.  First off, as with all Malawi cichlids they require hard alkaline water to show their best color, second and most important is that these fish can be quite assertive as far as territory is concerned.  Therefore a small tank is out of the question.  A minimum 30 gal. long tank is required.  However I think a 55 gal. is the way to go.  Third decorating a Mbuna tank should consist of many hiding places for females and subdominant fish to hide from the dominate males.  Fourth feeding Mbuna is easy but keep in mind most of these fish are algae grazers so their diet should consist of some green material, but they do fine on a varied diet of spiralina flakes, frozen brine and tubiflex.  A prepared cichlid flake is available and taken greedily by these cichlids.

     In closing I would like to say that the Mbuna cichlids are full of personality.  Color that rivals they're salt water cousins and they aren't very demanding on their keeper. So if you have the tank space and you want to keep these cichlids they come highly recommended.

Click the genus names on the left to get more info


For the scientifically minded

     Mbuna are cichlids and are, phylogenetically speaking, included among the haplochromine species, as are the vast majority of other lake malawi cichlids.  Almost all the species of this complex are characterised by a single shared characteristic that they are strongly bound to the substrate offered by the rocky coastline.  They do however, also have morphological features in common.  All species have numerous small, deeply embedded scales on the breast region, an adaption to the sharp-edged substrate, contact with which could easily result in the loss of more lossely attached scales.  This scalation changes abruptly to lager scales along the flanks.  Most mbuna species (not all) have true eggspots on the anal fin, ocellated in males.  An anatomical peculiarity is seen in the atrophication of the left ovary.