Yellow Lab Cichlid Profile
Yellow Lab Cichlids
Common name: Yellow Lab
Scientific name: Labidochromis caeruleus
Type of fish: Cichlid (mbuna)
Origin: Lake Malawi
Level of difficulty: Intermediate
Max size: 5 inches
Growth Rate: Fast
Minimum tank size: 30 gallons for one, 55 gallons for group
Diet: omnivore, less protein
pH: 7-8
Hardiness: Hardy
Aggressiveness: Aggressive, though not as much as other mbuna
Tankmates: Peacock cichlids, mbuna, medium-sized American cichlids, Synodontis catfish
Sexing: Males have egg spots on the anal fin which look like brightly-colored circles.
Notes: Healthier strains of this common cichlid have thicker black lines on the dorsal and anal fins. Overfeeding can lead to bloating. Yellow Labs are best kept in large groups with other mbuna. The habitat for these fish should have lots of rocks as mbuna are rock-dwellers.