Melanochromis maingano

The remarkably gorgeous Melanochromis maingano cichlid infuses freshwater aquariums with vivid color and vitality. This fish is well-liked by aquarists who enjoy African cichlid fish because of its vibrant personality and deep blue stripes. It is native to the stony shores of Lake Malawi, where it grows best in conditions that are similar to those there.

Despite its diminutive size, this fish has a lot of personality. Its bold nature also makes it an interesting species to watch, but beginners may find its territorial and occasionally aggressive behavior challenging. To guarantee that the Melanochromis maingano is compatible with other fish in the community tank, careful planning is necessary.

Once you know what they require, caring for these cichlids is not too difficult, even with their assertive demeanor. Along with the

Melanochromis maingano: description

Its big mouth and unique structure enable it to consume algae from cliffs and rocks along the coast.

The bright color of the Malawian is its most notable feature.

• The main background is bright blue; along the body on the sides from the tail to the frontal growth there are 3 black stripes.
• The head of the fish has a rich blue color, the eyes are large and expressive.
• The color of all fins corresponds to the color of the body, the spinal fin stretches from the back of the head to the tail.

Sexual differences are essentially nonexistent, and the only way experienced cichlid aquarists can tell males from females is by looking for tiny spots on the edge of the anal fin that have the appearance and color of eggs. The contrasts become more noticeable during the spawning season when the female’s coloring becomes extremely pale and the male’s becomes extremely bright.

It is not possible to determine the fry’s gender. Adults can only grow to a maximum size of 10 cm, and their average lifespan is 7-8 years.

Life in the wild

This species is an example of an endemic since it is restricted to a single region of the world, the waters of Lake Malawi, close to the island of Likoma.

The name of the neighborhood that borders the lake, Maingano, is where this cichlid got its name. The scientific name of the species is Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos "Maingano," but this moniker is purely commercial.

The fish in question are referred to by many aquarists as Blue Johanni, while the Malavian is known as Chisumul Johanni in Africa and by most breeders as just "Mingano."

Bright Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos inhabit small schools in the upper and middle layers of the water, typically found close to coastal rocks, and range in depth from 2 to 20 meters. This is because of the peculiarities of their diet: mainganos eat the algae that they scrape off the surface of rocks with their jaws and teeth. Naturally, all of the zooplankton and phytoplankton that are present are food.

Fish that have similar dietary preferences are grouped together into a unique trophy group called mbuna.

These members of the large cichlid family were only recently discovered to exist as a distinct species in 1997. Prior to that, they were categorized as Melanochromis Johan, a related species from Malawi.

Professional aquarists, who started actively pursuing African cichlids from the lake in the late 1980s, are largely responsible for these brilliant fish receiving this honor. Malawi.

In 1991, mingano introduced itself to aquariums in Europe. And their first batch reached Russia five more years later.

It should be mentioned that the locals have never engaged in special fishing for chisumulu johanni. However, because aquarists are becoming more interested in them, their naturally modest population has started to rapidly decline in recent years.

Blue johanni – life in an aquarium

Harmony. This species’ representatives are only housed in small schools. In an aquarium, one person will grow bored. The best scenario is a school of four to five fish with only one male. Indeed, these people from Malawi live like harems.

Sizes of aquariums. Because of the size of the specimens, maintaining such a school requires an aquarium that can hold at least 120 liters, and the biotope of the aquarium should be as close to the natural habitat as possible.

Create. Rocks and stone grottoes are essential components of the aquarium’s design.

The bottom’s organization. Using coral crumbs as a soil is advised as they produce a mild alkaline reaction. But regular river sand will work just fine.

Vegetation. Although they don’t have a specific function, aquatic plants can be placed on the side of the aquarium opposite the rocks to enhance the aquascape’s beauty. Fish frequently show little loyalty to greenery, occasionally consuming or digging it up. Use of hard-leaved plants that are pot-plantable is therefore advised. Pistia, riccia, and elodea are three floating plant species that are also very useful.

Little climate. Monitoring the characteristics and quality of the water is crucial:

• its temperature should be maintained within the range from +24 to +28 °C;
• hardness – 10-25 °dH;
• acidity with a slight shift to alkalinity 7.6-8.8 pH.

If the aquarium is empty of plants and catfish, add a small amount of salt (no more than 2 g per liter) to the water because Lake Malawi’s water is slightly brackish.

Tools. The water and aquarium environments need to be kept pure at all times. This necessitates installing the most effective filter available and performing weekly water changes in the range of 35–40%. Remembering oxygen is important; the aquarium needs to have an aerator with a sprayer. For this volume, the lighting is moderate.

Expert owners of these cichlids strongly advise siphoning the soil once a week to keep things tidy and organized.

Feeding

Although Melanochromis maingano is officially classified as a vegetarian, it happily consumes nearly any food, both plant- and animal-based.

They can be fed commercial cichlid food, cyclops, daphnia, and brine shrimp. It is advised to choose a diet for the fish based on the following computation for improved health:

• 80% plant food
• and 20% protein (frozen, live or dry).

It is advised to keep fish with other cichlids in the mbuna group as this will make it easier to choose a diet for all of the fish at once. Too much protein in food can cause digestive issues in fish.

Vegetable supplements can be made from dry food that contains spirulina, cucumbers, zucchini, scalded spinach, nettle leaves, green peas, and other fresh vegetables.

These animals typically experience constant hunger because they consume small amounts of fiber-rich food frequently. For your pets, try setting up a similar feeding schedule that divides a large meal into multiple smaller ones.

Compatibility

On this matter, there are polar opposite viewpoints. The maingano’s peaceful disposition permits them to be housed with other herbivorous African cichlids, according to a number of sources.

Nonetheless, the majority of these blue Malawian owners have frequently reported that the males are becoming more aggressive. particularly during the time of spawning. A pair of males belonging to the same species will undoubtedly resolve conflicts, in addition to nearby neighbors in the aquatic "dormitory."

Experts advise setting up a species aquarium or cichlid tank because of this incompatibility with other animals. In this setting, a school of maingano with a male at the head will feel more at ease.

It is advised to choose African cichlid species that are radically different from them in appearance, such as auratus and yellow, if you wish to keep them with other species.

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The lovely and vivacious Melanochromis maingano fish can bring vivid color to your aquarium. It is a well-liked option for cichlid enthusiasts who like a dynamic and lively tank environment because of its striking blue and black stripes.

Even though Melanochromis maingano can be territorial, particularly when mating, giving them lots of room, hiding places, and a healthy male-to-female ratio can help calm them down. These fish are an excellent choice for intermediate aquarists because they require little maintenance and thrive in hard, alkaline water.

Melanochromis maingano is a great choice if you’re searching for a species that will add movement and energy to your tank while also being aesthetically pleasing. Just keep in mind to temper their fierce personality with sensible tank maintenance and amiable tankmates.

The gorgeous and colorful Melanochromis maingano is a freshwater fish native to Lake Malawi in Africa. It is distinguished by its eye-catching black and blue stripes. Aquarium enthusiasts love this species for its vibrant colors and lively disposition. To maintain a balanced and healthy environment, it’s crucial to keep them with other assertive fish and give them lots of hiding places in the tank because they can be territorial and aggressive fish.

Video on the topic

Melanochromis Maingano

Melanochromis Auratus (Melanochromis Auratus).

Melanochromis Maingano

Melanochromis Maingano. Fry. (Melanochromis maingano fry)

mating dances of maingano (convulsively attractive male)

Melanochromis Maingano