Kenyi Cichlid

Kenyi cichlids are popular in the African cichlid aquarium due to their relatively friendly disposition and the bright colors of the males and females. Females are a colorful blue with a striped pattern, and males are a bright yellow, though the sexes are capable of changing color to the opposite sex for short periods of time. Males may change to avoid a fight with stronger males; females may change to avoid the attentions of males.

Quick Facts

Care Guide

Tank setup: Use a sand or crushed-coral bottom and stack plenty of rockwork with caves and hiding spots so each male can claim a territory and others can escape. Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika cichlids need hard, alkaline water; crushed coral or aragonite sand helps hold the pH up.

Feeding: Mbuna are mostly plant eaters. Feed a vegetable-based flake or pellet once or twice a day, and avoid high-protein foods, which can upset their digestion.

Tankmates: Keep mbuna with other mbuna of similar size and temperament, stocked in a group to spread out aggression. Avoid mixing them with peaceful peacocks and haps unless the tank is large, and avoid closely related species that look alike, which can crossbreed.

Good to know: Kenyi males become quite aggressive as they mature, so they do best in a crowded mbuna tank with plenty of rockwork.