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Freshwater fishSpilonotus Cichlid
Spilonotus Cichlid
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The spilonotus cichlid is one of the most colorful African species, with bold blue and yellow throughout the body. Even the females look good! These aquarium fish are very hardy and do fine in a community African cichlid tank.
Quick Facts
| Scientific Name | Protomelas spilonotus |
| Origin | Lake Malawi, Africa |
| Care Level | Easy to moderate |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive (males territorial) |
| Adult Size | Up to 7" |
| Lifespan | 8–10 years |
| Diet | Omnivore (meaty foods) |
| Water Temperature | 76–82°F |
| pH | 7.8–8.6 |
| Shipping Size | Approx. 2–3" |
Care Guide
Tank setup: Give them a sand bottom, open swimming space in front and rockwork along the back. Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika cichlids need hard, alkaline water; crushed coral or aragonite sand helps hold the pH up.
Feeding: Feed a quality cichlid pellet or flake once or twice a day. They also enjoy frozen foods like brine shrimp.
Tankmates: Haps do well with peacocks and other haps of similar size, plus robust catfish like synodontis. Keep one male per similar-looking species, with several females, to limit fighting and crossbreeding.
Good to know: Males take a year or more to show full adult color, and color best when females are present.
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