Cichlid
Lake Malawi cichlids
Mbuna, peacocks and haps. Hard alkaline water, rockwork, and color that stops traffic.
Mbuna, peacocks and haps. Hard alkaline water, rockwork, and color that stops traffic.
Electric Yellow Lab
One of the calmest mbuna, which makes it a favorite first African cichlid
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Demasoni
Very aggressive for its size
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Red Zebra
Not especially aggressive for a mbuna, but robust
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Auratus Cichlid
One of the most aggressive mbuna, especially toward its own kind and similar striped fish
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Afra Cichlid
Belligerent and territorial, and very aggressive toward its own species
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Kenyi Cichlid
One of the most aggressive and territorial mbuna, especially toward its own kind
Open guideRusty Cichlid
One of the least aggressive and smallest mbuna
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Acei Cichlid
Not especially aggressive for a mbuna
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Red Top Trewavasae
Aggressive and territorial, and very aggressive toward its own kind
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Jacobfreibergi Peacock
Not as peaceful as some peacocks
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Stuartgranti Peacock
Relatively peaceful, though males are territorial and aggressive toward similar colored fish
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Yellow Regal Peacock
Relatively peaceful, though males are aggressive toward fish with similar coloring
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Electric Blue Hap
Not especially aggressive but robust
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Venustus
A predator that eats small fish, but peaceful with fish too large to swallow
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Red Fin Borleyi
Generally peaceful
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Deep Water Hap
A very gentle species that is not suited to a mbuna tank
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Malawi Eye Biter
A predator
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Blue Dolphin Cichlid
Peaceful, though its size can intimidate small fish
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Electric Blue Johanni
Quite aggressive, though less so than most Melanochromis
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Cobalt Blue Zebra
Aggressive and territorial, especially toward its own kind
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Livingstoni
A predator that will eat small mbuna and young fish, but is generally peaceful with fish too big to swallow
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Water
pH roughly 7.8 to 8.6, hard and stable.
Rock
Mbuna need caves. Peacocks and haps need open swim room.
Diet
Mbuna lean veggie. Peacocks take more protein.
FAQ
Mbuna or peacock first?
Peacocks are often calmer in mixed Malawi tanks; mbuna need dense rock and careful stocking.
Can Malawi live with Tanganyika?
Sometimes in hard water, but better to pick one lake style per tank.