Omnivores, not fussy will eat most foods, easy to acclimatise to flake\granular foods.
Breeding:
Not difficult to breed once a pair has been found. This is The hard part as there is little physical difference between the sexes.
Difficulty:
Beginner
General Info:
This species is like many cichlids in that it has a reputation for aggression especially during breeding. As long as it is kept with similar size cichlids in a large enough tanks it is a fine colourful addition
This species should be fed a varied diet and in general is easy has few extra special dietary requirements, As with most species live and frozen bloodworm, brineshrimp will help bring the species on into spawning condition.
Breeding:
This species are open spawners and will lays their eggs on plants, fallen leaves, or flat stones.
Difficulty:
Beginner
General Info:
Though this is a fairly large cichlid in comparison to most Apistogramma sp and other South American dwarves it is a good tankmate.
Extremely easy to breed and an ideal starter CA cichlid. Care should be taken with tank mates especially when breeding as this species is a very aggresive and belligerent.
The Auratus is found among the rock formations southwest of lake Malawi.
Max size male:
5"
Max size female:
3.5 - 4"
ph range:
7.5 - 8.5
Temp range:
74 - 82 F
Diet:
Auratus will eat most food be it flake, frozen, live, floating or sinking sticks. Their general diet in the wild is algae.
Breeding:
Breeding is very easy as they are mouth-brooders, but watch out for other Melanochromis tank mates as they are not fussy. Incubation period is approximately 25 days. Parents will even raise fry in a mixed community tank.
Difficulty:
Advanced
General Info:
One of first African Cichlids to be imported and is still one of the
most popular with the striking colourations of the female - golden yellow with
black horizontal stripes. The Auratus prefers a sand substrate with
lots of rocks to form caves. Best to be kept with other Malawi Mbuna's. Males can be very aggressive towards other males of the species when females are present, sometimes ending in fatalities.
