Labidochromis caeruleus
Encyclopedia
Labidochromis caeruleus is a species of cichlid
fish that is endemic to the central western coastal region of Lake Malawi
in East Africa
. It is also known as lemon yellow lab, the blue streak hap, the electric yellow
or yellow prince, depending on the colour morph. A naturally occurring yellow-coloured variant
from Nkhata Bay
is one of the most popular cichlids amongst aquarium hobbyists.
This species is a maternal mouthbrooder
, meaning the eggs are carried, hatch, and develop in the mother’s mouth (buccal cavity), for about three weeks. These fish are ovophile
s and the male will excavate a pit in the sand within his territory, in which the female lays the eggs; the female then takes these eggs into her mouth for fertilization.
Electric yellows inhabit water
with a pH
between 7.8 and 8.9 and an ideal temperature range of 23–26 °C
(73.4–78.8 °F
).
. As with most cichlids, electric yellows should not be kept with freshwater community aquarium species such as Zebra Danios or Neon Tetras
, they may nip the finnage of other species, and are not recommended for freshwater community aquariums because of the differences in the natural habitats between cichlids and other fish species. In an aquarium setting, their natural habitat of rocks and caves should be emulated. Their diet should consist mostly of prepared cichlid pellets or flakes, supplemented with foods like krill, brineshrimp, and Spirulina flakes. Restrain from feeding these cichlids feeder goldfish, as they are likely carrying diseases that will cause harm to your cichlids
Cichlid
Cichlids are fishes from the family Cichlidae in the order Perciformes. Cichlids are members of a group known as the Labroidei along with the wrasses , damselfish , and surfperches . This family is both large and diverse. At least 1,300 species have been scientifically described, making it one of...
fish that is endemic to the central western coastal region of Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi , is an African Great Lake and the southernmost lake in the Great Rift Valley system of East Africa. This lake, the third largest in Africa and the eighth largest lake in the world, is located between Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania...
in East Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
. It is also known as lemon yellow lab, the blue streak hap, the electric yellow
Electric yellow cichlid
thumb|right|200px|Mature Male Electric Yellow cichlidThe Electric Yellow Cichlid is a naturally occurring variant of Labidochromis caeruleus. This variant is also known as the lemon yellow lab, electric yellow or yellow prince. It is endemic to the central western coastal region of Nkhata Bay in...
or yellow prince, depending on the colour morph. A naturally occurring yellow-coloured variant
Electric yellow cichlid
thumb|right|200px|Mature Male Electric Yellow cichlidThe Electric Yellow Cichlid is a naturally occurring variant of Labidochromis caeruleus. This variant is also known as the lemon yellow lab, electric yellow or yellow prince. It is endemic to the central western coastal region of Nkhata Bay in...
from Nkhata Bay
Nkhata Bay
Nkhata Bay or just Nkhata is the capital of the Nkhata Bay District in Malawi. It is on the shore of Lake Malawi , east of Mzuzu, and is one of the main ports on Lake Malawi. The population of Nkhata Bay is estimated to be 14,722 as of 2008. Nkhata Bay is from Lilongwe, Malawi’s capital city, and ...
is one of the most popular cichlids amongst aquarium hobbyists.
This species is a maternal mouthbrooder
Mouthbrooder
Mouthbrooding, also known as oral incubation and buccal incubation, is the care given by some groups of animals to their offspring by holding them in the mouth of the parent for extended periods of time. Although mouthbrooding is performed by a variety of different animals, most notably Darwin's...
, meaning the eggs are carried, hatch, and develop in the mother’s mouth (buccal cavity), for about three weeks. These fish are ovophile
Ovophile
Ovophiles are mouthbrooding members of the Cichlidae family of fish . Ovophiles dig pits or holes in which the female lays eggs. The female lays eggs in this pit and then immediately takes the eggs into her mouth. The male then fertilizes the eggs in the female's mouth...
s and the male will excavate a pit in the sand within his territory, in which the female lays the eggs; the female then takes these eggs into her mouth for fertilization.
Electric yellows inhabit water
Water
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
with a pH
PH
In chemistry, pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Pure water is said to be neutral, with a pH close to 7.0 at . Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic or alkaline...
between 7.8 and 8.9 and an ideal temperature range of 23–26 °C
Celsius
Celsius is a scale and unit of measurement for temperature. It is named after the Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius , who developed a similar temperature scale two years before his death...
(73.4–78.8 °F
Fahrenheit
Fahrenheit is the temperature scale proposed in 1724 by, and named after, the German physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit . Within this scale, the freezing of water into ice is defined at 32 degrees, while the boiling point of water is defined to be 212 degrees...
).
Aquarium care
Electric yellows are peaceful compared to most other African cichlids. Despite this, like all cichlids from Lake Malawi, they are best kept in specialist cichlid aquariums with other MbunaMbuna
Mbuna is the common name for a large group of African cichlids from Lake Malawi. The name mbuna means "rockfish" in the language of the Tonga people of Malawi...
. As with most cichlids, electric yellows should not be kept with freshwater community aquarium species such as Zebra Danios or Neon Tetras
Neon tetra
The neon tetra is a freshwater fish of the characin family of order Characiformes. The type species of its genus, it is native to blackwater or clearwater streams in southeastern Colombia, eastern Peru, and western Brazil, including the tributaries of the Solimões where the water is between...
, they may nip the finnage of other species, and are not recommended for freshwater community aquariums because of the differences in the natural habitats between cichlids and other fish species. In an aquarium setting, their natural habitat of rocks and caves should be emulated. Their diet should consist mostly of prepared cichlid pellets or flakes, supplemented with foods like krill, brineshrimp, and Spirulina flakes. Restrain from feeding these cichlids feeder goldfish, as they are likely carrying diseases that will cause harm to your cichlids