Labidochromis caeruleus Yellow
The Labidochromis caeruleus Yellow is one of the most popular cichlids in the aquarium hobby and is always in demand. This is due to its bright yellow color and calm temperament. The latter makes this African cichlid a good addition to almost all other cichlids in the aquarium. Loved as it is by Malawi keepers, it is kept together with other Mbuna, Utaka, and the more delicate Peacocks.
The description of this species in 1956 by G. Fryer did not deal with the yellow variant but with a blue variant of the Labidochromis caeruleus. The first captured specimens of the Labidochromis caeruleus were light blue with six dark blue vertical stripes. Caeruleus, therefore, refers to the light blue color. Only later the other variants, including the white and the yellow ones, were found. The word Labidochromis consists of two parts: Labis comes from Greek and means pincers or tweezers and refers to the narrow mouth; chromis also comes from Greek and means fish.
After discovering the yellow variant, these fish were not immediately exported. Pierre Brichard took several yellow specimens to Bujumbura at Lake Tanganyika in 1980 to breed them in ponds. After six years, he had enough specimens to export them. This was done for a high price under the name Labidochromis tanganicae, which caused a lot of confusion because it was not clear whether this species originated from Lake Tanganyika or Malawi. Eventually, this was corrected, and the yellow variant was also given the correct name: Labidochromis caeruleus.
Description
The most well-known form of the Labidochromis caeruleus is sold under the name Labidochromis caeruleus Yellow, the yellow variant. The most beautiful specimens are bright yellow on the body and pectoral fins. The dorsal, ventral, and anal fins can be black, with a yellow border running over the edge of the dorsal fin. A black diagonal stripe runs through the eye.
Because only a few specimens have been exported, the bright colors of this species may become somewhat paler due to inbreeding. As the fish ages, you will also see more black spots on the body. Carefully bred fish in which fish from different bloodlines have been selected show this much less.
The variant to which this species owes its name is light blue in color. This variant is offered less often than the yellow variant.
The sex is sometimes challenging to see from the color. Both males and females can have the black coloration in the fins, although in males, it is usually much clearer and brighter. The dominant male has the clearest black color and the brightest yellow. A subdominant male can sometimes look like a female in terms of color. The sex is often easier to see from the shape of the dorsal and anal fins. In males, these fins extend more into a point shape; females are more rounded. Once fully grown, you will see that males are also somewhat larger and more robustly built than females.
Labidochromis caeruleus is relatively peaceful towards other species. You can combine them with most other Mbuna and even Peacocks or Utaka. Males are relatively intolerant towards each other. It is better to keep 1 male with several females.
Despite their friendly nature, Labidochromis caeruleus are not shy or skittish. They can easily hold their own against other more aggressive or larger species. They just won’t seek out confrontation themselves.
Biotope
This species occurs almost everywhere in the lake, but many local variants are not as beautifully yellow as we have here in the aquariums. Also, the numbers of Labidochromis caeruleus that occur in the lake are relatively small. Most likely, there are more yellows in captivity than in the wild. Most animals are offspring of only a few specimens. Yet they keep this beautiful yellow color by breeding very specifically and only continuing with the most beautiful animals.
Diet
Its omnivorous diet makes it a versatile addition to almost any fish stock. As long as you feed them a variety, the Labidochromis caeruleus will eat almost anything. Spirulina should not be missing from the menu so that they can get enough green food. Alternate this with flake food and occasionally some frozen food such as artemia, mysis, krill, and black or white mosquito. It is best not to give them red mosquito and tubifex, this increases the chance of Malawi bloat.
The Aquarium
The aquarium for the Labidochromis caeruleus can be set up like that for most Mbuna’s. Use sand for the bottom and furnish the aquarium with many rocks with holes, cracks, and crevices. They are relatively calm. An aquarium of 120 centimeters should be sufficient to keep one male with several females together.
The temperature in the aquarium can vary between 22 and 26 degrees. The pH in Lake Malawi is between pH 7.5 and 8.5.
Labidochromis caeruleus can be combined in the aquarium with Mbuna’s, Aulonocara species (Peacocks), and the free-swimming Utakas. Many Mbuna’s get sick from a meaty diet and eventually die; Labidochromis caeruleus does not suffer from this as long as you occasionally feed some vegetable food in the form of, for example, herbivore granulate or spirulina flakes.
Breeding Labidochromis caeruleus
Breeding Labidochromis caeruleus is not difficult, just like many other Malawi cichlids. They are sexually mature from about 6 months or 5 centimeters.
They do not form a territory. When the male sees that a female is ready to mate, he will try to lure her to a random spot between the rocks. They often swim in circles around each other until the female is ready. The circling slows down, and the male drags his anal fin over the ground. There are egg spots on this, which the female snaps at. The female then lays an egg, turns around, and takes this egg in her mouth. In the meantime, they continue to turn, and the male shows his anal fin again. The female snaps at it again while the male releases some yolk. This allows the female to get yolk in her mouth and fertilizes the eggs. This continues until all the eggs have been laid.
In the Labidochromis caeruleus, the female incubates the eggs in her mouth. The hatched fry remain in her mouth for about 21 to 28 days, where they can safely feed on their yolk sac. After this, the female spits out the now yellow fry. In a quiet aquarium without other fish, the female can take care of the fry for another week by regularly returning them to her crop. Make sure that the female is fed well so that the fry remain safe. After this, she will have to be removed to prevent the fry from being eaten
Most breeders remove a female with a mouth full of young after about two weeks. They are then placed in a smaller aquarium with some shelter in the form of rocks or a cave. The female feels safe here and can calmly brood the young. The females do not eat anything during the brooding period. Separating the female in time will save almost all the young that the female releases. The young are safe for the first few hours; the female will not eat them then. In a mixed aquarium with other fish, young Labidochromis caeruleus often end up as food.
Video
Author
John de Lange
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John de Lange
