Malawi Golden Cichlid (Melanochromis auratus)

From The Aquarium Wiki

Contents 1 Alternative names 1.1 Synonyms 2 Sexing 3 Tank compatibility 4 Diet 5 Feeding regime 6 Environment Specifics 7 Behaviour 8 Identification 9 Pictures 10 External links

Alternative names

Auratus, Malawi Golden Cichlid, Golden Mbuna

Synonyms

Chromis aurata, Chromis auratus, Pseudotropheus auratus, Tilapia aurata

Sexing

The male and female Auratus have completely different colouration. The female is slightly smaller and her body is a golden yellow with black/brown lateral stripes which are bordered in white. The fins are also yellow. The mature male's body is black/brown in colour with a yellow stripe running the length of the body. The top of his body is a mustard colour which is followed up through the dorsal fin.

It must be noted that this fish has the capability of changing sex, in an environment devoid of males, a female will switch sex. It's less common for males to switch to female.

Tank compatibility

An aggressive fish, keep this fish in an African Cichlid set up only. Recommend having 1 male to every 3 females.

Diet

Will take most foods including pellet, flake and live/frozen foods. The Auratus will also graze on algae and supplementing their diet with spirulina is beneficial.

Feeding regime

Feed once or twice a day.

Environment Specifics

Prefers rockwork décor with hiding places. Does best in hard alkaline water. Good substrate choices could be Dolomite or crushed coral to aid in buffering the water.

Behaviour

An aggressive and territorial fish.

Identification

See sexing. The fish is fairly elongated with the anal and dorsal fins being fairly rounded, whereas the caudal fin is more triangular.

Pictures

Male Auratus Cichlid

Female Auratus Cichlid

External links

• Fishbase (Mirrors: )

• Fishforums.net
• Badmans Tropical Fish
• Tims Tropicals