🐟 Yellow Lab Cichlid (Labidochromis caeruleus)
🐟 Yellow Lab Cichlid (Labidochromis caeruleus)
The Sunshine of Lake Malawi • Bright Lemon-Yellow Mbuna • The Friendliest Malawi Cichlid
📋 The Yellow Lab Cichlid, also called the Electric Yellow, is one of the most popular African cichlids in the world, and it's easy to see why. Its bright lemon-yellow body and black-edged fins light up a Malawi aquarium, and it's one of the most peaceful of the Mbuna, which makes it a wonderful first African cichlid. In the wild the species is a pale blue-white, and the glowing yellow form is a prized colour variant that became an aquarium favourite.
Yellow Labs stay compact at about 8-10cm and live 6-10 years. They're hardy and easy to feed, and they thrive in hard, alkaline water with plenty of rockwork. A group of one male with three or more females keeps things settled, and they pair well with other peaceful Mbuna and calmer Peacocks. They're maternal mouthbrooders and breed readily in the home aquarium.
💡 Highlights
💛 Brilliant Lemon-Yellow Colour: With black-edged fins
🕊️ Peaceful for an Mbuna: A great first African cichlid
📏 Compact: About 8-10cm
🪨 Hardy and Easy: Thrives with rockwork and hard, alkaline water
🐣 Maternal Mouthbrooder: Breeds readily in captivity
🧾 A Quick Look at the Yellow Lab Cichlid
📛 Common Name: Yellow Lab Cichlid (Electric Yellow Cichlid, Lemon Drop Cichlid)
🔬 Scientific Name: Labidochromis caeruleus
👨👩👧 Family: Cichlidae (Mbuna)
🌍 Origin: Lake Malawi, Africa
📏 Max Size: About 8-10cm (3-4")
🧂 Water Type: Freshwater, hard and alkaline
💧 pH Range: 7.6-8.6
🌡️ Temperature Range: 24-28°C (75-82°F)
🧠 Care Level: Easy
💖 Temperament: Peaceful for an Mbuna; territorial and lively
🏠 Min Tank Size: 114 L+ (30 gallons); about 200 L (55 gallons) for a group
📌 Tank Level: Middle to bottom
🧬 Stock Type: Captive-bred
⏳ Lifespan: About 6-10 years
🍽️ Diet: Omnivore; mostly plant-based, with occasional protein
🐣 Reproduction: Maternal mouthbrooder
