Malawi Golden cichlid (Melanochromis auratus)

**Cichlid Man** · 08-31-2005, 04:14 PM

Common names:- auratus, malawi golden cichlid
Latin name:- melanochromis auratus.
Distribution:- Lake malawi, West side.
Habitat:- rocky locations 5-10m down.
size:- 3 inches average, 4 inches dominant males.
tank size:- 20g min, dominant males require 55g.
food:- Flake, frozon, vegtable food essential. A colony made up of females and a dominant male will hunt fish of a similar size to themselves in the wild.
pH:- 7.5-8.5
GH:- to 25
temp:- 21-28 degrees C
Tank compatibility:- Agressive, territorial.
Breeding:- Mouth brooder.

This is one of the most beautiful of all rift vally lake cichlids. They are also a species that has the least variable colour pattern in it's home land compared with other mbuna rock cichlids.
This small to medium cichlid from lake malawi is at home in a tank containing rocks and other mbunas. These fish can be kept with non lake malawi fish provided they are at least twice the size of the auratus, and have no flowing fin extentions.
Dominant males can be a problem and can terrorise all other fish in the tank if not delt with. The best way to keep auratus is to keep a large number of juviniles in a tank with other lake malawi species so they won't be so inclined to be territorial. If kept in this way for a few months, not one but several males can develep territories without having to remove the more dominant males. Under all curcumstances, do not ever place a large adult male in a tank with other cichlids if there are no females in the tank to constantly distract his attention. Over the years the auratus has developd a reputation of being the most aggressive of all cichlids, though the auratus will only act in this manner if he is placed in a tank with unformiliar cichlids, especially central american cichlids. Overall if this cichlid is kept with other african cichlids, they will become one of the most entertaining and bueatiful freshwater fish that you've ever kept.

Female:

Adult dominant males fighting over territory:

Male disguising itself as a female trying to revert the atention of the dominant male in the territory:.

**TheOldSalt** · 09-22-2005, 12:10 PM

*bump*
Looks very good so far.

**TheOldSalt** · 10-28-2005, 03:38 AM

So, this is ready, then?

**Cichlid Man** · 10-29-2005, 01:57 PM

Ditto to pike one.

**TheOldSalt** · 08-15-2006, 04:39 AM

Bumping to current

08-31-2005, 04:14 PM	#1
Cichlid Man Super moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 2,100	Malawi Golden cichlid (Melanochromis auratus) Common names:- auratus, malawi golden cichlid Latin name:- melanochromis auratus. Distribution:- Lake malawi, West side. Habitat:- rocky locations 5-10m down. size:- 3 inches average, 4 inches dominant males. tank size:- 20g min, dominant males require 55g. food:- Flake, frozon, vegtable food essential. A colony made up of females and a dominant male will hunt fish of a similar size to themselves in the wild. pH:- 7.5-8.5 GH:- to 25 temp:- 21-28 degrees C Tank compatibility:- Agressive, territorial. Breeding:- Mouth brooder. This is one of the most beautiful of all rift vally lake cichlids. They are also a species that has the least variable colour pattern in it's home land compared with other mbuna rock cichlids. This small to medium cichlid from lake malawi is at home in a tank containing rocks and other mbunas. These fish can be kept with non lake malawi fish provided they are at least twice the size of the auratus, and have no flowing fin extentions. Dominant males can be a problem and can terrorise all other fish in the tank if not delt with. The best way to keep auratus is to keep a large number of juviniles in a tank with other lake malawi species so they won't be so inclined to be territorial. If kept in this way for a few months, not one but several males can develep territories without having to remove the more dominant males. Under all curcumstances, do not ever place a large adult male in a tank with other cichlids if there are no females in the tank to constantly distract his attention. Over the years the auratus has developd a reputation of being the most aggressive of all cichlids, though the auratus will only act in this manner if he is placed in a tank with unformiliar cichlids, especially central american cichlids. Overall if this cichlid is kept with other african cichlids, they will become one of the most entertaining and bueatiful freshwater fish that you've ever kept. Female: Adult dominant males fighting over territory: Male disguising itself as a female trying to revert the atention of the dominant male in the territory:. __________________ If you have a big enough tank with enough hiding places, pH of around 7, you can keep virtually any fish together as long as all the fish are around the same size and these two groups of fish are avioded: Serrasalmus Tetradon(figure eights and dwarfs are the exception). I keep a successful community of fish in a 4 foot tank including the following families: Cichlids, tetras, loaches, gouramis, barbs, rainbows, livebearers, killiefish, catfish, puffers.

10-29-2005, 01:57 PM	#4
Cichlid Man Super moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 2,100	Ditto to pike one. __________________ If you have a big enough tank with enough hiding places, pH of around 7, you can keep virtually any fish together as long as all the fish are around the same size and these two groups of fish are avioded: Serrasalmus Tetradon(figure eights and dwarfs are the exception). I keep a successful community of fish in a 4 foot tank including the following families: Cichlids, tetras, loaches, gouramis, barbs, rainbows, livebearers, killiefish, catfish, puffers.

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09-22-2005, 12:10 PM	#2
TheOldSalt Darth Ichthyos Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,358	bump Looks very good so far.

10-28-2005, 03:38 AM	#3
TheOldSalt Darth Ichthyos Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,358	So, this is ready, then?

08-15-2006, 04:39 AM	#5
TheOldSalt Darth Ichthyos Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,358	Bumping to current

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