Auratus Cichlid

About

The Melanochromis auratus, commonly known as the Auratus Cichlid, is a highly aggressive and territorial cichlid native to Lake Malawi in Africa. It is a mbuna, meaning it inhabits rocky areas and feeds primarily on algae and small invertebrates. Males and females display distinct color patterns; males typically have a dark body with light blue to yellow horizontal stripes, while females and juveniles are bright yellow with black or dark blue stripes. Due to their aggressive nature, especially between males, they require large tanks with plenty of rockwork for territories and should be kept with other robust, equally aggressive Lake Malawi cichlids, or in a species-only tank with a specific male-to-female ratio to diffuse aggression.