Aurora Cichlid

Scientific Name(s): Maylandia aurora
Synonyms: Pseudotropheus aurora, Metriaclima aurora
Common Name(s): aurora cichlid
Origin: Lake Malawi, southern shores of Likoma Island
Family: Cichlidae
Order:
Species Type: mbuna, cichlid
Maximum Size: males to 4 inches/10 cm, females slightly smaller
Life Span: 10 years or more
Natural Habitat: Along the rock and sand interface of the littoral zone
Diet: Omnivores.
Temperature: 75-79 F/24 -26 C
PH: 7.5-8.5
Minimum Tank Size: minimum of 29 for a male and 3-4 females. Larger tanks allow for landscaping for more hiding spots and for the inclusion of more tankmates to disperse aggression.
Tank Region: bottom and middle
Temperament: Should be maintained with a 1:4 or 2:7 ratio of males to females. Aggressive species.
Possible Tank Mates: Other Lake Malawi mbuna, catfish of the genus Synodontis
Filtration and Setup: No special filtration needs. Hard water with an alkaline pH a must for wild caught specimens. Tank-bred individuals are more tolerant of lower pH, but still should not be kept in low pH or soft water. The tank should be aquascaped with a large number of rocks to allow for multiple hiding spots for non-dominant individuals. Only hardy plants should be used, as this mbuna is an avid digger and will uproot plants and tear apart pants.

Coloration: Males are blue with yellow throat, operculum, belly, dorsal fin and pelvic fins. Males may or may not exhibit darker blue bands along the body. The caudal fin may or may not exhibit yellow as well. Females are drab and range from tan to bluish gray, banded with no yellow coloration.
Breeding: Maternal mouthbrooder.
Comments: Maylandia aurora has the largest eye of any mbuna in relation to the length of its head. This species is often confused with Metriaclima hajomaylandi. Me. hajomaylandi has a smaller eye and a smaller eye to head-length ratio and dominant males often exhibit yellow between the eyes, which may extend upward above the eyes to the dorsal fin; Ma. Aurora males do not have yellow between the eyes or the top of the head.