{"product_id":"albino-golden-mbuna-melanochromis-auratus","title":"Albino Golden Mbuna | Melanochromis auratus","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Golden Mbuna, or Auratus, is a striking Lake Malawi rock-dweller — and one of the most aggressive of all the mbuna. The albino strain keeps all the cream-and-gold colour and every bit of the cheek. Reaching around 11–13 cm, it is a bold, endlessly active cichlid best kept by aquarists who understand and plan for serious mbuna aggression.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eMelanochromis auratus lives among the rocky shorelines of Lake Malawi in East Africa, a vast, hard, alkaline rift lake. It grazes the algae film (aufwuchs) on the rocks and defends a territory fiercely. Plenty of rockwork, caves and hard, alkaline water are essential to recreate its home.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe albino form shows a soft cream to golden body crossed by pale, muted stripes and pinkish eyes, in place of the wild fish's bold black-and-gold banding. Dominant males and females can look quite different, and colour intensifies with maturity, mood and good diet.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eBe candid about this one: the Auratus is exceptionally aggressive and territorial, among the fiercest mbuna in the hobby. Males are relentless towards their own kind and towards similar-looking fish, and even females can be pushy. It needs a large tank, plenty of rock, and robust mbuna tank mates that are not too similar in shape or colour. It is not a community fish and not suited to beginners keeping a peaceful tank.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrimarily a herbivore that grazes algae in the wild. Feed a spirulina- and vegetable-based diet — quality cichlid flake or pellets formulated for herbivorous mbuna, plus blanched greens. Avoid excess protein and rich meaty foods, which can cause the digestive disorder known as Malawi bloat.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eProvide a minimum of around 200 L, with larger and longer better to spread aggression. Keep the temperature at 24–28 °C, pH 7.8–8.6 and hardness hard and alkaline, as befits a rift-lake fish. Build plenty of stable rockwork with caves and bolt-holes, and keep stocking numbers high enough to diffuse bullying. Filtration and water quality must be excellent.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA maternal mouthbrooder that breeds readily. The female holds the eggs and then the fry in her mouth for around three weeks before releasing them. Aggression peaks around spawning, so watch that sub-dominant fish are not harassed to death, and remove holding females to a separate tank if you wish to raise the fry.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003ctable\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMelanochromis auratus (albino strain)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAlbino Golden Mbuna (Auratus)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLake Malawi, East Africa (captive-bred)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 11–13 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5–10 years with good care\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eVery aggressive and territorial\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntermediate to advanced (aggression management)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e200 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e250 L or larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHerbivore: spirulina\/vegetable-based flake and pellets, blanched greens\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24–28 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7.8–8.6\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHard, around 10–20 dGH (Rift Lake)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLarge, robust Malawi mbuna aquariums\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNo (grazes and uproots plants)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003c\/table\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eSuitable tank mates include other robust Lake Malawi mbuna of dissimilar shape and colour, such as species of Pseudotropheus, Labidochromis, Metriaclima and Cynotilapia, kept in a large, well-structured tank.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with peaceful community fish, slow or long-finned fish, small tetras and barbs, and similar-looking mbuna that will trigger relentless aggression. Avoid soft, acidic water.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232774177059,"sku":"AA2397-S","price":24.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232774209827,"sku":"AA2397","price":29.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm)","offer_id":55232774242595,"sku":"AA2397-L","price":34.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/albino-golden-mbuna-melanoch-43878941163811.webp?v=1790305549","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/albino-golden-mbuna-melanochromis-auratus","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}