{"product_id":"golden-mbuna-melanochromis-auratus","title":"Golden Mbuna | Melanochromis auratus","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eDon't be fooled by the sunny gold and racing stripes — the Golden Mbuna (Auratus) is one of the feistiest cichlids in the hobby. Reaching around 11 cm, it is a gorgeous, hardy Lake Malawi rock-dweller, but its ferocious temperament means it is strictly for keepers ready to manage real aggression in a large, rocky, alkaline tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eEndemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa, where it lives among the rocky shorelines (the \"mbuna\" habitat), grazing the algae-covered rocks known as the aufwuchs. The lake's water is hard, alkaline and very stable, so replicating those conditions is essential.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA striking colour change with sex. Juveniles and females are golden-yellow with two black-and-white horizontal stripes; dominant males invert this to a dark brown-black body with pale blue-gold stripes. Adults reach roughly 10–13 cm.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eVery aggressive and highly territorial — one of the most belligerent mbuna, capable of harassing fish twice its size. It must be kept in a large tank with abundant rockwork and, ideally, in a group with more females than males to spread aggression. Not a community fish.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA herbivore adapted to grazing algae. Feed a quality spirulina- or vegetable-based flake or pellet as the staple; avoid protein-heavy or meaty foods such as bloodworm, which can cause the serious digestive condition known as Malawi bloat.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eProvide hard, alkaline, well-filtered water with plenty of rock caves and clear territories. Robust filtration and regular water changes handle its heavy grazing appetite and keep nitrate low. Its aggression, not its hardiness, is the real challenge, so plan the tank and stocking carefully.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA maternal mouthbrooder. After spawning, the female carries the fertilised eggs and fry in her mouth for around three weeks, releasing free-swimming young that are already well developed. Males are relentless, so a large tank and multiple females are needed for the female's welfare.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMelanochromis auratus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGolden Mbuna (Auratus Cichlid)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLake Malawi, East Africa\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10–13 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5–10 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eVery aggressive \/ territorial\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e200 litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e250+ litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHerbivore\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24–28 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7.8–8.6 (hard, alkaline)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10–20 dGH (hard)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLarge, rocky Rift Lake (mbuna) aquariums\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNo (grazes and uproots plants)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eOther robust Lake Malawi mbuna of similar temperament in a large, well-decorated tank; keep with plenty of rockwork and more females than males of its own kind.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePeaceful community fish, small or slow species, long-finned fish, and soft-water fish. Avoid keeping multiple males together in anything but a very large tank.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232773259555,"sku":"AA2021-S","price":19.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232773292323,"sku":"AA2021","price":24.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm)","offer_id":55232773325091,"sku":"AA2021-L","price":29.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/golden-mbuna-melanochromis-a-43878713524515.webp?v=1790305552","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/golden-mbuna-melanochromis-auratus","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}