Useful Cichlid Index For Bringing More Tankmates: How To Breed Melanochromis Joanjohnsonae

Melanochromis joanjohnsonae

Melanochromis joanjohnsonae male pictured.

Common Names: Commonly seen as Melanochromis exasperatus and sometimes called Labidochromis joanjohnsonae or Labidochromis exasperatus.
Location collected from: Likoma Island specifically Makulawe Point.
Approximate Size: 3.5 – 4 inches
Food: Not picky. Will eat flake, brine shrimp, daphnia, mosquito larvae, pellets, and will even occasionally pick at algae in the aquarium.
Water Conditions: Prefers a pH between 7.5 and 8.5 with a temperature between 76 and 82 degrees.
Breeding Behavior: Mouthbrooder. Males get very aggressive while defending their territory. Females need a lot of rocks to hide in. My females would hide until it was feeding time. I got between 30 and 35 fry per spawn from my 3-inch females. Like most Malawi Cichlids, several females for each male is recommended.
Tankmates: Should do well with other Mbuna, Utaka, and some Victorians. I had no problems keeping them in with Placidochromis electra, Psuedotropheus lombardoi, Psuedotropheus OB zebra, Psuedotropheus elongatus “Yellow Tail Avanti”, Protomelas fenestratus, Labidochromis caeruleus, Labidochromis sp. Hongi, Nimbochromis venustus, Dimidochromis compressiceps, and Aulonocara jacobfreibergi. I have seen them kept with Aristochromis christi, Iodotropheus sprengerae “Rusty’s”, and Psueodotropheus zebras without problems.

Further Reading