Bluegray mbuna

The bluegray mbuna, also sold as the electric blue johanni or black phoenix cichlid, is a colourful rock-dwelling cichlid from Lake Malawi, Africa. The species exhibits striking sexual dimorphism: males develop a deep metallic blue-black body with vivid electric-blue horizontal stripes, while females remain a bright golden-yellow orange with faint darker markings. Adults reach around 10 cm, making them a medium-sized mbuna suitable for dedicated Malawi cichlid setups.

This is an aggressive, highly territorial mbuna that requires ample rockwork with caves and crevices to establish territories and break lines of sight. A harem group of one male with at least three females is recommended — only one male should be kept per tank. Minimum tank size is 120 litres with powerful filtration to handle the heavy bioload. Despite being an mbuna, this species is best maintained in a species-specific setup or with other robust, similarly-sized Malawi cichlids rather than in a general community aquarium. The diet must be herbivore-oriented with high vegetable content and spirulina-based foods — high-protein diets cause potentially fatal Malawi bloat.

Water conditions must be hard and alkaline: pH 7.5-8.6, temperature 24-28°C, with high carbonate hardness replicating the mineral-rich conditions of Lake Malawi. Regular partial water changes of 20-30% weekly are essential for health. The species is a maternal mouthbrooder: the female incubates eggs in her mouth for approximately three weeks before releasing free-swimming fry. Its stunning colouration, active behaviour, and intriguing social structure make the bluegray mbuna a rewarding choice for experienced cichlid keepers ready to meet its specialised water chemistry and dietary requirements.