Mylochromis labidodon

Where they come from

Mylochromis labidodon is a sand-dwelling hap from Lake Malawi in East Africa. You mostly find them cruising over open sandy flats with patches of plants, picking at tiny critters and sifting mouthfuls of sand. Males set up little display spots on the sand and flash those fins to passing females.

Setting up their tank

Think open beach with a few landmarks. They spend a lot of time sifting, so give them a big footprint and a wide swath of fine sand. Add a couple rock piles for line-of-sight breaks and, if you like plants, tall grasses like Vallisneria along the back and sides.

• Tank size: 75+ gallons for one male with 3-4 females. Bigger is smoother for behavior.
• Substrate: fine sand (0.5-1 mm). Skip gravel. They take mouthfuls and spit it out all day.
• Water: hard and alkaline - pH 7.8-8.4, KH 8-12 dKH, GH 6-12 dGH, temp 75-80 F (24-27 C).
• Filtration: strong and oxygen-rich. Aim for 5-8x turnover and lots of surface agitation.
• Aquascape: open sand in the middle, a couple rock piles at the ends, tall plants if you want.
• Lid: tight-fitting. They are quick and can jump during spats.

What to feed them

They are sand sifters that eat small invertebrates in the lake. In the tank they do well on a varied, meaty diet, but go easy on rich, fatty foods. Overdoing it is how you end up with Malawi bloat.

• Daily base: quality cichlid pellets for carnivores/omnivores (medium size).
• Frozen foods a few times a week: mysis, brine shrimp, daphnia, chopped krill.
• Treats, not staples: bloodworms (sparingly), blackworms (clean source only).
• A little roughage: spirulina flakes or algae wafers once or twice a week.
• Feeding rhythm: 2 small meals per day, what they finish in 30-60 seconds. A light fasting day once a week keeps them trim.

How they behave and who they get along with

Generally laid-back for a Malawi cichlid, but the male will protect his patch of sand, especially in breeding mode. They cruise mid-bottom, sift sand, and do quick dashes if another male looks too bold.

• Good tankmates: peaceful haps (e.g., Placidochromis), most Aulonocara (peacocks), Synodontis catfish, rainbowfish as dithers.
• Use caution: mbuna. Many are too pushy and will harass them unless the tank is big and stocked carefully.
• Avoid: other Mylochromis that look similar (hybrid risk) and very aggressive haps.
• Stocking tip: one male with several females spreads attention; keep only one male unless you have a very large tank with multiple territories.

Breeding tips

They are maternal mouthbrooders. A ready male will clean a patch of sand and shimmy like a show-off. The female lays, scoops the eggs, and he fertilizes them as she circles.

• Ratio: 1 male to 3-4 females keeps the peace.
• Setup: big open sand area for the male's display. Keep the current gentle over that zone.
• Incubation: roughly 18-24 days. A holding female will lay low and skip meals.
• Options: let her hold in the main tank (add hiding) or move her to a quiet maternity tank.
• Stripping: if you strip, do it around day 12-16 and use an egg tumbler if they are not yet free-swimming.
• Fry food: freshly hatched baby brine shrimp, crushed flake, and powdered fry food. Small, frequent feeds and very clean water.

Common problems to watch for

• Malawi bloat: swollen belly, stringy white poop, hiding. Usually from stress plus rich foods. Fix the diet, raise oxygen, big water changes, and act fast.
• Aggression spikes: too many males, similar-looking species, or cramped layouts. Reset territories and add cover.
• Poor color and skittish behavior: low minerals or fluctuating pH. Stabilize KH and keep nitrates low.
• Mouth injuries: sharp gravel can scrape while they sift. Switch to fine sand.
• Plant uprooting: they dig. Use heavy root tabs and plant in clusters or pots.
• Jumping: secure all gaps around lids and filter cutouts.