MELANOCHROMIS AURATUS



MELANOCHROMIS AURATUS (Five months old)

MELANOCHROMIS AURATUS (Three months old) This is the photo of a 5 month old Melanochromis auratus born in my tank. What you see is the female coloration which the fish will keep till the age of 6 months. When adult males are present in the tank, young males will keep the female coloration much longer as a "camouflage" which will protect them from their father. A really beautiful species which is among the few giving females with more intense colors than males.  The species grows to 12 cm (even more in an aquarium) and is regarded among the most aggressive mbunas. It should be housed with species of equal or bigger size and of the same t ...

Continue to read all article at : http://www.malawicichlidhomepage.com/aquarium/mbuna_auratus.html