Auratus cichlid
An adult male auratus cichlid An adult female auratus cichlid
Conservation status
Least Concern
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes Family: Cichlidae Genus: Melanochromis Species: M. auratus
Binomial name
Melanochromis auratus (Boulenger, 1897)

The auratus cichlid, Melanochromis auratus, is a freshwater fish of the cichlid family. It is also known as golden mbuna and Malawi golden cichlid. It is endemic to the southern region of Lake Malawi, particularly from Jalo Reef southward along the entire western coast down to Crocodile Rocks. This cichlid is found in rocky habitats and prefers a pH range of 7.0–8.5 and a temperature range of 22–26°C. The conservation status of a species is an indicator of the likelihood of that species continuing to survive either in the present day or the future. ... Image File history File links Status_iucn3. ... Least Concern (LC) is an IUCN category assigned to species or lower taxa which do not qualify for any other category. ... Scientific classification or biological classification is a method by which biologists group and categorize species of organisms. ... Animalia redirects here. ... Typical Classes See below Chordates (phylum Chordata) are a group of animals that includes the vertebrates, together with several closely related invertebrates. ... Orders See text The Actinopterygii are the ray-finned fish. ... Families many, see text The Perciformes, also called the Percomorphi or Acanthopteri, include about 40% of all fish and are the largest order of vertebrates. ... Genera Apistogramma - Dwarf Cichlids Astronotus (Oscars) Boulengerochromis Cichlasoma - American Ciclids Crenicichla Pterophyllum - Freshwater Angelfish Symphysodon - Discus Teleogramma Tilapia Cichlids are a family of perciform fishes. ... Melanochromis is a genus of fish from the family Cichlidae endemic to Lake Malawi. ... In biology, binomial nomenclature is the formal method of naming species. ... George Boulenger. ... For the village on the Isle of Wight, see Freshwater, Isle of Wight. ... A giant grouper at the Georgia Aquarium Fish are aquatic vertebrates that are typically cold-blooded; covered with scales, and equipped with two sets of paired fins and several unpaired fins. ... Genera Apistogramma - Dwarf Cichlids Astronotus (Oscars) Boulengerochromis Cichlasoma - American Ciclids Crenicichla Pterophyllum - Freshwater Angelfish Symphysodon - Discus Teleogramma Tilapia Cichlids are a family of perciform fishes. ... Lake Malawi, also known as Lake Nyasa, Lake Nyassa, or Lake Niassa after the Yao word for lake (officially called Niassa in Mozambique), is the most southerly lake in the Great African Rift Valley system. ... The correct title of this article is . ... Celsius is, or relates to, the Celsius temperature scale (previously known as the centigrade scale). ...

Auratus cichlids are small, elongate fish that can grow up to 11 cm. Juveniles and females are bright yellow with black and white stripes on the upper half of the body. Adult male coloration is drastically different with dark brawn body and gray strips on the upper half of the body. This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ...

Like many other cichlids from Lake Malawi, auratus cichlids are mouthbrooders. Females hold their fertilized eggs and fry, in their mouth for a few weeks before releasing the fry. Lake Malawi, also known as Lake Nyasa, Lake Nyassa, or Lake Niassa after the Yao word for lake (officially called Niassa in Mozambique), is the most southerly lake in the Great African Rift Valley system. ... Mouthbrooders are several species of fish that chactisticly care for their ofspring, either eggs or juveniles, by holding them for extended periods of time in the mouth of one or both parents. ...

Aquarium Care

The auratus cichlid is among one of the most popular mbuna cichlids in the aquarium trade. Juveniles of this fish have a striking coloration and are commonly available in most pet shops. However, auratus cichlids, especially the males, are territorial and highly aggressive, even on the mbuna cichlid standard. In most cases, it is best to keep one adult male with many females. Their tank should be set up with a lot of rocks with caves and hiding places. Auratus cichlids natural food source is algae but those in aquaria will usually take whatever food that is fed to them. Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos displaying behaviour typical of Mbuna. ... Genera Apistogramma - Dwarf Cichlids Astronotus (Oscars) Boulengerochromis Cichlasoma - American Ciclids Crenicichla Pterophyllum - Freshwater Angelfish Symphysodon - Discus Teleogramma Tilapia Cichlids are a family of perciform fishes. ... Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos displaying behaviour typical of Mbuna. ...

See also

• Mbuna
• List of freshwater aquarium fish species

Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos displaying behaviour typical of Mbuna. ... A vast number of species of fish have been successfully kept in the home aquarium. ...

References

• Melanochromis auratus (TSN 169969). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed on December 5, 2006.
• "Melanochromis auratus". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. December 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.