Labidochromis yellow: features, content and compatibility with other fish

Many aquarists would like to decorate their tank with an inhabitant like labidochromis yellow. This colorful fish will become a real accent among all your pets. However, before starting her, you should familiarize yourself with the characteristics of her body, the habitat that is familiar to her. It is also important to take into account the compatibility of these individuals with other types of fish, the rules for their maintenance and the nuances of reproduction. All these aspects will be discussed in detail in this article.

Labidochromis ellou, also called hummingbirds, belongs to the order of cichlids and the cichlid family. This fish is distinguished by its bright yellow color, which occupies almost all of its body. The length of the body in aquarium individuals is 8 cm, while in the natural environment it can reach 10 cm. The body is elongated in shape, and the silhouette of the dorsal fin is pointed. This part of the fish's body also includes a dark stripe along its entire length, the intensity of the color of which varies between fish of different sexes. Subject to the necessary conditions, such fish can live up to 10 years, but on average, their life length is 7–8 years.

A typical habitat for labidochromis ellou is Lake Malawi in Africa. They inhabit the coastal zones of the western part of this reservoir, which is located along the rocky coastlines. Wild individuals live not very far from the surface of the water - at a distance of 10 to 50 m.It is noteworthy that among them a rather small number has exactly yellow color, the main colors are blue or white. These fish live in pairs or singly. Labidochromis refers to a type of cichlid like mbuna, the name of which translates as "attacking rocks." These fish feed on plants growing on rocks near rocky shores. Despite their close habitat to the surface, in nature, these species are difficult to observe, because they like to hide between stones, in small caves and cracks in rocks.

To distinguish a male lobidochromis yellow from a female, you need to pay attention to the peculiarities of the color of the individuals. Males are characterized by a brighter yellow color, as well as a stripe on the dorsal fin, painted more saturated black than females. The same intense tone is characteristic of the male's pelvic and anal fins. Moreover, in females, these two fins are colored yellow.

The male is also distinguished by the presence of dark spots in the area between the eyes or near the mouth. The transition from the dorsal to the head in females is smoother, while in males the angle of this transition is usually quite steep, and may even form a depression closer to the mouth. Size is also a criterion for sex differences in these fish. Males are larger than females.

Belonging to the class of cichlids, these fish are distinguished by their peaceful character, with the exception of the spawning periods, when lobidochromis yellow can show aggression. The best neighbors in a shared aquarium will be other species of African cichlids, which are similar in size to lobidochromis. These fish include the following:

• blue dolphin;
• lamprologus;
• pseudotrophyus Aki;
• ancistrus;
• aulonocar;
• corridor;
• cynotylapia afra;
• thoracatum.

The difference in habitat is reflected in both food requirements and the conditions of keeping these fish. Avoid settling other yellow individuals to lobidochromis, as hummingbirds can show aggression, mistaking these creatures for males of their own species. The fish neighbors should not have such qualities as slowness, predatory habits, and also too small in size. Examples of unsuccessful options include the following fish:

• tetra;
• gold fish;
• zebrafish;
• neon;
• parrot fish;
• astronomer.

When planning the maintenance of fish species such as lobidochromis ellou, it is worth paying attention to the following nuances regarding the maintenance and care of the aquarium:

• the temperature of the water in the tank can vary from +24 to +28 degrees Celsius;
• acidity indicators should be in the range from 7.2 to 8.8, while hardness is 10–20 dH units;
• 100 liters - the minimum volume of the tank, suitable for accommodating no more than 4 fish; ideally, if the capacity is 200-300 liters, which allows you to have a larger number of individuals of hummingbird labidochromis and more fully discloses their lifestyle and habits for observation;
• the decor in the tank should correspond to the environment inherent in the natural habitat of these fish, stones and grottoes, recreating the landscapes of gorges will not be superfluous details; for the beauty of the situation in the aquarium, you can add grape or mangrove driftwood there, even such a decorative element as a coconut shell is allowed;
• from plants for decorating an aquarium with these yellow fish, the most suitable will be Anubias, as well as Cryptocorynes, because these representatives of the flora are unpretentious, besides, the fish will not touch them; Please note that plants must have a developed root system and root reliably in the soil, since lobidochromis yellow can dig up the soil near the plants;
• it is better to choose river sand, coral or marble chips, as well as shell rock as a soil for these individuals;
• It is best to add new water in small portions to help your fish cope well with the change of water in the tank.

Yellow lobidochromis are classified as omnivores. They are not picky about food and eat any kind of food, both dry or frozen, and live. If you want the live feeding, which can be used as a tubifex, bloodworms, not to harm the pets, it is worth serving them not in too large quantities (due to their rich protein content), and also having pretreated with a few drops of iodinol. Homemade frozen food is also a good option. Plant-based foods are also beneficial. Of these, you should pay attention to spinach, lettuce, granules containing spirulina. The first two products must be scalded before feeding.

When choosing dry food, give preference to those options that have sealed packaging and an actual expiration date. And also read the reviews before buying. There are such types of food that are created specifically for fish at different periods of their development, and are additionally enriched with a vitamin complex. The main thing is that the diet of lobidochromis yellow is not monotonous. Feed the fish several times a day in small portions and remove food debris from the reservoir in a timely manner. In addition to the above options, other products on the menu of this type may be the following:

• mussels;
• duckweed;
• Cyclops;
• cereals;
• shrimps;
• carrots, peas, previously peeled;
• minced meat;
• brine shrimp;
• daphnia.

The process of breeding yellow lobidochromis is not very difficult and can take place in an aquarium even without human intervention. This is due to the fact that the survival rate of the fry is very high. However, it is possible, as an option, to transplant the male and female into a special tank for spawning, where the newborn fish will subsequently be. To stimulate the beginning of the spawning period itself, the temperature in the container should be increased by several degrees. When the male and female form a pair (which, by the way, is usually quite stable), they will create a depression in the ground, into which they will subsequently lay eggs.

Further, the incubation period begins, during which the female places eggs in the oral cavity and bears them there for about three weeks. After this period, fry are born. During the first week, the female actively takes care of her offspring, but later the young fish become left on their own. It is important for the breeder to take care of the appropriate feeding of juveniles. Their diet may include components such as cyclops, live dust, brine shrimp, as well as food for adult fish in a crushed state.

To make the life of lobidochromis hummingbirds as comfortable as possible, it is important not only to comply with the conditions of detention, but also to know in advance about the diseases of this fish and their possible causes. It is worth considering the ailments that may appear in these yellow individuals.

• Bloating in Malawi is one of the most serious medical conditions requiring urgent treatment. It can be caused by factors such as improper nutrition or neighborhood, as well as inadequacy of conditions in the aquarium with the required parameters. The cure for this disease is usually strong antibiotics.
• Tuberculosis can develop in these inhabitants of the aquarium if an already infected individual is added to them. To prevent this serious illness from spreading, isolate sick fish in a separate container and add vitamin B6 to the water as a solution.
• If the fish begin to lose coordination and mobility, it is possible that poisoning has occurred with toxic substances such as chlorine or ammonia. To prevent this from happening, keep an eye on the filtration and air conditioning system of the aquarium, do not treat plants and decor with chemicals.
• The inhabitants of the aquarium can get injured due to conflicts with each other or if the decorative elements have too complex shapes or sharp edges. Provided that the fish's immunity is functioning normally, such ailments pass naturally.
• Fin rot disease is dangerous. First, the fin processes become covered with a bloom of white, as well as red stripes, which leads to the destruction of the fins.

For breeding, spawning and keeping Labidochromis Yellow in an aquarium, see the next video.