Melanochromis Auratus

Melanochromis auratus or Auratus cichlid is also known as the 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. Auratus Cichlid are hardy, but they aren’t recommended for most beginners in the aquarium hobby. This is mainly because of their aggressive characteristic, which can make it difficult to properly care for them. Tank setups and tank mates must be selected with careful consideration. Their aggression may escalate suddenly during mating season as well. This may result in attacks among tank mates that were previously peaceful. These situations may be difficult to manage for an inexperienced fishkeeper. If their aggression can be managed however, these are interesting fish to keep.