Elongatus mbuna

The elongatus mbuna is a slender, rock-dwelling cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi, where numerous geographic variants occur along the rocky shoreline. Dominant males show bold blue-and-black barring, while females and subordinate males are duller. Reaching around 10 cm, it is notably aggressive and territorial for its size, so it needs a spacious tank with abundant rockwork forming caves and clear boundaries. Keep it as one male with several females to spread aggression, and avoid mixing with similar-looking mbuna to prevent hybridisation and constant fighting. It requires the hard, alkaline, mineral-rich water typical of the Rift lakes, with strong filtration and good oxygenation. Diet should be primarily vegetable-based, replicating the aufwuchs it grazes in the wild; feed spirulina and algae-based foods and avoid excess protein, which causes bloat. An intermediate mbuna for Malawi enthusiasts.