Chipokae mbuna

Melanochromis chipokae is a large, powerful mbuna from the rocky habitats near Chidunga Rocks in Lake Malawi. Dominant males are dark blue-black with two pale-blue horizontal stripes, while females and subdominant males are bright yellow with black lines. Reaching around 15 cm, it is among the most aggressive Melanochromis and is best kept by experienced aquarists in a large tank of 350 litres or more with extensive rockwork. Maintain one male with several females and only very robust tankmates, avoiding similarly striped species. Water must be hard and alkaline (pH 7.7-8.6) at 24-27C with strong filtration and regular water changes. Its diet is more omnivorous than typical grazers, but keep animal protein moderate and offer plenty of spirulina and vegetable foods to avoid bloat. Maternal mouthbrooder.