Acei cichlid

The acei is an unusually peaceable mbuna from Lake Malawi, distinctive for living over open sandy zones scattered with sunken logs rather than the rocky reefs most mbuna claim. Reaching around 12 to 15 cm, it wears a deep blue-purple body offset by yellow fins (the popular Msuli/yellow-tail form). Less territorial than typical mbuna, it does best in a loose group of five or more and mixes well in a robust Malawi community; still keep it in a spacious tank with rockwork and open swimming room. Water must be hard and alkaline, pH 7.8 to 8.6, at 24 to 27 C, with strong filtration and good oxygenation. It is a specialized aufwuchs grazer, so feed a vegetable-based diet of spirulina flake and pellets; avoid protein-rich foods that cause bloat. Robust, colorful, and beginner-friendly among rift cichlids.