Moderate
Red Top Likoma Afra Cichlid (Cynotilapia afra Red top Likoma)
24–28°C · pH 7.5–8.5 · 150L
£14.99
A colourful and active Lake Malawi mbuna. Available now with live arrival guarantee and fast UK delivery.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.
Cynotilapia afra Lions Cowe Sanga
Save when buying multiple fish. Each quantity is one fish; sex and pair formation are not guaranteed unless the selected variant explicitly states them.
A colourful and active Lake Malawi mbuna. Available now with live arrival guarantee and fast UK delivery.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.
Cichlids are one of the most diverse fish families in the hobby. From tiny apistogrammas to massive oscars, this guide covers the basics of keeping them well.
Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors
Cynotilapia afra is a striking rock-dwelling mbuna from Lake Malawi, and the 'Lions Cove' (Sanga) is one of its many beautiful regional forms, prized for the electric blue and black barring of dominant males. Bold, colourful and endlessly active, it is a centrepiece for a dedicated Malawi rockscape. Like all mbuna it is territorial and best kept by aquarists ready to manage African-cichlid aggression through correct stocking. Supplied in strong condition, it brings the vivid colour and personality that make Malawi cichlids so addictive.
Adults reach around 10 cm. Dominant males show intense sky-blue bodies crossed by dark vertical bars, with egg-spots on the anal fin, while females and subdominant males are typically a plainer blue-grey or brown, which is normal for a mouthbrooding mbuna. Colour and barring intensify with status and mood, so the display male in a group will always be the most vivid. The species differs from the superficially similar Pseudotropheus in its single row of conical teeth, a clue to its plankton-and-graze feeding.
Build the aquarium around rock. A tank of 150 litres or more, aquascaped with secure stacks of stone forming caves and territorial boundaries over a sandy base, is the foundation for keeping the peace. Hard, alkaline water is essential, so aim for pH 7.5 to 8.5, 10-20 dGH and 24-28°C to mirror the mineral-rich conditions of Lake Malawi. Robust filtration and disciplined water changes handle the heavy bioload these active grazers create. Rockwork should sit on the glass base, not on the substrate, so digging cichlids cannot undermine it.
This is a genuinely aggressive, territorial mbuna. Overstock the rockwork deliberately to spread aggression, keep one male with several females, and never mix it with docile community fish. Its largely herbivorous gut is also prone to 'Malawi bloat' if fed too much protein, so keep the diet vegetable-based.
Males hold and defend territories among the rocks, displaying to females and sparring with rivals, and a crowded, well-structured mbuna tank actually reduces bloodshed by diffusing any single fish's aggression. Keep a harem of one male to three or four females, and stock alongside other robust Malawi mbuna of similar temperament. Weaker or slower fish will be bullied relentlessly, so every tank mate must be able to hold its own.
| Great tank mates | Best avoided |
|---|---|
| Other Lake Malawi mbuna of similar size and vigour | Peaceful community fish |
| Metriaclima and Maylandia species | Long-finned or slow species |
| Labidochromis such as the yellow lab | Soft-water tetras and barbs |
| Robust Synodontis catfish | Tanganyikan shell-dwellers |
| Malawi aufwuchs grazers | Small shrimp and invertebrates |
Feed as the grazing herbivore it largely is, using a quality spirulina or vegetable-based cichlid flake or pellet as the staple, supplemented sparingly with the odd frozen treat. Avoid rich, protein-heavy foods and live blackworm, which trigger the digestive bloat mbuna are prone to. Offer small portions once or twice a day and keep water pristine, as these fish are as sensitive to poor water quality as they are to poor diet.
Cynotilapia afra is a maternal mouthbrooder and will spawn readily in a settled harem. The female collects the fertilised eggs into her mouth and incubates them for roughly three weeks without eating, sheltering among the rocks, before releasing fully formed fry. To raise a brood, a female can be moved to a separate tank before release, or fry given dense rockwork to hide in. Mouthbrooding makes for a fascinating and productive breeding project in a species tank.
Stock the rockscape harder than instinct suggests and keep males outnumbered by females. An mbuna tank is calmest when no single fish can monopolise territory or a mate.
Every Cynotilapia afra 'Lions Cove' is hand-selected and quarantined before sale, then packed in oxygenated bags with insulation and heat packs when needed and sent by tracked, live-animal courier. Your order is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee, so it reaches you safely anywhere in the UK.
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