Difficult
Protopterus annectens
24–28°C · pH 6.5–7.5 · 2000L
£62.99
Cobalt-blue Pseudotropheus elongatus mbuna from Lake Malawi. Semi-aggressive 4.5 cm herbivore for hard, alkaline 200 L cichlid tanks.
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.
Pseudotropheus elongatus
Slender Pseudotropheus Cobalt are a shoaling species — they need 6+ to feel safe and show their full colour.
Cobalt-blue Pseudotropheus elongatus mbuna from Lake Malawi. Semi-aggressive 4.5 cm herbivore for hard, alkaline 200 L cichlid tanks.
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
Cobalt by name and by wardrobe, this slender mbuna brings one of Lake Malawi’s signature blues into the aquarium in a conveniently small package. Pseudotropheus elongatus cobalt tops out around 4.5cm yet carries itself like a far bigger cichlid — active, full of personality and semi-aggressive in the classic mbuna mould, holding its patch in the middle of the tank with real conviction.
Mbuna keeping has its own rulebook and this strain follows it faithfully. Water must be hard and alkaline — pH 7.5–8.5 and 10–30 dGH — held at a tight 24–26°C. Despite the fish’s small size, we list 200 litres as the minimum: in Malawi tanks, aggression is managed through space and structure, never wishful thinking. Feeding is straightforward, since the strain is herbivorous. Build the community from other Lake Malawi mbuna of similar size and temperament, or robust African cichlids that tolerate hard, alkaline water and an energetic crowd. Leave out small peaceful fish, slow movers, anything long-finned, shrimp and other small invertebrates, and any overbearing cichlid likely to dominate or injure a 4.5cm fish.
Feeding a herbivore inside a busy cichlid community takes a little intent: food must arrive where a 4.5cm mid-water territory-holder can claim its share before faster mouths intervene. The tight 24–26°C band is equally deliberate — Malawi tanks reward stability over range — and with hardness tolerated all the way to 30 dGH, hard British tap water stops being a problem and starts being an asset. Expect roughly eight years of life and a sharper territorial edge whenever breeding begins.
Decide the full mbuna line-up before any fish goes in — Malawi communities settle best when assembled around compatible temperaments from the start, so check each candidate against the guidance above. Done well, the result is a tank alive with movement and that unmistakable flash of cobalt. Pseudotropheus elongatus cobalt is couriered UK-wide by licensed live-animal courier with our live arrival guarantee.
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