Electric Yellow Lab Cichlid
Common Names: Yellow Lab, electric yellow lab, Canary Cichlid, Lemon Drop
Scientific Name: Labidochromis caeruleus
Maximum Size: 5 inches
Life expectancy: 10 years
Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 82 °F
pH Range: 7.8 - 8.5
Water hardness: dH 10 - 15
Temperament: Semi-Aggressive
Origin: Lake Malawi
Aquarium Setup:
Yellow labs will claim their own territories and fight to protect it. Longer tanks are more suitable than tall ones, as this will provide more space for territories.
Having a lot of rock formations and caves in the tank so each fish can claim their own area will help in preventing fights. It will also provide hiding places for fish that feel threatened.
The aquarium should have a sandy bottom as these Cichlids love to dig. They will also dig up plants and eat most types of live plants that you add to the tank. Water quality is very important to keep this species healthy, it should be kept clean and clear.
Diet:
Electric Yellow Cichlids are very omnivorous, but will eat almost any fish food. Insect larvae and crustaceans are widely used, but their diet should also include vegetable matter. Peas and cucumbers are a favorite with most Electric’s.
Tank Mates/Community:
Other semi-aggressive African Cichlids and African Catfish.
Behavior:
These Cichlids are normally very shy and peaceful in comparison to many other African Cichlids. However, they will show aggressiveness when they think their food or mates are threatened.
Color:
These Cichlids are characterized by their bright, canary yellow color. The dorsal fins have black stripes, but some of the other fins may also have some black. The black colors usually won’t develop until an Electric Yellow is mature.
Breeding:
The male Electric Yellow gets physically rough when showing affection towards the female! Having a ratio of 2 - 3 females for each male will help prevent one female from literally getting beaten to death!
They are mouth brooders that spawn on rocks. The female carries the eggs in her mouth and once hatched she will continue to carry the young fry in her mouth for anywhere from 25 - 30 days.
Even after the fry are mature enough to release into the tank, the female will grab them back into her mouth if she thinks they’re in danger! Each spawning will usually produce around 15 fry.
The best way to protect the young fry from being eaten is to place them into a separate tank. Young fry can have the same diet as mature Electric Yellow’s, but it must be mashed into smaller pieces.
