No matter how easy they are to take care of, they are still Mbunas that need to be in the right environment to stay healthy and happy.īelow we will go over everything you need to provide them with the best possible habitat. Rusty Cichlids are very hardy and known to be one of the least aggressive Mbunas.īut there are still some basic care needs that you should be aware of to ensure they thrive in your aquarium. These fish are also quite susceptible to poor water conditions and lack of oxygenation. As with Lake Malawi Cichlids, the specific disease is Malawi bloat which is majorly caused by stress. There are a few things that can impact their lifespan. In the right conditions, the average Rusty Cichlid Lifespan is between 5 and 8 years in captivity. This lifespan assumes they’re well cared for and not subject to any health problems or diseases. The quality of care they receive will play the biggest role in how fast they grow and how large they ultimately get. You can expect they will reach their sexual maturity at only 1.5 inches in a year.Īgain, like any fish, there will be some variance in size and growth rate. Some aquarists have been able to grow them a bit larger in captivity, up to 4 inches, but those instances are uncommon.ĭespite their small size, Rusty Cichlids have a relatively fast growth rate. The average size is around 3 to 3.5 inches when fully grown.
Rusty Cichlids are considered dwarf Mbuna. In addition, males grow faster and have more pronounced egg spots in the anal fin. While males tend to be larger, have a more intense purple tinge, and develop a more elongated anal fin than females. Both males and females have similar coloration. Sexing Rusty Cichlidscan can be a bit tougher than other fish. But, Labidochromis vellicans have a more pointed head. When young, these fish are easily confused with Labidochromis vellicans. You might notice faint bars on both sides of the body, but these bars only appear on juveniles. The rusty cichlid has the classic torpedo-shaped body. The notable rusty coloring can be found on their faces and gradually blending into lustrous deep lavender bodies.
The common names – rusty cichlid and lavender Mbuna do a great job of describing their appearance. Rusty Cichlid, Lavender Cichlid, or Lavender Mbuna The Mbuna belongs to a small genus Iodotropheus that only has three described species, and Rusty Cichlid is the most widespread in the hobby. Due to the destruction of natural habitats and the impacts of the aquarium trade, it’s currently categorized as “Near Threatened” on the IUCN Red List. This fish was one of the most sought-after Mbunas in the middle of the 1990s. This species was described by Oliver & Loiselle in 1972. The Rusty Cichlid (Iodotropheus sprengerae) is a lovely dwarf Mbuna that comes from Lake Malawi, where it is found in the restricted sediment-free rocky habitat around the islands of Boadzulu, Chinyankwazi, and Chinyamwezi in the south of the lake.īecause of its distinctive coloration, this cichlid is known by common names such as Rusty Cichlid, Lavender Cichlid, or Lavender Mbuna.
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