Blue Mbuna

White spot Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Fin Rot (early stage). Bacterial diseases

Trypanosoma Infection. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Cryptobia Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Fin-rot Disease (late stage). Bacterial diseases

Bacterial Infections (general). Bacterial diseases

Female takes brood into her mouth and takes care of the young.

Feeds on aufwuchs and blue-green algae (Ref. 4364); also feeds on worms, crustacean, insects and plant matter (Ref. 2325).

Is territorial over rocky substrate (Ref. 6307). Usually feeds alone, or in small groups with other species, on the Aufwuchs cover on rocks in shallow water (Ref. 6307). Occasionally, however, members band and form feeding schools of several hundred fish which raid the rich algal gardens of other species. Also feeds on worms, crustaceans, insects and plant matter (Ref. 7020).

fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial

The blue mbuna (Labeotropheus fuelleborni) is a species of cichlid found in Lake Malawi where it inhabits areas with rocky substrates. This species can reach a length of 30 centimetres (12 in) SL. This species is important to local commercial fisheries as well as being found in the aquarium trade. Some of its mottled forms are sometimes known as marmalade cat.

The specific name honours the German parasitologist and military physician Friedrich Fülleborn (1866-1933).