Bumblebee cichlid care
Pseudotropheus crabro · Caves and boulders of Lake Malawi, Africa
The bumblebee cichlid is a yellow-and-black barred mbuna from the caves and boulders of Lake Malawi, and one of the rougher ones.
- Tank size
- 75 US gal or larger
- Temperature
- 76 to 82 °F (24 to 28 °C)
- Group size
- 4 or more
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Adult size
- 6.3 in (standard length, without the tail)
- pH
- 7.5 to 8.5
- Hardness (GH)
- 10 to 20 dGH
- Lifespan
- 8 to 10 years
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Care level
- Moderate
In a 75 gallon
48½ × 18½ × 21⅛ in outsideHow to keep bumblebee cichlids
The bumblebee cichlid is a yellow-and-black barred mbuna from the caves and boulders of Lake Malawi, and one of the rougher ones. Keep one male with several females in a 75 gallon or larger tank of hard, alkaline water at 76 to 82 °F, with rock caves to break up sight lines, and only other mbuna. In the lake it cleans fish lice off a large catfish, the kampango, and it can change color fast.
Diet: Omnivore: cichlid pellets with spirulina, frozen brine shrimp. Fish food types compared · how often to feed.
Where they swim: Middle of the tank.
Bumblebee cichlid tank mates
Share the temperature and water, and neither side eats, nips or bullies the other. Check the full group in the stocking checker.
Every likely tankmate in our list comes with a caution for bumblebee cichlids. These can share a large tank if you watch them closely:
Peacock cichlid: Bumblebee cichlids are aggressive and may fight with peacock cichlids.
Red zebra cichlid: Bumblebee cichlids and red zebra cichlids are both aggressive and may fight.
Kenyi cichlid: Bumblebee cichlids and kenyi cichlids are both aggressive and may fight.
Demasoni cichlid: Bumblebee cichlids and demasoni cichlids are both aggressive and may fight.
Saulosi cichlid: Bumblebee cichlids are aggressive and may fight with saulosi cichlids.
Yellow lab cichlid: Bumblebee cichlids are aggressive and may fight with yellow lab cichlids.
Acei cichlid: Bumblebee cichlids are aggressive and may fight with acei cichlids.
Electric blue hap: Bumblebee cichlids are aggressive and may fight with electric blue haps.
Keep apart
Neon tetra: Bumblebee cichlids are aggressive towards peaceful fish such as neon tetras.
Cardinal tetra: Bumblebee cichlids are aggressive towards peaceful fish such as cardinal tetras.
Black neon tetra: Bumblebee cichlids are aggressive towards peaceful fish such as black neon tetras.
Green neon tetra: Bumblebee cichlids are aggressive towards peaceful fish such as green neon tetras.
Ember tetra: Bumblebee cichlids are aggressive towards peaceful fish such as ember tetras.
Glowlight tetra: Bumblebee cichlids are aggressive towards peaceful fish such as glowlight tetras.
What a bumblebee cichlid tank needs
A tank of 75 US gallons or more (such as the 75 gallon) with a cover, and the equipment below.
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Aqueon QuietFlow Canister Filter 300
Rated by the maker for 55–75 US gal, which covers a 75 gallon bumblebee cichlid tank without being built for a far bigger one.
Marineland Penguin PRO 375
Rated by the maker for up to 75 US gal, which covers a 75 gallon bumblebee cichlid tank without being built for a far bigger one.
Aqueon Pro 200
Bumblebee cichlids need 76 to 82 °F; most homes run cooler, so a heater holds the temperature.
API Freshwater Master Test Kit
Tests ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH, the readings that matter most before and after adding bumblebee cichlids.
Seachem Prime 100 mL
Removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water at every water change.
Fluval Edge Thermometer
Shows the water temperature at a glance, so you know it stays within 76 to 82 °F.
More choices, each with the reason it is in or out: Filters for a 75 gallon tank · Heaters for a 75 gallon tank. We don’t list fish food: any good brand of the foods under Diet will do. Plan the whole tank's equipment →
Common bumblebee cichlid problems
- The bright yellow fish in the shop darkens as it matures, the males most.
- Males fight: keep one male per tank, with several females.
- Malawi bloat follows rich, meaty food; feed a pellet with spirulina.
Test the water first whenever fish look unwell: see what your readings mean, then match the symptom. For disease, a vet who treats fish can diagnose it and advise treatment.
More to compare
Sources
Name, origin and adult size checked against Wikipedia: Pseudotropheus crabro. Temperature, pH, hardness, group size, lifespan and minimum tank size are common hobby guidance, not figures from that article. Ranges are the range the species tolerates; aim for the middle. Minimum tank sizes are for an adult group. Drawings are our own; photo credits follow.
Photo credits
Real photographs from Wikimedia Commons, resized and cropped to fit; each is used under the license named.
- Bumblebee cichlid Nicolas COUTHOUIS, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Peacock cichlid Xav84800, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Red zebra cichlid Maha Dinesh, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Kenyi cichlid Ged (Wikimedia Commons), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Demasoni cichlid lee Nachtigal, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Saulosi cichlid Gerard Delany, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Yellow lab cichlid Julian Matz, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Acei cichlid Toby Hudson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Electric blue hap The Evil Spartan, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Neon tetra Holger Krisp, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Cardinal tetra CHUCAO, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Black neon tetra Debivort, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Green neon tetra Sascha Biedermann, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Ember tetra Klaus Rudloff, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Glowlight tetra gonzalovalenzuela; cropped by Kyknos, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Blue dolphin cichlid Brian Gratwicke, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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