Yellow lab
Labidochromis caeruleus
A lemon-yellow mbuna that is one of the calmest cichlids in Lake Malawi and the usual first choice for a Malawi tank.
Key facts
- Body length
- 3.2 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 64 gallons
- Group
- 3+
- Temperament
- Semi-aggressive
- Care level
- 1 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Cichlid pellets with spirulina, frozen mysis and brine shrimp
- Origin
- Lake Malawi, East Africa
- Hardier than80%
- Bigger than54%
- Calmer than28%
Water: their range vs yours
Yellow lab tank mates
- Panda corydorasGets along in shared water.Good mates
- OtocinclusGets along in shared water.Good mates
- BettaGets along in shared water.Good mates
- AngelfishGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black widow tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Blood parrot cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Common plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- DiscusGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Dwarf gouramiGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Honey gouramiGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Kuhli loachGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Leopard sailfin plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Neon tetraYellow lab attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Neon tetra.Risky
- Harlequin rasboraYellow lab attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Harlequin rasbora.Risky
- Fancy guppyYellow lab attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Fancy guppy.Risky
- Tiger barbYellow lab attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Tiger barb.Risky
- Black neon tetraYellow lab attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Black neon tetra.Risky
- Bristlenose plecoTwo territorial bottom-dwellers: need ≥ 7200 cm² of floor, tank has 5612 cm².Risky
- Cherry shrimpYellow lab eats dwarf shrimp: Cherry shrimp (PROP: насекомоядная мбуна).Avoid
- Amano shrimpYellow lab eats dwarf shrimp: Amano shrimp (PROP: насекомоядная мбуна).Avoid
- Blue dolphin cichlidBlue dolphin cichlid can eat Yellow lab: prey body depth 1.8 cm ≤ mouth 6.3 cm.Avoid
- Iridescent sharkIridescent shark can eat Yellow lab: prey body depth 1.8 cm ≤ mouth 32.5 cm.Avoid
- OscarOscar can eat Yellow lab: prey body depth 1.8 cm ≤ mouth 12.3 cm.Avoid
- SeverumSeverum can eat Yellow lab: prey body depth 1.8 cm ≤ mouth 5.0 cm.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for yellow labs: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 8.1 cm (SL)
- Adult mass
- 14.66 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 5.76 BU
- Min. water
- 205 L net
- Min. footprint
- 120 × 45 cm per group
- Group
- 3+ (best 9)
- Swims in
- bottom, middle
- Flow
- moderate
- Body / fins
- fusiform, normal fins
- Diet type
- omnivore
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- —
Sources: Practical Fishkeeping: Yellow lab · FishBase: Labidochromis caeruleus
Care notes
Yellow labs are small mbuna, around 3 inches, that pick insects and other invertebrates off the rocks. Males spar with each other, but they are gentle by mbuna standards.
Keep at least two females per male in a 4-foot tank of 55 gallons with hard, alkaline water and plenty of rockwork. Shrimp and small snails will be eaten, so they do not belong in a shrimp tank.
Questions
What size tank does a yellow lab need?
At least 64 gallons (205 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 3.2 inches without fins.
How many yellow labs should be kept together?
Keep at least 3, ideally 9 or more: fewer feel exposed and hide or turn nippy.
What water do yellow labs need?
73–79 °F, pH 7.8–8.5 and 10–25 dGH. Yellow labs come from Lake Malawi, East Africa.
How long do yellow labs live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with yellow labs?
Good tank mates include Panda corydoras, Otocinclus, Betta, Angelfish and Black widow tetra. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.