🐡 Auratus Cichlid Melanochromis auratus

The Auratus Cichlid (Melanochromis auratus) is a moderate-care, aggressive species from Lake Malawi. Adults reach roughly 4.5", so plan on a minimum tank of 40 gallons. Keep the water between 76–82°F with a pH of 7.6–8.8. It does not school and can be kept singly or in species-appropriate numbers. As an omnivore, it does best on a varied diet appropriate to its feeding style.

At a glance

Good tankmates for Auratus Cichlid

This species is best kept in a species-only setup.

Avoid these tankmates

Neon TetraCardinal TetraRummynose TetraSerpae TetraGuppyEndler's LivebearerPlatyGerman Blue RamOscarZebra DanioHarlequin RasboraChili RasboraCherry BarbWhite Cloud MinnowBronze CoryPanda CoryOtocinclusCherry ShrimpAmano ShrimpNerite SnailMystery SnailMarble HatchetfishEmber TetraBlack Neon TetraLemon TetraGlowlight TetraBloodfin TetraDiamond TetraEmperor TetraSilver Tip TetraX-Ray TetraGreen Neon TetraCelestial Pearl DanioLambchop RasboraPearl DanioGlowlight DanioGold BarbCheckerboard BarbFive-Banded BarbNeon Dwarf RainbowfishThreadfin RainbowfishHoney GouramiSparkling GouramiChocolate GouramiJack DempseyTexas CichlidFrontosaMultifasciatusPygmy CoryJulii CoryHillstream LoachChinese Algae EaterDwarf PufferfishBlack Ghost KnifefishRopefishSenegal BichirLeast KillifishCommon GoldfishFancy GoldfishRosy Red MinnowGhost ShrimpCrystal Red ShrimpAssassin SnailRamshorn SnailMalaysian Trumpet SnailGold TetraPenguin TetraFlame TetraGalaxy RasboraPhoenix RasboraEmerald Eye RasboraAxelrod's RasboraLeopard DanioGold Ring DanioRuby BarbMelon BarbForktail Blue-eyeLicorice GouramiCroaking GouramiPeaceful BettaStrawberry BettaGolden RamBanjar Red CichlidMidas CichlidFlowerhornYellow Dwarf CichlidHongsloi CichlidVenustus CichlidLivingstonii CichlidShell-DwellerAlbino CoryThree-Striped CoryAdolfo's CoryHabrosus CoryZebra OtoDwarf Chain LoachBlue Dream ShrimpYellow ShrimpBlack Diamond ShrimpBumblebee ShrimpRed Claw CrabLyretail KillifishClown KillifishHigh-Fin PlatyAmerican Flagfish

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