Melanochromis auratus
BOULENGER, 1897

	Photo © Michael Persson
Melanochromis auratus male.

Trade names and synonyms
Auratus, Golden auratus.

Size
Maximum around 10-13 cm (4-5 in.), females usually a few centimeters smaller.

Food
Shrimpmix.

Aquarium
300 litres (65 gal.) and above.

Habitat
Rocky shorelines at a depth between 0 och 40 metres (0-130 ft.). It is a very common cichlid in this habitat.

Breeding
This is a modest mbuna which is easy to spawn.

General
Melanochromis auratus could be very aggressive towards other cichlids with stripes along the body, and it should not be kept together with other cichlids from the genus Melanochromis.

Distribution
Found between Jalo Reef and Crocodile Rock at the west coast, all around the south part of the lake (however is it missing around Chinyankwasi, Chinyamwesi and Zimbawe Rock), and at the east coast as far as Nkhomo Reef in north.

	Photo © Michael Persson
Melanochromis auratus at Thumbi West Island, Malawi.