Metriaclima mbenji
STAUFFER, BOWERS, KELLOGG & McKAYE, 1997

	Photo © Michael Persson
Metriaclima mbenji, marmelade cat male from Mbenji.

Size
The male could reach a maximum length of 12-13 cm (about 5 in.), females usually a bit smaller.

Food
Shrimp mix and spirulinaflakes, it is a greedy cichlid like mbunas in common.

Aquarium
At least 300 litres (65 gal.), arranged with plenty of caves for the females to hide in.

Habitat
Found at steep shorelines where the rocks meets the sand floor.
In this habitat it is a lot of algae and invertebrate animals for the M. mbenji to feed on.

Breeding
Easy to spawn like most mbunas.

General
There is a unusual high proportion of M/C (marmalade cats) males and O/B (orange blotch) females within this species. The normal colouration for the male is blue body with a orange/red dorsal fin.
It could be very difficult to determinate the sex of this cichlid. Many times I have suddenly discovered that my presumed males have been brooding. This is one of the most beautiful cichlid from the Lake Malawi, I would recommend everyone to try it.

Distribution
Metriaclima mbenji is found around Mbenji Island in the southwest part of the lake.

	Photo © Michael Persson
Metriaclima mbenji O/B female.

	Photo © Michael Persson
Metriaclima mbenji, a nice coloured fry (M/C male).