William’s mbuna - Maylandia greshakei
Scientific name: Maylandia greshakei
Common name: William’s mbuna
Family: Cichlidae
Usual size in fish tanks: 12 - 14 cm (4.72 - 5.51 inch)
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Recommended pH range for the species: 6.8 - 7.6
Recommended water hardness (dGH): 7 - 23°N (125 - 410.71ppm)
0°C 32°F30°C 86°F
Recommended temperature: 23 - 26 °C (73.4 - 78.8°F)
The way how these fish reproduce: Spawning
Where the species comes from: Africa
Temperament to its own species: peaceful
Temperament toward other fish species: aggressive to smaller
Usual place in the tank: Bottom levels
Food and feeding
Being a plankton eater in the wild, a vegetable based diet should be offered to this fish. As well as providing a quality flake, provide spirulina flake and Nori to supplement the diet.
Origin
Africa; William’s mbunas are endemic to Lake Malawi.
Sexing
The males will be slightly larger than the females with more intense colouration.
Breeding
It is best to add one male to several females to reduce aggression. When the female spawns, she will scoop up the eggs into her mouth and brood them there for up to 3 weeks. When the fry have been released, they can be fed on newly hatched brine shrimp or crushed flake.
Lifespan
The expected life span for Maylandia greshakei is 5-8 years.
Short description
Try to avoid keeping this fish with other Mbuna of a similar colouration as this can invoke aggression to the other species. Provide plenty of rock work in the tank and regular water changes will be required to keep the fish happy.