Electric Blue Johanni Cichlid (Pseudotropheus johannii)

The Electric Blue Johanni Cichlid (Pseudotropheus johannii) is a vivid Lake Malawi mbuna with electric blue and black horizontal banding that practically glows under aquarium lighting. Males defend small territories and color up year-round; females typically stay yellow or orange. Care level is intermediate, temperament is aggressive — this is a true mbuna best kept in an overstocked, rock-heavy African cichlid community where aggression gets diffused.

Pair with our other freshwater livestock and the right water chemistry from Fritz Rift Lake Cichlid Buffer + Fritz Rift Lake Cichlid Salt.

Care Guide

• Tank size: 55 gallons minimum, 75+ gallons strongly recommended for a stable mbuna community. Larger footprints reduce aggression.
• Overstocking strategy: Mbuna do best in heavy stocking density — it spreads aggression instead of letting one fish hammer a single target. Plan rockwork to break sightlines.
• Aquascape: Lots of rockwork (Texas holey rock, lava rock, slate) with cave structures from substrate to surface. Sandy substrate. Live plants are usually torn up — java fern and anubias on rock work best.
• Filtration: Strong — mbuna are messy and need pristine water. Aim for 6–10x turnover per hour with mechanical + bio filtration.
• Water chemistry: Rift Lake conditions — high pH (7.8–8.6), high hardness (10–25 dGH), and stable alkalinity. Use a dedicated rift lake buffer.
• Diet: Omnivore leaning herbivore. Spirulina-based pellets, vegetable matter, occasional protein. Never feed bloodworms or beef heart — mbuna are prone to Malawi Bloat from protein-heavy diets.

Specifications

Compatibility

Great with: Other Lake Malawi mbuna of similar size and temperament — yellow labs (Labidochromis caeruleus), rusties (Iodotropheus sprengerae), cobalt blues, demasoni, and other Pseudotropheus / Metriaclima species. Plecos and synodontis catfish work as bottom-dwelling tankmates.

Avoid: Peaceful community fish (tetras, livebearers, gouramis), South American cichlids (different water chemistry and aggression style), Lake Tanganyika species mixed in the same tank, anything with long or trailing fins.

Recommended Foods & Supplies

• Hikari Cichlid Gold Pellets — staple cichlid food
• Fritz Rift Lake Cichlid Buffer — raises pH and KH for African setups
• Fritz Rift Lake Cichlid Probiotic Salt — trace minerals + GH booster
• Hikari Texas Holey Rock — ready-made cave structure
• Water testing kits — rift lake parameters demand regular checks

FAQ

Are males and females both blue? No — this is one of the dichromatic mbuna. Males are the vivid electric blue with black banding shown here; females stay yellow or orange. Don't be alarmed when females arrive looking nothing like their male counterparts.

How many should I keep? If you want both sexes, keep one male with 2–4 females to spread breeding stress. Multiple males in the same tank usually leads to dominant-fish lockdowns unless the tank is very large (75+ gallons) and overstocked.

Why does my mbuna's stomach swell up? Likely Malawi Bloat — a fatal protein-overfeeding condition. Stick to spirulina-based pellets and vegetable matter. No bloodworms, no beef heart.

Can I keep mbuna with peacocks? Generally not recommended at the same aggression level. Peacocks (Aulonocara) are more relaxed and get bullied. Yellow labs and rusties are the gentler mbuna that mix best with peacocks if you're set on a mixed tank.