Electric yellow cichlid care guide
Also called: Yellow lab, Yellow lab cichlid, Electric yellow lab, Lemon yellow lab, Yellow prince, Blue streak hap
The electric yellow cichlid, or yellow lab, is a lemon-yellow mbuna from Lake Malawi and one of the calmest African cichlids. Keep one male with three or more females in hard, alkaline water in a 4 ft (120 cm), 55-gallon (208 L) rock tank.
Electric yellow cichlids need a tank of at least 55 gallons (208 L), a group of 4 or more, and water at 24–27°C (75–81°F) with a pH of 7.5–8.5. They grow to about 10 cm (3.9 in) and are semi-aggressive.
Plan a tank with electric yellow cichlidsSee all tank mates
Electric yellow cichlid quick facts
| Scientific name | Labidochromis caeruleus |
|---|---|
| Family | Cichlidae |
| Origin | Northwest coast of Lake Malawi, East Africa (aquarium fish are captive-bred) |
| Adult size | 10 cm (3.9 in) |
| Minimum tank | 55 gallons (208 L), at least 120 cm (47 in) long |
| Temperature | 24–27°C (75–81°F) |
| pH | 7.5–8.5 |
| Hardness (GH) | 10–20 dGH |
| Group size | 4 or more (1 male, the rest females) |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive; males fight each other |
| Swims at | Middle |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Care level | Easy |
| Lifespan | 6–10 years |
| Safe with shrimp? | No, eats shrimp |
| Safe with plants? | Mostly (nibbles soft plants) |
- Known jumper: keep a tight-fitting lid.
Tank setup
One male and three or more females need at least a 55-gallon (208 L) tank about 4 ft (120 cm) long. Stack rocks into caves and crevices over sand, and leave some open swimming space. Set rocks on the bottom glass so digging can't topple them, and use a tight lid.
How many electric yellow cichlids in a tank?
The smallest common tank that suits electric yellow cichlids is a 55 gallon. Here is roughly how many fit in each size when they are the only fish, based on adult size and waste output. Leave room if you want tank mates.
| Tank | Electric yellow cichlids (alone) |
|---|---|
| 3 gallon | Too small |
| 5 gallon | Too small |
| 10 gallon | Too small |
| 15 gallon | Too small |
| 20 gallon | Too small |
| 20 gallon long | Too small |
| 29 gallon | Too small |
| 40 gallon | Too small |
| 55 gallon | 4–12 |
| 75 gallon | 4–17 |
| 125 gallon | 4–28 |
Numbers are bioload limits only. Males fight, so keep a group of 4 or more with more females than males.
What you need for electric yellow cichlids
Sized for a 55 gallon tank, the smallest common size that suits a group of 4 electric yellow cichlids. For a different tank or a mix of fish, use the stocking calculator for a list sized to your plan.
Tank and equipment
- 55 gallon aquarium (tank or kit) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Bigger tanks are more stable and easier for beginners. How to choose
- Aquarium stand for 55 gallons (opens Amazon in a new tab)The water alone weighs about 459 lb (208 kg), before glass, gravel and rock. How to choose
- 2 adjustable heaters, 100 W each (opens Amazon in a new tab)Holds about 78 °F (25.5 °C) in a room at 65 °F (18 °C). Two heaters keep the tank warm if one fails. How to choose
- Aquarium thermometer (opens Amazon in a new tab)Check it daily: heaters can fail stuck on or off. How to choose
- Canister filter rated 330–550 GPH (opens Amazon in a new tab)Heavily stocked or messy fish: 6–10 times the tank volume per hour. How to choose
- About 50 lb of aragonite sand (opens Amazon in a new tab)Enough for a layer about 1.5 in (4 cm) deep. Aragonite helps keep the water hard and alkaline for rift lake cichlids. How to choose
- Water conditioner (dechlorinator) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water. Seachem Prime is a popular, concentrated choice. How to choose
- Liquid test kit (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Liquid kits are more accurate than strips. The API Freshwater Master Test Kit is the common choice. How to choose
- Gravel vacuum (siphon) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Cleans the gravel and does the water change in one go. How to choose
- LED aquarium light, about 48 in long (opens Amazon in a new tab)Match the light to the tank length. Basic LEDs grow easy plants. How to choose
Food and extras for electric yellow cichlids
- Rocks for caves (holey or lace rock) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Rift lake cichlids need piles of rock to claim territories and break lines of sight.
- Spirulina cichlid pellets (opens Amazon in a new tab)Plant-rich food for algae-grazing Malawi cichlids. Avoid high-protein foods for them.
- Tight-fitting lid for a 55 gallon tank (opens Amazon in a new tab)Electric yellow cichlid can jump out of an open tank.
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Water parameters
Keep it at 24–27°C (75–81°F), pH 7.5–8.5 and hard water (10–20 dGH). Crushed coral or aragonite sand helps hold the pH up. Mbuna tanks are usually stocked heavily, so use strong filtration and change 30–50% of the water weekly.
Best tank mates for electric yellow cichlids
These popular species share electric yellow cichlids' water needs and temperament. See the full list of 1 good matches.
Avoid keeping electric yellow cichlids with
- Angelfish: Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Angelfish don't belong in that setup.
- Betta fish: Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Bettas don't belong in that setup.
- Bronze corydoras: Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Bronze corydoras don't belong in that setup.
- Cherry shrimp: Electric yellow cichlid eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.
- Common goldfish: They need different temperatures: Electric yellow cichlid 24–27°C (75–81°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
- Dwarf gourami: Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Dwarf gouramis don't belong in that setup.
Feeding
An omnivore that picks small invertebrates and algae off rocks. Feed a quality cichlid flake or small pellet with spirulina as the staple, plus vegetables like blanched spinach. Offer mysis or brine shrimp now and then. Feed small amounts and avoid rich foods like beef heart.
Behavior
Yellow labs are among the most peaceful mbuna, but they are still cichlids. Males chase each other and wear out a lone female, so keep several females per male. They mix well with other mild mbuna, peacocks and calm haps. They are too rough for a regular community tank and will eat shrimp and small snails.
Breeding
A maternal mouthbrooder that breeds readily in a harem of one male and three or more females. The female holds a small brood of up to about 30 eggs and fry in her mouth for three to four weeks and usually stops eating. Moving a holding female to a quiet tank improves fry survival.
Tips from experienced keepers
- Keep one male with at least three females, or a larger group. Never keep just a pair.
- Black on the fins hints at a male, but it isn't reliable. Buy 5–6 young fish and sort them later.
- Don't mix with other Labidochromis species, as they can crossbreed.
- Use crushed coral or aragonite to keep pH stable above 7.5.
- Feed lightly. Too much protein-rich food is a common cause of bloat in mbuna.
Frequently asked questions
How many yellow labs should be kept together?
Keep at least one male with three females, or a larger group in a big tank. A lone pair usually means the male harasses the female nonstop.
Are yellow lab cichlids aggressive?
They are mild for mbuna and rarely bully other species. Males still fight each other and get pushy when breeding, so they are too rough for a peaceful community tank.
Can yellow labs live with peacock cichlids?
Yes. Yellow labs are one of the few mbuna that usually mix well with peacocks, as long as the tank is large and has plenty of rockwork.
Sources
We checked these references when writing this page. Values are for healthy long-term keeping, not survival limits. Last reviewed 2026-10-13. See our editorial policy.