Mbuna · Lake Malawi, Mozambique
Red Cheeked Johanni
Melanochromis johannii
Black velvet and electric blue, with a cheek that burns copper.
Display only, not for breeding purposes
This line is kept and sold as display stock only. No breeding pairs, no breeding lines, no breeding rights are sold with any fish on this page.
Display only, not for breeding purposes
A line-bred expression of the classic Johanni that pushes the cheek colour well past the usual faint wash. Males hold a near-black body cut by horizontal bands of electric blue, and the gill plate carries a solid copper-red flare that reads from across the room. Females stay in the familiar golden yellow, which makes a harem group one of the most striking things you can put behind glass.
At a glance
- Typical size
- 4–5 in (10–13 cm)
- Water temp
- 75–79°F / 24–26°C
- pH
- 7.6–8.6
- Hardness
- 10–18 dGH
- Minimum tank
- 55 gal, 75 gal ideal
- Temperament
- Territorial mbuna
- Diet
- Herbivore-leaning omnivore
- Care level
- Intermediate
Size tiers
Pricing is based on size and species. Call Mike for current pricing on the size you want.
Juvenile
1.25–1.75 in — unsexed
Colour still developing · call for price
Sub-adult
2–2.75 in — sexing visible
Best value for a colony · call for price
Young adult
3–3.5 in — showing colour
Cheek flare often emerging · call for price
Alpha male
4 in+ — full display
Limited, ask what's holding · call for price
Availability & pricing
613 331 2847Text or call Mike. Local pickup only in Kingston or Battersea, Ontario — in person, cash or e-transfer.
Text Mike about this fishHabitat features
- Rock-work dominant: stacked rubble and caves with open sand at the front for grazing.
- Sand substrate, never gravel — mbuna sift and graze on the surface film.
- High turnover and strong surface agitation; this is an oxygen-rich, wave-washed zone fish.
- Sight breaks are essential: stack to the waterline so sub-dominant fish can disappear.
Water
- Temperature 75–79°F, stable; avoid swings over 2°F a day.
- pH 7.6–8.6 with a carbonate hardness that keeps it there without chemicals.
- Ammonia and nitrite at zero, nitrate under 20 ppm via weekly water changes.
- Heavy aeration — surface movement matters more than a decorative airstone.
Compatibility
Good tank mates
- ✓Other mbuna of similar size and temperament (Yellow Lab, rusties, acei).
- ✓Small, fast, rock-dwelling Malawi species that stay out of a male's territory.
- ✓A harem structure — one male to three or four females — spreads aggression.
Avoid or use caution
- ✕Peacocks and peaceful haps: a dominant Johanni male will harass them relentlessly.
- ✕Any slender fish small enough to be seen as a threat or a snack.
- ✕Single pairs or two males in a tank under four feet.
Diet
- Spirulina-based pellets or flakes as the staple, two small feedings a day.
- Blanched zucchini, shelled peas, spirulina wafers and Repashy gel for grazing.
- Mysis or brine shrimp once or twice a week only — too much protein causes bloat in mbuna.
- Never feed mammalian fat or heavy meat diets; Malawi mbuna do not process them.
Keeper notes
- Territorial by nature: expect chasing, posturing and the odd lip-lock. It is normal mbuna behaviour, not a defect.
- Re-scape the rock work when adding new fish to reset territories — this is the single best trick we know.
- Males colour up hard when there is competition; a single male in a quiet tank can look surprisingly plain.
See it in person
Every fish can be viewed before you buy. Appointments in Kingston or Battersea.
Reminder: display only, not for breeding purposes.