Snow White Cichlid 5cm

Snow White Cichlid

The Snow White Cichlid is an underrated and beautifully coloured cichlid with its unique creamy white look, these are also easy-to-care-for species that will be a fantastic addition to a Mbuna-dominated aquarium or even a species-only, colony system. These stunning fish originally come from Lake Malawi however the Snow White Cichlid is a captive-made colour strain which means these fish are well suited to captivity. These fish only reach around 10 cm as an adult these fish make for a great entry-level African Cichlids because they can be kept in smaller aquariums.

The colouration that this species has is something that you don’t see that commonly in aquarium fish. The body colour is a very light white shade from head to tail with other hues coming through. Because these cichlids were mostly derived from Red Zebra Mbuna, they do show flecks of orange through the scales and an overall shade under the pinkish-white body. For some additional contrast, the fins of these fish are a stunning metallic blue colour which really does give these fish an icy look. As these fish have been developed to sport the white colours in captivity, they are incredibly well-suited to aquarium conditions whilst also maintaining the wild rock-dwelling behaviours.

Breeding these fish is relatively easy as males can be easily differentiated from females. Male fish will be slender in body shape with an abundance of egg spots on the ventral fin whereas females will sport a rounder body. These Mbuna are mouth brooders meaning the female lays eggs which she will then scoop up in her mouth, these eggs then get fertilised by the male. As long as a small colony is kept with a few caves hiding places, these fish will breed.

Tank Recommendations for your Snow White Cichlid

As the Snow White Cichlid only reaches around 10 cm, an adult pair of these fish can easily be kept in a tank of around 120 litres. They will however thrive in larger aquariums when kept in a colony of 6 or more. Since these cichlids spend a lot of time near the bottom of the aquarium it is best to ensure there is a decent footprint.

Snow White Cichlids can be territorial, especially during breeding time however their aggression is quite minimal compared to other African Cichlids. They should be provided with a plentiful supply of caves for security and just to diffuse the minimal aggression. These are also  tropical fish that are best kept at 24-26 degrees with a pH of 7.0-8.5

Suitable Tank Buddies

The Snow White Cichlid can be kept with a range of other Mbuna species and relatively peaceful African Cichlids. Since these fish require a higher pH of around 8 the tank mates chosen should be adaptable to this.

Usually Compatible

Yellow lab cichlids, red zebra cichlids, Malawi peacocks, and smaller-sized hap cichlids.

Sometimes Compatible

Frontosa, larger Haps like Malawi Trout, and other large, semi-aggressive fish.

Rarely Compatible

Aggressive African Cichlid species like Fuscodichromis and Polystigma. South American Cichlids should also be avoided.

Feeding your Snow White Cichlid

Snow White Cichlids will take to aquarium foods very easily. They will take a wide range of pellets, flakes, and frozen foods. Giving them a varied diet ensures that they have optimal nutrition however protein foods should be avoided due to the risk of bloat. The ideal diet would be a good quality, small, and slow food, supplemented with green matter like algae flakes or sheets.