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Electric Yellow Cichlid

Lemon Drop ~ Yellow Lab

Family: CichlidaeLabidochromis caeruleusPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough

   The bold striking colors of the Electric Yellow Cichlid have certainly helped it earn its name!

   This fish is usually seen in its golden phase, thus its common names: Electric Yellow Cichlid or Labido, Lemon drop Cichlid, and Yellow Lab. There are other color variations, especially blue, that are also occasionally available.

   One of the mbuna group, the small rock dwelling cichlids, the Electric Yellow Cichlid are found only in the Nkata Bay of Lake Malawi. This fish is most comfortable in an aquarium with lots of rocks and caves that provide hiding places for it to dart in and out of. If you provide plants they will not burrow or in any other way disturb them. This is also one of the most peaceful fishes of mbuna species. They can live singly or in pairs and are not territorial!

For more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Freshwater Aquarium

Geographic Distribution Labidochromis caeruleus Data provided by FishBase.org Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes Family: Cichlidae

Distribution:    The Electric Yellow Cichlid or Labido, also known as the Lemon Drop Cichlid or Yellow Lab, were described by Fryer in 1956. They are found in Lake Malawi, Africa where they inhabit the rocky coastlines.

Status:    The species is listed on the IUCN Red List, but with the status of 'LC', meaning 'Least Concern'.

Description:   The body of the Electric Yellow Cichlid is stocky and rather elongated. It is usually seen in its golden phase with a black edge on its dorsal and anal fins, though it will often not show this vivid black striping until it is mature. There are other color variations, especially blue, that are occasionally available.

Size - Weight:    These fish get up to 8 inches (20 cm).

Care and feeding:    Since they are omnivorous, the Electric Yellow Cichlid will generally eat all kinds of live, fresh, and flake foods. To keep a good balance give them a high quality flake food or pellet everyday. Feed brine shrimp (either live or frozen) or blood worms as a treat.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom:    These fish will swim in all areas of the aquarium.

Acceptable Water Conditions:    Hardness: 10-20° dGH
   Ph: 7.2 to 8.8
   Temp: 75-79° F 24-28° C

Social Behaviors:    They are not a territorial fish. They are among the most peaceful fish found on Lake Malawi. These fish can live singly or in pairs. They are an ovophile mouth brooder with a matriarch family. They don't burrow or disturb plants.

Sexual Differences:    The male is more colorful at breeding time. They will develop a bluish color and are larger than the female.

Breeding/Reproduction:    The Electric Yellow Cichlid or Lemon Drop Cichlid are egg layers, form matriarchal families, and are ovophile mouth brooders.
   According to a report by SCHEUERMANN (1974) in Das Aquarium 8, 439-441: the young leave the mouth of the mother after 40 days at 23-24° C (73-75° F) or after 25 days at 27-28° C (81-82° F). The mother continues to care for the young for about a week after they leave her mouth.

See the description of how these fish breed in Breeding Freshwater Fish.

Availability:    The Electric Yellow Cichlid, also called the Lemon Drop Cichlid or Yellow Lab, is readily available. They usually cost between $6.00 - $12.00 USD each.

Author: David Brough. CFS.

• Electric Yellow : $8.49
• Electric Yellow : $27.99

Electric Yellow Labidochromis Offered By: PetsMart Price: $8.49

Electric Yellow Cichlid 3.5 4 Length Offered By: PetCo Price: $27.99

Lastest Comments on Electric Yellow Cichlid View all 84 comments on Electric Yellow Cichlid Add Your Comment

ザフラ エリック ヴァン - 2012-01-16 Hi, I recently got addicted to this hobby. I have 3 yellow labs in my tank about 3 inches in size with haps, peacocks and a few pseudotropheus. I was surprised however to see one yellow lab carrying eggs in her mouth the other night. Would it hurt just to leave her in the tank or should I isolate her before the eggs hatch? Thanks! Click For Replies (2) Charlie Roche - 2012-01-17 Yes, you should remove her to another tank ASAP. This is an article I found on mouth brooding cichlids that I thought you might be interested in Mouth Breeding Cichlids and I thought it looked good. ザフラ エリック ヴァン - 2012-01-19 Thanks for the info and nice read! I still have much to learn in this hobby. >* ))))>< Reply

kari - 2012-01-03 I have a 46 gallon bowfront tank with 5 yellow lab cichlids and last night I found 2 fry how many will they have at one time and will I find more? I read that I should have at least 6 cichlids in my tank should I get a couple more or is 5 safe for the size of tank I have? Click For Replies (2) Charlie Roche - 2012-01-03 The Electric yellow cichlid is a mouth breeder and they will a when they are younger and inexperienced usually have between 1 and 3 dozen fry - that number goes up as they gain experience. You don't need a 6th as they will live singly or in pairs. You don't NEED 6 but many enjoy them all in pairs. Robert - 2012-01-05 Actually the Lemon Yellow shouldn't be put in with your mollys as mollys are a community fish and the lemon yellow is an aggressive fish. I'm surprised he didn't kill it competely.They should be put with other ciclids Reply

chris - 2011-07-21 Actually,my electric yellow isn't as calm as I had expected. It killed off all of my fish except for a molly and some neons. The molly that survived was actually pretty a aggressive molly and at the time I found it fighting with my electric yellow, and yes I mean a molly fighting with a cichlid. The electric yellow beat up the molly. The electric yellow bit off the mollys tail and fins, and to this day the poor molly has no left "arm fin". I had to put the electric yellow with my lone male plakat betta in another 10g fishtank to save what was left of my community tank. When I put the yellow in the betta picked on it at fist, but a day later after it claimed its territory I found the betta between 2 of my plants in its 10g fishtank with barely any fins so I take the betta out and put it in what's left of the community and it heals up. 1 month later I try the combination again to see that the electric grew 1cm and was about as big the plakat from head to toe. I see the electric spinning around the poor betta but the betta couldn't catch it. 3 minutes later the betta is beat up in the corner of the tank.i take the electric yellow out of my betta tank and put it in with my other mbunas and everythings good. imo electic yellows should just be kept with other mbunas and not community fish Click For Replies (3) Philip - 2011-10-15 Neons and mollys are community fish and will only rarely survive with cichlids. Cichlids are, by comparison, aggressive and will harass/ stress/kill most community fish. Electric yellow are reasonably calm when kept with other cichlids. Jog - 2011-10-17 Did you not do some research before letting off the bull in the china glass market ? Even the most novice fishkeeper does some research before introducing any new fish in the tank. ! doug - 2011-12-20 Why would you put a cichlid with mollies ... And then put it in a betta tank. Betas are never suppose to be with any other fish.I have a cichlid tank with other Cichlids In it and these fish are amazing. Their also a great fish fish to have if you bright fish but don't want a saltwater tank. Reply

Jamie - 2011-10-20 Ok I have an electric yellow a common orange, a bumble bee and a red jewel. We now have babies, for the life of me I can't figure out who the breeders are. Any ideas? Click For Replies (2) Charlie Roche - 2011-10-21 Beats me but possibly you will be able to tell when they achieve full coloring. Why worry - they obviously figured out what to do. Just enjoy. Sandy - 2011-11-15 I had one Kenyl that mated with an Electric Yellow cichlid and had babies. I thought that was bizarre. Sandy Reply

carl - 2011-11-10 Hi I have a 2 yellow labs, last week I watched them breeding, she had the eggs in her mouth for 2 days, the next morning her eggs were gone mouth empty, they then breed again later that day and had eggs again in her mouth, following day eggs went again, this morning had eggs again in her mouth, just looked tonight and her mouth seems empty again, why is this and what's happening to her eggs? thanks Reply

Jay Trebilcock - 2011-08-30 Anyone know what a typical brood size is? And can these guys mate with the common orange African cichlids you see for sale in the chain pet stores all the time? I think its a orange chromatid maybe? Click For Replies (3) Toby Jungle - 2011-08-30 I can't seem to find out what the brood size is. Most information comes back and says health, size etc of female. Yes they do cross breed. Jay Trebilcock - 2011-08-30 thanks Toby, very helpful info! Toby Jungle - 2011-08-31 Found out - the average brood size for the electric yellow is 10. Reply

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