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Bluegray mbuna (Pseudotropheus johannii) — Cichlidae

Bluegray mbuna

Pseudotropheus johannii
Family: Cichlidae
LC · Least Concern

The Bluegray mbuna (Pseudotropheus johannii) is a freshwater fish of the family Cichlidae that grows up to 10 cm.

Length
10 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Herbivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Lake Malawi
Edibility
Not eaten

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Description

Johann's mbuna is a small rock cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. The species grows to about 10 cm and shows strong colour difference: adult males are dark blue with black cross-bars, females and juveniles bright orange-yellow. It lives in the rocky shore zone and grazes the algal growth (aufwuchs) from rocks with its pointed mouth. Like other mbuna it is a mouthbrooder. The fish is harmless to humans, popular in the aquarium trade and assessed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Bluegray mbuna?

The Bluegray mbuna has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly blue and shows a vertical stripes pattern. Strong colour difference between the sexes; aufwuchs grazer; mouthbrooder

Where does the Bluegray mbuna live?

The Bluegray mbuna lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom. Lake Malawi

How big does the Bluegray mbuna get?

The Bluegray mbuna grows to a maximum of about 10 cm.

Is the Bluegray mbuna dangerous to humans?

No, the Bluegray mbuna is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Bluegray mbuna edible?

The Bluegray mbuna is not usually eaten.

More photos

Bluegray mbuna (Pseudotropheus johannii) — Cichlidae — 2
SAIAB (CC BY 4.0) via GBIF — SAIAB
Bluegray mbuna (Pseudotropheus johannii) — Cichlidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Gustavo Azenha Cardoso, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Bluegray mbuna (Pseudotropheus johannii) — Cichlidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Andrew & Elizabeth Nicosia/Gargiulo, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Bluegray mbuna (Pseudotropheus johannii) — Cichlidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Gabriel, some rights reserved (CC BY))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Bluegray mbuna verified
Scientific name
Pseudotropheus johannii
Family
Cichlidae
Other names
Bluegray mbuna; Johanni; Johanni cichlid; Johanni mbuna; Blue mbuna verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
10.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Blue sourced
Pattern
Vertical bars sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Natural range
Lake Malawi verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Herbivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Biofilm layer (aufwuchs) and algae from rocks inferred
Social behaviour
Small groups sourced
Territorial
Yes sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
Yes sourced
Seasonality
Rock-dwelling mbuna; mouthbrooder. sourced
Special features
Strong colour difference between the sexes; aufwuchs grazer; mouthbrooder sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Not a target species for angling; at most an incidental catch or usable as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Pseudotropheus

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