Top 5 Peaceful Mbunas - African Cichlids for Beginners

Mbunas get a bad rep for being aggressive... because they are!
If you keep them in proper ratios, in a big enough tank with appropriate tank mates, you will be able to build a harmonious aquarium.

If you're interested in Mbunas, this is simply a list of my favourites.
Here are some other videos to help you build a home for them :

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[CadeCoons]

I know this video is 4 years old but it has very valuable information in it. I will say I do have a golden mbuna (auratus) in my tank with other mbunas and while agressive in the beginning if you give them enough time to settle in with other mbunas in a big enough tank with a good amount of hiding places you shouldn’t have any trouble.

[ManpreetSingh-xnnv]

Very informative video. Years of experience packed in a small video...

[zeninsyt]

Glad to see the Rusty cichlids on your list ... they were the first mbuna I kept so many years ago :)

[brett_Thorpe]

Thank you for the great tips on Mbunas. I can hardly wait to get my Cichlid tanks set up this summer. I am very glad I found your channel. Cheers for now. 👍

[samfru]

Hi Richelle, great video! I appreciate your videos especially the ones on Mbuna. My most peaceful Mbuna would be my Pseudotropheus Acei yellow tails. My Yellow labs are pretty chill also. My most aggressive Mbuna so far would be one of my male Rustys. He is territorial and aggressive especially towards the other rustys. I recently added Kenyi, Red Zebra and Cobalt blue so we will see if one of those become the new tank boss.

[mickshaw]

Been watching your videos for a number of years. As always, great content.

[enescakr]

I set up a 1.5 meter aquarium with 40 mbunas with a good filtration and a rock aquascape. I think I achieved the natural environment within the tank thus they are very enjoyable to watch and to keep, I wouldn't choose the word agressive but excited as for their behavior.

[athikerguylife]

Thanks for the great video! Lots of useful information. Getting into cichlid keeping can be kind of daunting with how many species and variations there are out there. This gave me a good starting point for my new tank!

[brianp]

Very beautiful fish Richelle! Love the Mbuna cichlids

[Akbal]

Auratus in Mexico is commonly called/named "Caramelo" in the hobby, wich is hilarious since that means candy, guess sarcasm was in order when locally naming it here....such a "sweet" fish. great video.

[markhunter]

Very informative. So many stunning cichlids 🤓

[Shadow-wnfw]

Hello Richelle, I wish I would have saw this video prior to me getting the Auratus. It has been in the time out tank a number of times. Thanks for the info.

[cat_family]

Yeah agree your work is appreciated great work😃👍

[markcefalu]

Best cichlid channel.. You are so knowledgeable..! Thank you. To bad I live in Arizona, I would love to visit your store, keep up the good work……

[sandymcnair]

I would be interested getting advice on avoiding hybrids during breading. As I understand mbuna are unlikely to cross breed if they are sufficient numbers and look different. I currently have yellow labs and demosoni who pretty much ignore each other and any aggression is usually kept within species. I would like to bring a 3 variant into my tank, do you have any advice... or is 3 species a bad idea. I usually remove holding female to separate holding tank. Main tank is 300l, rocky with fine crushed coral. Thanks.

[bkf]

Awesome information.

I much prefer mbunas to haps.

[mtress]

Thank you so much for the information. What size tank

[isaiahfurrow]

I have had a handful of African Cichlids over the years... I have an empty 90g that I hope to have running soon, and stocked up by the end of summer. This video will he somewhat helpful, as I won't be stocking the more agressive species in the first batch or two as I have mistakenly done before...
My most aggresssive fish have been a large bumblebee, a couple Kenyii, and of course the Auratus that I have had... any Auratus I get in the coming years will either be in a species only tank, or added as small juveniles to a well established community of larger Mbuna. I will definitely let the yellow labs get well established and large before adding any others... likely will do blue ones second, then some others maybe next year... any suggestions on commonly available species that would go good added to a group of yellow labs later? Most of the ones listed here aren't ones I commonly see in my area...

[davidlangston]

I have 75gal that I am setting up to be a cichlids tank and I would really like make it a community tank, this information is very helpful. One question, should I introduce one species at a time? If so, how long can/should I wait between introductions. Guess there is more than one question. Finally, can I have plants in the tank, what kind are best? Thanks again. Most helpful.

[cosmicshy]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge! I've had different fish through the years but have become fascinated with Mbunas. Doing my research before starting a tank for them.