View source for Labidochromis caeruleus

{{Short description|Species of fish endemic to part of Lake Malawi}}
{{More citations needed|date=July 2025}}
{{Speciesbox
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 20 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Konings, A. |author2=Kazembe, J. |date=2018 |title=''Labidochromis caeruleus'' |volume=2018 |page=e.T61090A148673526 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T61090A148673526.en |access-date=20 November 2021}}</ref>
| image = Labidochromis caeruleus (male).jpg
| image_caption = The naturally occurring [[Polymorphism (biology)|yellow morph]] of ''L. caeruleus'' is popular with aquarium hobbyists.
| taxon = Labidochromis caeruleus
| authority = [[Geoffrey Fryer|Fryer]], 1956<ref name="OG">Fryer, G. (1956). New species of cichlid fishes from Lake Nyasa. Revue de Zoologie et de Botanique Africaines. 53 (1-2): 81-91.</ref>
}}

'''''Labidochromis caeruleus''''' is a species of [[cichlid]] [[Endemism|endemic]] to the central western [[Littoral zone|coastal region]] of [[Lake Malawi]] in [[East Africa]]. It has many [[common name]]s, such as '''lemon yellow lab''', the '''blue streak hap''', the '''electric yellow''' or '''yellow prince''', depending on the [[colour morph]]. The naturally occurring yellow-coloured variant from [[Lion's Cove]] is one of the most popular cichlids amongst aquarium hobbyists.<ref>Konings A (2001) Malawi Cichlids in their Natural Habitat. Cichlid Press. {{ISBN|0-9668255-3-5}}</ref>

Electric yellows inhabit [[water]] with a [[pH]] between 7.8 and 8.9 and an ideal temperature range of 23–26 [[Celsius|°C]] (73.4–78.8 [[Fahrenheit|°F]]). Large males may reach {{convert|15|cm|in}} in length.

==Description==

[[FishBase]] lists a maximum length of {{Convert|8.1|cm|abbr=out}},<ref name="FishBase">{{cite web |title=Labidochromis caeruleus Fryer, 1956	 Blue streak hap |url=https://www.fishbase.ca/summary/2327 |website=www.fishbase.ca |publisher=FishBase |access-date=1 July 2025}}</ref> although other sources state a larger size of {{Convert|10|to|15|cm|abbr=out}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Electric Yellow – Labidochromis caeruleus |url=https://www.aquariumfishparadise.com.au/electric-yellow-labidochromis-caeruleus/ |website=www.aquariumfishparadise.com.au |publisher=Rob — Aquarium Fish Paradise |access-date=1 July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Electric Yellow Cichlid - Labidochromis caeruleus Fish Profile & Care Guide |url=https://aquadiction.world/species-spotlight/electric-yellow-cichlid/ |website=aquadiction.world |publisher=Aquadiction |access-date=1 July 2025}}</ref>
==Reproduction==
This species, like the ''[[Astatotilapia burtoni]]'', is a maternal [[mouthbrooder]], meaning the eggs are carried, hatch, and develop in the mother's mouth (buccal cavity), for about three weeks. These fish are [[ovophile]]s and the male will excavate a pit in the sand within his territory, in which the female lays the eggs; the female then takes these eggs into her mouth for [[fertilization]].

==Aquarium care==
{{How-to|date=July 2025}}
Electric yellows are peaceful compared to most other African cichlids. Despite this, like all cichlids from Lake Malawi, they are best kept in specialist cichlid aquariums with other [[Mbuna]]. As with most cichlids, electric yellows should not be kept with freshwater community aquarium species such as [[zebra danio|Zebra Danios]] or [[neon tetra|Neon Tetras]], they may nip the finnage of other peaceful species, and are not recommended for freshwater community aquariums because of the differences in the natural habitats between African Lake cichlids and other fish species. This fish is more suited to an African lake cichlid community consisting of other Malawi species. In an aquarium setting, their natural habitat of rocks and caves should be emulated with a sandy substrate. Their diet should consist mostly of prepared cichlid pellets or flakes, supplemented with foods like krill, bloodworms, brineshrimp, and [[Spirulina (dietary supplement)|Spirulina]] flakes. Refrain from feeding these cichlids feeder goldfish, as they are likely carrying diseases that will cause harm to your cichlids.

== See also ==
*[[Mbuna]]
*[[List of freshwater aquarium fish species]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
==Further reading==
*{{Cite web|url=http://theaquarium.club/electric-yellow-cichlid-care-and-breeding/|title=Electric Yellow Cichlid Care and Breeding: the Yellow Lab Profile {{!}} The Aquarium Club|website=theaquarium.club|language=en-US|access-date=2018-06-10}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q258797}}

[[Category:Labidochromis|caeruleus]]
[[Category:Fish described in 1956]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Geoffrey Fryer]]

{{Cichlidae-stub}}
{{Pseudocrenilabrinae-stub}}