Yellow Tail Acei

• ExerciseHigh

  A busy, energetic swimmer — keep plenty of open swimming room.

• GroomingAttentive tank care

  Sensitive to water quality — stay on top of testing and maintenance.

• Living spaceNano-tank friendly

  Happy in a small, stable, well-filtered tank.

• Owner experienceFor experienced owners

  Rewards owners who know the ropes.

• Commitment7–10 years

  Plan for a long, loving relationship.

Health to watch: Bloat (GDV) · Ich (white spot) · Fin rot

The Yellow Tail Acei (Pseudotropheus sp. Acei, from the Ngara and Itungi populations of Lake Malawi) grows to about 12 to 15 cm. Its colouring is simple and striking: a matte purple-blue body with yellow dorsal, tail and pelvic fins. It is one of the few mbuna that feeds primarily on the algae film growing on submerged tree trunks rather than on rock, and it moves in loose shoals in the wild instead of holding a single territory. A group of five or more needs 250 litres or more at 24-27C, pH 7.8 to 8.6 in hard water, with rock plus at least one large piece of driftwood to graze. Feed spirulina flake, algae wafers and vegetable pellets; protein should stay occasional. This is the mbuna most often recommended to someone building a first Malawi tank, because its shoaling habit makes it far less territorial than a zebra or auratus and it tends to defuse rather than escalate. It is still a Malawi cichlid and should not be mixed with community fish, but within an mbuna tank it is close to a peacemaker.

• How active is a Yellow Tail Acei?

  High. A busy, energetic swimmer — keep plenty of open swimming room.

• How much maintenance does a Yellow Tail Acei need?

  Attentive tank care. Sensitive to water quality — stay on top of testing and maintenance.

• What tank size does a Yellow Tail Acei need?

  Nano-tank friendly. Happy in a small, stable, well-filtered tank.

• Is a Yellow Tail Acei a good fit for first-time owners?

  For experienced owners. Rewards owners who know the ropes.

• How long do Yellow Tail Acei live?

  7–10 years. Plan for a long, loving relationship.

• What health issues affect the Yellow Tail Acei?

  Keep an eye out for Bloat (GDV), Ich (white spot), Fin rot. These are worth raising with your vet, along with any screening they recommend.

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