fish · Cichlidae
Bumblebee mbuna
Pseudotropheus crabro
Wild range: Endemic to Lake Malawi (Malawi / Mozambique / Tanzania shoreline); type locality Maleri Island (15–18 m rocky); widely distributed including Likoma, Chizumulu, Mbenji, Eccles/West Reefs, Chinyankwazi, Chinyamwezi, Nkhata Bay — not recorded at the extreme north of the lake (Africa)
At a glance: Bumblebee mbuna care
Compiled reference information. Review the care notes and original sources below.
What temperature is listed for Bumblebee mbuna?
The compiled profile lists 24.0–28.0 °C for Bumblebee mbuna (Pseudotropheus crabro). Check the original sources below for context and differing recommendations.
What tank size is listed for Bumblebee mbuna?
The profile lists a minimum tank volume of 55.0 US gallons (208.0 liters). Volume alone does not establish suitability; consider dimensions, group size and other inhabitants alongside the full care notes.
What pH is listed for Bumblebee mbuna?
The compiled profile lists a pH of 7.5–8.5. Review the cited care sources alongside the other water parameters in this profile.
Natural habitat
Lake Malawi mbuna of rocky caves and large boulders (often 10–45 m); specialized cleaner of fish lice (Argulus africanus) on the kampango catfish Bagrus meridionalis, and a seasonal egg-raider of that catfish’s nests while darkened to near-black (FishBase, AquaInfo, Wikipedia citing Ribbink & Lewis 1982).
Where they are found
Catalog primary locked as Pseudotropheus crabro (Ribbink & Lewis, 1982) per trade, ITIS TSN 648870 (valid), FishBase SpecCode 2359, Eschmeyer’s Catalog of Fishes (Current status Valid as Pseudotropheus crabro (Ribbink & Lewis 1982); originally Melanochromis crabro Ribbink & Lewis 1982; type locality Maleri Island, Lake Malawi, 15–18 m; CoF spid 8520; Cichlidae: Pseudocrenilabrinae), NCBI, GBIF/Catalogue of Life, and IUCN Least Concern (Konings & Kazembe 2018; assessment 2018-06-20; taxon 61136 / e.T61136A148674635). Historical/combination synonyms: Melanochromis crabro (original combination), Maylandia crabro; Pseudotropheus chamaeleo / chameleo Staeck 1977 is a nomen nudum in the synonymy of P. crabro (CoF spid 76469). Trade/common names: Bumblebee mbuna, Bumblebee cichlid, Hornet cichlid, Bumblebee mouthbrooder. Single valid species in trade under this name — not an ambiguous multi-species label. Order locked Cichliformes to match sibling cichlid catalog rows (ITIS still lists Perciformes historically).
Aquarium care
Large aggressive Lake Malawi mbuna sold as bumblebee / hornet cichlid; specialized wild cleaner of Bagrus but takes a broad aquarium diet (AquaInfo, aqua-fish.net, Aquadiction, Diszhal, FishBase). Lock ≥55 US gal / ~208 L (≥250 L / ~120 cm footprint) for a harem (Diszhal + Tropical Fish Co. 250 L floor; aqua-fish.net ≥75 US gal for a group; AquaInfo min length 150 cm — locked 55 US gal / 208 L practical floor; prefer 75+ gal / ≥150 cm when possible). Sand substrate and extensive piled rockwork with large caves and sight-line breaks; robust hard-water plants optional (AquaInfo notes they largely ignore plants). Water: locked 24–28°C, pH 7.5–8.5, GH 10–25 (FishBase wild 24–26 / 7.5–8.2; AquaInfo prose 24–26 / pH ~8 / GH 12–16, table 22–26 / 7.5–8.5 / 12–16; aqua-fish.net 24–29 / 7.5–8 / 12–25; Aquadiction 24–29 / 7.5–8.5 / 10–25; Diszhal 24–29 / 7.5–8.8 / 12–25; Tropical Fish Co. 24–28 / 7.5–8.5 / 10–20 — locked overlapping Malawi band 24–28 / 7.5–8.5 / 10–25; Diszhal upper pH 8.8 noted but not required). Strong filtration, high dissolved oxygen, regular water changes; moderate flow. Keep one male with ≥3–4 females; remove subdominant males. Do not mix with similarly barred yellow/black mbuna (hybridization / ID confusion).
Feeding
Wild diet is omnivorous/opportunistic with specialization on Argulus fish lice from Bagrus meridionalis plus seasonal catfish eggs, small invertebrates, and some aufwuchs (FishBase, AquaInfo, Wikipedia/Ribbink & Lewis). In aquaria treat as omnivore: quality Malawi cichlid pellets/flakes with substantial spirulina / vegetable matter, plus frozen/live invertebrates (brine shrimp, mysis, krill, daphnia, mosquito larvae, mussel) (AquaInfo, Aquadiction, Diszhal, aqua-fish.net). Feed modest portions 1–2× daily; avoid fatty mammalian meats and exclusive high-protein diets (Malawi bloat risk).
Compatibility
Aggressive territorial mbuna with a bad reputation toward conspecific males and sometimes females — not a peaceful community or peacock/Utaka tankmate (aqua-fish.net, Aquadiction, Diszhal; AquaInfo rates them milder — majority lock aggressive). Best with other similarly assertive, dissimilar-looking mbuna in a densely stocked hard-water tank; Synodontis that tolerate high pH are classic companions. Avoid similarly barred yellow/black mbuna and other Melanochromis/Maylandia lookalikes. One mature male per typical tank; multiple males need a large multi-territory footprint. Not communitysafe or nanook at the 55 gal floor.
Breeding
Readily bred maternal mouthbrooder (AquaInfo, Aquadiction, Diszhal, aqua-fish.net). Best as a harem of one male with ≥3–6 females so no single female is harassed. Male darkens to near-black, claims a cave or flat rock, and courts; female lays and immediately buccal-incubates ~20–60 eggs for ~17–21 days (AquaInfo ~3 weeks; Diszhal/Aquadiction 17–21; aqua-fish ~18–21), then releases free-swimming fry. Target spawn water ~pH 8.0–8.5 and ~25–27°C. Fry accept Artemia nauplii and crushed dry foods from release. Stressed holding females may spit or eat the brood — provide caves and move carefully; artificial stripping at ~18 days is expert-only (Diszhal/Aquadiction).
Sources
Compiled from multiple independent care sheets — not copied from a single site.