Daktari (Yellow Acei)

General Information & Care

The Daktari Yellow Acei Cichlid is easy to spot- the males are bright, sunny yellow with unique black features, including black tips on the fish’s dorsal fin. The females are a bit less colorful, though yellow, too, and are usually a bit smaller in size than their male counterparts. As far as Mbuna temperament goes, you could say that they are a bit more laid-back and easygoing than other Cichlids. That being said, they are still considered to be an aggressive species of African Cichlids that should be carefully and thoughtfully paired and placed together. This Cichlid should not be paired or in the same aquarium as other fish that resemble them in color- for this reason, avoid adding other yellow fish to the habitat.

Additional Information & Care

Some other things to know about the Daktari Yellow Acei Cichlid, or ‘Daktari’, include:

• Size: A maximum of 5” long, typically.
• Habitat: Daktari Yellow Acei Cichlids originate from Lake Malawi, Africa.
• Temperature: Warm water, from mid-70s to 80s, Fahrenheit. Water pH should range 7.5-8.4.
• Pairings: Pair with species of Mbuna for best results. Some good tank mates for the Daktari Cichlid include Williamsi Blue Lips, White Tail Acei, and Pseudotropheus socolofi.
• Diet: Like other Cichlids, Daktari Cichlids do well on a fish flake food that is low in protein.

The Daktari has been bred in captivity so that home aquarists widely can add these unique African Cichlids to their tank. Since they are aggressive, do not crowd these fish in a too-small tank with too many other fish. For these smaller fish, you can properly accommodate up to six in a 30-gallon aquarium. Make sure to line the bottom with sand and rocks, too.

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