Livingston's Cichlid
Nimbochromis livingstonii
The Livingston's Cichlid (Nimbochromis livingstonii) is a semi-aggressive fish that's best left to experienced keepers. Give it a tank of at least 280 litres (74 US gallons), water held at 73-82°F, and a pH of 7.5-8.5.
Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.
Natural distribution
Africa (Lake Malawi)
- Africa
Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.
Livingston's Cichlid Tank Setup
Give them at least 280 litres (74 US gallons). Cichlids are territorial and produce plenty of waste, so strong filtration and some rocks or wood to break up sight lines both help. Aim for 73-82°F and a pH around 7.5-8.5. They grow to around 25 cm, so plan the tank size and filtration for a full-grown adult rather than the small juvenile you see in the shop.
What Do Livingston's Cichlids Eat?
They're not fussy eaters - feed a varied diet, rotating good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods rather than the same thing every day, and match the food size to their mouths.
Livingston's Cichlid Tank Mates
Lake Malawi hap - needs hard, alkaline water like other Rift Lake cichlids, but generally less relentlessly aggressive than mbuna. Some haps are opportunistic predators of smaller fish once adult - avoid keeping with nano species. Provide open swimming space as well as rockwork. The Livingston's Cichlid is semi-aggressive, which is the first thing to weigh up when you choose tank mates. It's predatory, so anything small enough to fit in its mouth will be treated as food rather than a companion. Before you buy, run your full stocking list through our stocking calculator. It weighs temperament, adult size, and water needs together, which a single species page can't do on its own.
Are Livingston's Cichlids Good for Beginners?
Not a sensible first purchase. Get the tank cycled, keep easier fish stable for a year, then revisit if you still want the extra work this species demands.
Livingston's Cichlid - frequently asked questions
What size tank do Livingston's Cichlids need?
Livingston's Cichlids need a tank of at least 280 litres (74 US gallons). A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable, and gives them more room to settle in and behave naturally.
What water parameters do Livingston's Cichlids need?
Keep them at 73-82°F with a pH of 7.5-8.5, steady rather than chased to an exact figure. In a cycled tank, ammonia and nitrite should both read 0 ppm, with nitrate kept low through regular water changes.
What do Livingston's Cichlids eat?
Livingston's Cichlids are omnivores and aren't fussy eaters. Feed a varied mix of good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods, and match the food size to their mouths. Feed small amounts once or twice a day, and remove anything they don't eat.
Are Livingston's Cichlids good for beginners?
Livingston's Cichlids are not a beginner species. They need precise conditions and consistent maintenance, so build experience with hardier fish before keeping them.
Common mistakes with Livingston's Cichlids
- Underestimating tank size - the minimum footprint is 280 litres (74 US gallons); impulse buying into a smaller tank leads to stress and shortened lifespan.
Building a community? Run the full list through the stocking calculator before you add anything else.
Great tank mates
Chosen from temperament, overlapping temperature/pH bands, plausible minimum tank footprints, and size versus yours in App-aquatic data. Hobby nuance always wins - verify stocking and temperament before purchasing.
Check Livingston's Cichlid against any other fish → Compares water parameters, predation risk, fin nipping and tank size, and draws both at life size.
Fish to avoid mixing with Livingston's Cichlids
These well-known species are commonly sold alongside this fish but are not recommended tank mates - verify before purchasing.
- Pea PufferPredator - Pea Puffer will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Zebra DanioFin nipper - will shred the fins of peaceful fish
- Black Skirt TetraFin nipper - will shred the fins of peaceful fish
