# Electric Yellow Cichlid (*Labidochromis caeruleus*) Electric Yellow Cichlids are bright yellow and look like little sunshines in the water! They are energetic and love to swim around. - **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Also known as:** Labidochromis caeruleus, Yellow Cichlid ![Electric Yellow Cichlid](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426960/objects/4751.jpg) ## Appearance The Electric Yellow Cichlid has a vibrant, uniform electric yellow body with distinct black fins, especially on the pelvic and anal fins. Its elongated, torpedo-shaped body helps it navigate rocky lake environments. Unlike many cichlids, its body coloration is consistently bright yellow. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Actinopterygii - **Order:** Perciformes - **Family:** Cichlidae - **Genus:** Labidochromis ## Interesting facts - Female cichlids protect their babies by holding them safely inside their mouth! - Their scientific name, \*caeruleus\*, actually means blue, even though they are yellow! - These cichlids only naturally live in one single lake on Earth! - They use their special teeth to scrape tiny algae off rocks for food! ## Special abilities - **Mouthful of Safety:** Electric Yellow Cichlid can protect their young by carrying eggs and fry inside their mouth for weeks until they are ready to swim. - **Rocky Retreat Builder:** Electric Yellow Cichlid can defend their territory by digging caves and crevices in rocky areas to create safe homes. - **Algae Scraper:** Electric Yellow Cichlid has specialized teeth that help them scrape algae and other small organisms off rocks for food. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 8-12 cm - **Weight:** 0.02-0.05 kg - **Lifespan:** 6-10 years - **Swim Speed:** 5 km/h - **Maximum Depth:** 40 m - **Water Type:** Freshwater ## Diet & Feeding They munch on algae scraped from rocks and tiny critters, helping to keep their lake clean! - **Primary Foods:** algae, small crustaceans, insect larvae, zooplankton - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** diatom (*Nitzschia palea*) — Main food source - **Eats:** water flea (*Daphnia pulicaria*) — Eats small invertebrates - **Eaten by:** Malawi Pike Cichlid (*Rhamphochromis longiceps*) — Common predator - **Eaten by:** Giant Cichlid (*Boulengerochromis microlepis*) — Preyed upon by large fish ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. ## Collections - [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Electric Yellow Cichlid? Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Electric Yellow Cichlid? 8-12 cm ### How much does Electric Yellow Cichlid weigh? 0.02-0.05 kg ### How long does Electric Yellow Cichlid live? 6-10 years ### What does Electric Yellow Cichlid eat? They munch on algae scraped from rocks and tiny critters, helping to keep their lake clean! ### How fast can Electric Yellow Cichlid swim? 5 km/h ### How does Electric Yellow Cichlid hunt? Foraging ### How deep can Electric Yellow Cichlid go? 40 m ## Where to spot - [Tierpark & Kloster Riesa](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-riesa) — Sachsen, DE · Zoo ## More Fish - [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) - [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) - [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*) - [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*) --- Source: [Electric Yellow Cichlid: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/electric-yellow-cichlid)