Not furry, but we like them anyway.
Kenyi Cichlid
Maylandia lombardoi (Burgess, 1977)
Also called Kenyi, Kennyi Mbuna, Lombardoi Mbuna, Pseudotropheus lombardoi, Metriaclima lombardoi
From Endemic to Lake Malawi, East Africa: the Mbenji Islands and Nkhomo Reef, introduced at Namalenje Island.123
At a glance the quick version
Looks how to spot one
Elongated rock-dwelling mbuna
A strongly two-toned species: females and young are pale blue with dark vertical bars, while grown males turn bright yellow with faint bars and egg spots on the anal fin.23
Personality what they are like
One of the feistier mbuna. Males guard territory strongly, so it suits experienced keepers and should share a tank only with other robust Malawi cichlids of different patterns.32
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Active bottom-to-mid water fish that digs and patrols the area where rocks meet sand.13
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Provide hard, alkaline water, strong filtration and frequent partial water changes; keep only one male unless the tank is very large.3
Home where they are happiest
Aquarium with a base of at least about 120 x 45 cm (around 205 litres), rock piles beside open sand, temperature 24-28 C, pH 7.6-8.8 (FishBase gives 8.0 and above), hardness about 10-25 dGH.31
Food basics what goes in the bowl
In the wild it brushes algae from rocks and takes plankton. In the tank, a mainly vegetable diet of spirulina flakes, blanched spinach and nori, with some live or frozen food, works well.13
Company who they like around
Keep one male with several females, among other sturdy mbuna, in a fairly well-stocked tank to spread out the chasing.3
The story where it all began
It was described in 1977 by Warren Burgess and named after the fish dealer John Lombardo. It has been placed in Pseudotropheus, Metriaclima and Maylandia over the years and remains a long-standing favourite in Malawi cichlid tanks.21
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
It shows reversed colours compared with many fish: females are blue and the dominant males are yellow.2
- 2
A brooding female may defend a territory and even take on male-like colouring.2
- 3
Males dig nests in the sand and have a single egg spot on the anal fin that plays a part in spawning.1
- 4
In the wild it is most abundant in water deeper than 10 metres.1
Recognised by the official bits
- IUCN Red List
- Least Concern (assessed 8 June 2018)1
- Taxonomy
- Described by W. E. Burgess in 1977; genus placement still debated2
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Kenyi Cichlid. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- FeedingSmall amounts once or twice a dayevery day
- Temperature checkevery day
- Water changeAbout 25% of the waterevery week
- Water testevery week
- Glass cleanevery week
- Filter rinseRinse in old tank water, never tap waterevery month
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- FishBase: Maylandia lombardoi fishbase.seused for taxonomy, size, water, distribution, IUCN, biology
- Wikipedia: Maylandia lombardoi en.wikipedia.orgused for names, colouring, history, fun facts
- Seriously Fish: Pseudotropheus lombardoi seriouslyfish.comused for care, water, diet, behaviour
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.