Albino African cichlids: what they are, care and how to choose one

Albino African cichlids catch your eye immediately: white, pink or orange bodies and red eyes. They are healthy fish and are kept almost the same way as their normal-colored forms, but there are a few differences worth knowing before you buy one.

What an albino cichlid is

Albinism is the lack of melanin, the dark pigment. Black and brown disappear, and the eyes look red: it is the color of the blood showing through. Other pigments remain, so an albino can be white, pink, yellow or deep orange depending on the species.

Albinism is recessive: if you cross an albino with a normal fish, the fry are normally colored, though they carry the gene. The albino varieties sold today are kept by breeding them with each other in aquariums.

Common albino varieties

• Albino Red Zebra (Maylandia estherae): deep orange with red eyes.
• Albino Red Top Zebra (Maylandia sp. "Red Top"): the male is pinkish white with lilac bars and orange egg spots.
• Albino Socolofi (Pseudotropheus socolofi): pinkish white.
• Albino peacocks: some Aulonocara lines are bred in albino form.

Special care

• Softer light: without melanin, their eyes are sensitive to strong light. Use moderate lighting and leave shaded areas.
• Hiding places: enough rocks and caves so they can step away.
• Tank mates that leave them alone: their eyesight is a bit weaker and they sometimes reach food late. Avoid very aggressive mbuna.
• Food within reach: make sure they eat. A slowly sinking pellet helps.
• Everything else is the same: hard, alkaline water, filtration and water changes, like any Malawi cichlid. See Costa Rica tap water.

How to choose a good fish

• Clear, bright eyes, not cloudy or swollen.
• Even color, without odd dark patches: a true albino has no black.
• Swims and eats eagerly, without hiding all the time.
• A clear name: ask for the exact species. Some albinos on sale are crosses.

Before adding it to your tank, follow the steps in quarantine and acclimation.

Tank mates

They do well with moderately tempered mbuna in different colors, such as the Red Zebra or the Electric Yellow, and with peacocks in large tanks. White or orange against blues looks great. More combinations in compatible African cichlids.

Albinos for sale in Costa Rica

We have two fish, the last of each: an albino Red Zebra female and an albino Red Top Zebra male. Each profile has real photos and the price, and you can order online.