Metriaclima lombardoi is endemic to Mbenga Island and surrounding rocky habitats in the southeastern arm of Lake Malawi. It belongs to the Metriaclima (formerly Pseudotropheus) genus and is considered one of the most aggressive and boisterous mbuna available in the hobby.
The Kennyi Cichlid displays unusual reverse sexual dichromatism compared to most mbuna. Juvenile fish and females are striking cobalt-blue with bold dark vertical bars across the flanks. As males mature and become dominant, they undergo a complete color transformation: the blue is replaced by a rich golden-orange to bright yellow body color, while the dark barring becomes reduced or fades entirely. This color reversal is unique and makes the Kennyi one of the most visually interesting mbuna.
Adult males reach up to 15 cm and are powerfully built fish with notable aggression toward conspecifics, particularly other males and similarly-colored species. They will harass females relentlessly outside of spawning periods, necessitating multiple females per male to distribute the stress of his attention.
Despite the aggression, Kennyi Cichlids are beginner-accessible in the sense that their water chemistry requirements are straightforward and they are hardy, disease-resistant fish. The challenge lies in managing their aggression in a community mbuna setup, which requires experience in Malawi cichlid keeping.
