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Aulonocara "multicolor" is a color variant (gained by selective breeding), probably of an Aulonocara stuartgranti type, so, this species is not living in Lake Malawi. The original Aulonocara species from which this one is a descendant is living in intermediate zones from rocks to sand. The males are cave inhabitants, the females are living in big groups on the edge of these rocks. In the lake the males of these species can grow to 10 cm, in the aquarium however they can grow taller because of a good feeding. The males can then grow to about 14 cm, females grow to about 10 cm. Aulonocara "multicolor" is searching the sand for food and lives mainly of the invertebrates they find in the sand. They are quietly hanging above the sandbottom and "listen" to the sand. When they "hear" their prey, they take a big bite of sand and jig this sand through their gills so that the invertebrates stay in their mouth. It`s a quiet, peaceful cichlid which can be hold best with other quiet species, mbuna are generally too aggresive. In the aquarium they are comfortable with any food. They take everything they get offered, like spirulina pellets, mysis, artemia, cyclops and shrimp-peas mix. 
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