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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Aulonocara stuartgranti 'Chilucha Reef'.jpg Aulonocara stuartgranti 'Chilumba'.jpg Aulonocara stuartgranti 'Chimwalani Reef'.jpg Aulonocara stuartgranti 'Chinuni'.jpg Aulonocara stuartgranti 'Chirwa Island'.jpg
Previous pageNext pageAulonocara stuartgranti 'Chimwalani (Eccles) Reef'<br><font color=gray>Aulonocara hansbaenschi 'Chimwalani (Eccles) Reef'</font>
Genus: Aulonocara
Type locality: Mpanga Rocks (shore south of Chilumba, Lukoma Peninsula), Lake Malawi, Malawi.
Biotope: Intermediate habitat.
Geographic distribution: Northwestern coast of Lake Malawi between Ngara and Kande Island, and along the eastern shore between the Ruhuhu River (Tanzania) and Luwala Reef (Malawi).
Typical adult size: Males up to 12 cm, females up to 10 cm.
Sexual dimorphism: Males display bright nuptial coloration that varies strongly between populations; females are silvery to brownish with faint vertical barring.
Recommended aquarium size: 300 L
Aquarium setup: Minimum tank length 120 cm. Fine sand substrate with scattered rock groups. Provide caves and overhangs above sand where males can establish territories.
Diet: Carnivorous. Feeds on small crustaceans and insect larvae extracted from sand.
Breeding: Males defend territories beneath or between rocks, often under overhangs. Spawning takes place inside caves. Females form small groups over sand between male territories.
Aggression: Peaceful and non-aggressive. Cannot compete with aggressive cichlids and should be kept only with similarly calm species.
Special notes: A highly variable species with extensive geographic variation in male coloration, ranging from blue to yellow forms with intermediate populations. Several former species names (e.g. Aulonocara steveni, Aulonocara hansbaenschi) are now regarded as junior synonyms representing local variants of this widespread species.

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Photo: © Larry Johnson
Photo: © Larry Johnson
Photo: © Elton Panagi
Photo: © Elton Panagi
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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps.
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