Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

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Copadichromis trewavasae 'Likoma Island'.jpg

Copadichromis trewavasae 'Madimba Bay’.jpg

Genus:	Copadichromis
Type locality:	Membe Point, Likoma Island, Malawi.
Biotope:	Sand/rock interface (intermediate habitat). Typically 10–25 m depth; can be deeper than 20 m in very clear water, and shallower (about 10–15 m) where softer/muddy substrates occur.
Geographic distribution:	Endemic to Lake Malawi. Occurs around Likoma and Chizumulu Islands (Malawi), at Cobwè (Mozambique), and between Makonde and Manda along the Tanzania shore.
Typical adult size:	Males up to about 14 cm (Chizumulu) and about 12 cm (Likoma). Females smaller, up to about 10 cm.
Sexual dimorphism:	Breeding males: black ventral body with a blue-to-white blaze above the lateral line, extending to the posterior end of the dorsal fin and onto the upper margin of the caudal fin. Females: beige/silvery ground colour with three black blotches; females cannot be reliably separated from those of C. verduyni.
Recommended aquarium size:	Minimum 400 litres; aquarium length at least 140 cm
Aquarium setup:	Provide a large sandy foreground interrupted by a few larger rocks while keeping open sand areas. Moderate current; excellent filtration and water quality. Stocking: 1 male with 2–3 females; avoid keeping multiple adult males together.
Diet:	Carnivorous. Feeds on plankton in the water column near the bottom and on benthic invertebrates/micro-organisms picked from soft substrate; rarely more than about 1 m above the bottom.
Breeding:	Maternal mouthbrooder. Territorial males are burrow spawners: they excavate under a rock and deposit sand/mud in front to form a semi-circular raised entrance; spawning occurs beneath the rock. Incubation averages ~21 days (range ~18–24 depending on temperature). No postnatal care; fry released in schools.
Aggression:	Mild intra-specific aggression; otherwise generally peaceful. Adult males are largely territorial. Best kept with similarly calm species (e.g., other utaka and Aulonocara); avoid look-alike species and very aggressive tankmates.
Special notes:	Member of the informal Copadichromis mbenjii group. Diagnostic characters include three lateral body spots and specific relationships of supra-pectoral and supra-anal spots to the lateral line; lacks a narrow black submarginal band in the dorsal fin (vs. C. atripinnis).