Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Genus:	Fossochromis
Type locality:	Lake Malawi
Biotope:	Sandy habitats in sheltered bays and along sandy beaches, usually in shallow water
Geographic distribution:	Lake-wide distribution in Lake Malawi
Typical adult size:	Females up to about 20 cm TL; males typically 25–30 cm TL, occasionally larger in aquaria
Sexual dimorphism:	Males develop a dark breeding coloration with light blue iridescence and lack anal-fin egg spots; females are sandy yellow to beige with a prominent three-row spot pattern
Recommended aquarium size:	At least 800 litres; large footprint required
Aquarium setup:	Very large aquarium with extensive open sand areas, interrupted by a few large stones. Fine sand substrate is essential; plants are unnecessary.
Diet:	Carnivorous; feeds primarily on benthic invertebrates, especially insect larvae filtered from sand.
Breeding:	Maternal mouthbrooder. Males build sand castles in shallow-water breeding leks; females mouthbrood and guard fry for several weeks after release.
Aggression:	Very peaceful both towards conspecifics and other large cichlids.
Special notes:	A specialized sand-sifting species that feeds by plunging its elongated snout into the substrate and filtering prey through the gills. Known for its remarkable ability to evade fishing nets by diving into the sand, a behavior widely recognized by local fishermen.