Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

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Genus:	Lethrinops
Type locality:	Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi).
Biotope:	Sandy environment. Lives at depths of 7–15 m.
Geographic distribution:	Distributed around Lake Malawi in suitable habitats. Recorded from northern and southern parts of the lake, including Lifubu, Senga Bay, Kambiri, Kande Island, Mphandikucha Island, Kirondo (Tanzania) and Chilola Bay (Mozambique).
Typical adult size:	14 cm / 12 cm
Sexual dimorphism:	Females are silvery with a yellowish tinge dorsally and whitish ventrally. Non-breeding males are less pale ventrally. Breeding males show blue-green coloration on head and body with yellow iridescence, a yellow throat and pale grey chest with a yellow tinge.
Recommended aquarium size:	400 L
Aquarium setup:	Minimum tank length 150 cm. Provide extensive sandy substrate. Break sandy areas with a few larger rocks while keeping large open sand zones. Best kept in larger groups (e.g. 3 males and 7 females). Keep only with other peaceful cichlid species.
Diet:	Carnivorous. Feeds on invertebrates, small crustaceans and insect larvae hunted in the sand. Feeding usually takes place in groups.
Breeding:	Maternal mouthbrooder. Males defend a spawning site close to rocks, sometimes marked by a small heap of sand. Females are courted in the surrounding area and led to the spawning site on sand.
Aggression:	Peaceful within the species and towards other species. Due to low intraspecific aggression, several males are usually coloured within a group.
Special notes:	A shallow-water sand-dwelling species that may be vulnerable to beach-seining practices due to its preferred habitat.