Maylandia gallireyae 'Gallireya Reef'; Metriaclima gallireyae 'Gallireya Reef'; Metriaclima sp. 'lanisticola north' Gallireya Reef

Maylandia gallireyae 'Gallireya Reef'<br><font color=gray>Metriaclima gallireyae 'Gallireya Reef'<br>Metriaclima sp. 'lanisticola north' Gallireya Reef</font>

Genus:	Maylandia
Type locality:	Gallireya Reef, Lake Malawi, Malawi.
Biotope:	Sandy habitats associated with empty gastropod shells, typically near rocky structures such as large boulders or sandstone slabs that provide additional shelter.
Geographic distribution:	Restricted to Gallireya Reef in Youngs Bay and Chitimba Bay in the northern part of Lake Malawi.
Typical adult size:	Males about 7 cm, females about 6 cm (total length).
Sexual dimorphism:	Mature males develop a dark brown to blue overall coloration that obscures the flank bar pattern, whereas females retain visible bars that extend onto the abdomen and show a lighter ground coloration.
Recommended aquarium size:	250 L
Aquarium setup:	Fine sand substrate. Provide snail shells that are substantially larger than those used for Tanganyikan shell-dwellers. Add plenty of rocks to create hiding places, and keep as a harem (one male with several females).
Diet:	Omnivorous; feeds by combing loose algal material from shells and rocks and by picking at small invertebrates. Females and juveniles also consume plankton in the water column.
Breeding:	Females release the young into snail shells and typically do so earlier than many other mbuna, often around day 13–15.
Aggression:	Generally peaceful toward other species, but males actively defend their shell-based territories against conspecific intruders.
Special notes:	A true shell-dwelling mbuna with a strong association to empty gastropod shells. Population density can be relatively high, and individuals are often observed in groups near shell concentrations.

Photo gallery

Maylandia gallireyae 'Gallireya Reef' — Photo: © Ad Konings

Maylandia gallireyae 'Gallireya Reef' — Photo: © Ad Konings