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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Maylandia zebra 'Border'.jpg Melanochromis baliodigma 'Border'.jpg Melanochromis dialeptos 'Border'.jpg Nimbochromis livingstoni 'Border'.jpg Petrotilapia sp. 'yellow chin' Border.jpg
Previous pageNext pageMelanochromis dialeptos 'Border'
Genus: Melanochromis
Type locality: Masinje, Lake Malawi, Malawi.
Biotope: Sediment-free rocky habitat, also occurring in intermediate zones.
Geographic distribution: Occurs along the rocky coasts between Makanjila Point in Malawi and the Lumessi River in Mozambique.
Typical adult size: Males reach a total length of approximately 8 cm, while females grow to about 7 cm.
Recommended aquarium size: An aquarium volume of 250 L is recommended.
Aquarium setup: The aquarium should contain plenty of rocks to form structures and hiding places, with fine sand used as the bottom substrate.
Diet: Primarily herbivorous, feeding mainly on algae grazed from rock surfaces. Some individuals have also been observed feeding on larvae of the catfish Bagrus meridionalis.
Breeding: Males in breeding coloration are present throughout the year but have not been observed defending territories. Females occur singly or in small groups of up to five individuals. Spawning takes place on sand, alongside a rock.
Aggression: Very aggressive within the species, particularly among males, while generally tolerant toward other species.
Special notes: Distinguished from related species by a combination of body proportions, scale counts on the cheek, fin-ray numbers, and colour pattern. Males display a black ground colour with yellow and white horizontal stripes, while females show thin yellow abdominal stripes that never cover the entire lower abdomen. The lower lobe of the caudal fin bears black spots.

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Photo: © Mark Thomas
Photo: © Mark Thomas
Photo: © Mark Thomas
Photo: © Mark Thomas
Photo: © Mark Thomas
Photo: © Mark Thomas
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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps.
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