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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Chindongo cyaneus 'Chinyamwezi'.jpg Cynotilapia sp. 'blue black' Chinyamwezi Island.jpg Cynotilapia sp. 'chinyankwazi' Chinyamwezi Island.jpg Cynotilapia sp. 'flavus deep' Chinyamwezi Island.jpg Iodotropheus sprengerae 'Chinyamwezi Island'.jpg
Previous pageNext pageCynotilapia sp. 'chinyankwazi' Chinyamwezi Island
Genus: Cynotilapia
Biotope: Rocky habitat; most common around medium-sized rocks at depths of 10–20 m, also occurring from 3 m down to at least 40 m
Geographic distribution: Endemic to Chinyankwazi Island and Chinyamwezi Island, south-eastern Lake Malawi; also reported from Chinyamwezi Reef
Typical adult size: Males up to 11–12 cm; females usually up to 9 cm
Sexual dimorphism: Males larger with intense blue coloration, strong black barring and broader fins; females smaller and greyish, older dominant females may turn blue but never as intensely as males
Recommended aquarium size: Minimum 300 litres; larger aquaria recommended for long-term maintenance
Aquarium setup: Rocky layout with multiple hiding places; at least one small cave per male and sufficient open swimming space; minimum tank length 120 cm
Diet: Omnivorous; non-territorial individuals feed mainly on plankton, while territorial males additionally graze aufwuchs and associated microorganisms
Breeding: Maternal mouthbrooder; males establish and defend territories among rocks during spawning
Aggression: Strongly aggressive towards conspecifics, especially between males; less aggressive towards other species but highly territorial
Special notes: Undescribed form; known for its large size among conical-toothed Cynotilapia and intense blue-black barred pattern. Avoid keeping with closely related Cynotilapia or zebra-type Metriaclima due to high risk of hybridisation

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Photo: © Larry Johnson
Photo: © Larry Johnson
Photo: © Pete Barnes
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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps.
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