Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

By genera By locations Locations Maps Posters Interactive map

Pseudotropheus brevis 'Chinyamwezi Island'.jpg

Sciaenochromis fryeri 'Chinyamwezi Island'.jpg

Tropheops sp. 'chinyamwezi' Chinyamwezi Island.jpg

Tyrannochromis nigriventer 'Chinyamwezi Island'.jpg

Tropheops sp. 'chinyamwezi' Chinyamwezi Island

Genus:	Tropheops
Geographic distribution:	Endemic to Chinyamwezi Island at the southern end of Lake Malawi.
Biotope:	Sediment-free rocky habitat with broken rocks of varying sizes; most individuals occur among medium-sized rocks. Found from the surface down to at least 30 m, most commonly between 5 and 20 m.
Typical adult size:	Up to approximately 12–13 cm TL in males; females smaller.
Sexual dimorphism:	Males steel blue in relaxed coloration with orange-yellow head and chest; longer fins and larger anal ocelli. Females beige to yellow in normal morph. OB (orange-blotched) morph common in females and occasionally present in males, the latter showing bluish hues within the blotches.
Recommended aquarium size:	A large aquarium of at least 400 L is required; tanks over 500 L and at least 200 cm in length are recommended if more than one male is to be kept.
Aquarium setup:	Rocky setup with numerous caves, crevices and visual barriers to break line of sight. Provide extensive territories and stable rockwork; strong filtration and regular water changes essential.
Diet:	Primarily aufwuchs grazer; also consumes plankton when available. In aquarium, feed a diet rich in vegetable matter to prevent obesity and digestive issues typical of mbuna.
Breeding:	Maternal mouthbrooder. Males excavate a pit beneath a stone and defend a territory aggressively during spawning. Incubation lasts about 3 weeks. Fry are released within about a week thereafter.
Aggression:	Highly territorial and among the more aggressive members of the genus, especially towards conspecifics.
Special notes:	One of the few Tropheops species exhibiting frequent OB morphs in females and occasionally in males.