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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Maylandia sp. 'elongatus goldbar' Chiwi Rocks.jpg Maylandia zebra 'Chiwi Rocks'.jpg Melanochromis loriae 'Chiwi Rocks'.jpg Otopharynx heterodon 'Chiwi Rock'.jpg Petrotilapia flaviventris 'Chiwi Rock'.jpg
Previous pageNext pageMelanochromis loriae 'Chiwi Rocks'
Genus: Melanochromis
Type locality: Off Chipoka Island, Lake Malawi.
Biotope: Sediment-free rocky habitat. Also occurs in intermediate rocky areas and may occasionally be found over sandy patches among rocks.
Geographic distribution: Widely distributed in the northern half of Lake Malawi. On the west coast it occurs from Kande Island to Mphanga Rocks; on the east coast from Cobwé to Lutara. Also present around Likoma and Chizumulu Islands, but absent at Taiwanee Reef.
Typical adult size: Males attain about 13 cm total length in the wild and may reach up to 15 cm in the aquarium; females remain approximately 2–3 cm smaller (about 9–11 cm).
Sexual dimorphism: Breeding males display a dark blue to black body with a solid light-blue midlateral stripe and a more diffuse light-blue dorso-lateral stripe, together with a broad black band in the spinous part of the dorsal fin. Females and juveniles have a white to cream body with two broad black horizontal stripes and black markings on the lower lobe of the caudal fin.
Recommended aquarium size: An aquarium volume of 400 L is recommended.
Aquarium setup: Provide numerous rock structures and hiding places. Keep one male with 5–6 females. Groups with multiple males are not recommended due to strong intraspecific aggression.
Diet: Omnivorous, feeding mainly on algae from the aufwuchs but also consuming plankton, invertebrates, cichlid fry, and eggs of Bagrus meridionalis. It is attracted to stirred-up sediment and may feed opportunistically. Adult females have been observed removing fungus and anchor worms (Lernaea sp.) from larger haplochromines, exhibiting cleaning behaviour.
Breeding: Breeding males are present throughout the year but show territorial behaviour mainly when other males in breeding coloration are nearby. Spawning occurs on top of rocks, alongside rocks, and most often inside caves.
Aggression: Aggressive within the species, particularly among males, while generally tolerant toward other species.
Special notes: Formerly described as Melanochromis parallelus, now regarded as a junior synonym of M. loriae. Considered the northern sister species of M. heterochromis but generally less common, except at Ndumbi Rocks (Likoma Island) where large foraging groups may occur.

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