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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Maylandia phaeos 'Cobwe'.jpg Maylandia zebra 'Cobwe'.jpg Nimbochromis livingstonii 'Cobwe'.jpg Otopharynx heterodon 'Cobwe'.jpg Petrotilapia flaviventris 'Cobwe'.jpg
Previous pageNext pageNimbochromis livingstonii 'Cobwé'
Genus: Nimbochromis
Type locality: Upper Shire River, Lake Malawi, Malawi.
Biotope: Occurs in intermediate, vegetated, muddy and rocky habitats, most frequently in sheltered bays with muddy bottoms. Also recorded from pure rocky areas and from depths exceeding 50 m.
Geographic distribution: Lake-wide distribution in Lake Malawi, more frequently encountered in the southern half of the lake.
Typical adult size: Males up to about 19 cm total length in the wild; females slightly smaller. In aquaria males may exceed 25 cm.
Sexual dimorphism: During the breeding period males become entirely blue and the blotched body pattern is obscured. Outside the breeding season males and females are very similar in appearance.
Recommended aquarium size: An aquarium volume of at least 1000 L is recommended for a community tank with several large species, while a species tank with one male and several females should contain about 750 L.
Aquarium setup: House with similarly sized cichlids and avoid small species that may be regarded as prey. Keep only one adult male per tank. Provide rocky structures and spawning sites such as shallow pits beside rocks or cave-like spaces formed by piled rocks or pipes.
Diet: Piscivorous ambush predator using a specialized side-lying technique. It settles motionless on mud, sand or rock, partially burying itself or stirring sediment to camouflage its outline. Small cichlids approach the pale body and are captured with a rapid sideways strike. Adults maintain individual feeding territories along stretches of shoreline.
Breeding: Maternal mouth-brooder. Males defend shallow saucer-shaped spawning sites beside large rocks, sometimes forming small leks. Eggs are fertilized on the substrate before being taken into the female’s mouth. Mouthbrooding females remain solitary and guard free-swimming fry for several weeks after release.
Aggression: Large predatory species that can dominate smaller haplochromines; males defend territories during the breeding period.
Special notes: Known locally as “kaligono” (“sleeper”) because of its characteristic side-lying ambush posture. Distinguished by a highly contrasting blotched pattern and four dark bars radiating from the eye, as well as faint spots on the pectoral fins.

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Photo: © Ad Konings
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