Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

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Maylandia sp. 'red top gallireya' Gallireya Reef.jpg

Mylochromis sp. 'mollis gallireya' Gallireya Reef.jpg

Petrotilapia xanthos 'Gallireya Reef'.jpg

Pseudotropheus sp. 'perspicax hara' Gallireya Reef.jpg

Tramitichromis intermedius 'Gallireya Reef'.jpg

Genus:	Petrotilapia
Type locality:	Gallireya Reef, Lake Malawi, Malawi
Biotope:	Deeper rocky habitat at Gallireya Reef, consisting of small heaps of irregularly shaped rocks interspersed with large sandy areas at depths of approximately 10–12 m.
Geographic distribution:	Endemic to Gallireya Reef in Lake Malawi and only known from this locality.
Typical adult size:	Males up to about 16 cm total length; females up to about 13 cm total length.
Sexual dimorphism:	Adult males are almost entirely golden yellow, lacking flank bars, with a light blue anal fin. Females are grey-yellow to light brown with interrupted horizontal stripes and 7–8 dark vertical bars.
Recommended aquarium size:	An aquarium volume of 600 L and a minimum tank length of 200 cm are recommended.
Aquarium setup:	Provide extensive rockwork to simulate a rocky habitat with numerous caves and shelters for females. Only one male should be kept per tank due to strong territorial behaviour, and similar-looking species should be avoided. Water temperature should be maintained around 23–28 °C and pH between 7.0 and 8.5.
Diet:	Herbivorous; feeds by combing and raking diatoms and small algae from aufwuchs. In the aquarium it should be offered spirulina or algae-based foods and not soft animal-based foods.
Breeding:	Breeding males defend territories approximately 6–10 m in diameter, usually centred around a cave among rocks. Spawning occurs inside the cave. Females are maternal mouthbrooders, incubating the eggs for about three weeks before releasing the fry, which begin feeding on algae shortly after release.
Aggression:	Males are highly territorial and aggressive towards conspecific males and similar-looking species, while generally tolerant towards other unrelated species.
Special notes:	Member of the informal P. nigra group. The absence of a dark submarginal band in the dorsal fin distinguishes this species from several other members of the genus.