malawi.si

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
By genera By locations Locations Maps Posters Interactive map
Tropheops sp. 'aurora' Higga Reef.jpg Tropheops sp. 'higga' Higga Reef.jpg Tropheops sp. 'red fin' Higga Reef.jpg
Previous pageTropheops sp. 'red fin' Higga Reef
Genus: Tropheops
Biotope: Occurs in rocky and intermediate habitats, from shallow water down to at least 35 m. Considered a species of deeper areas and rarely recorded in water shallower than 10 m.
Geographic distribution: Western coast of Lake Malawi from Hora Mhango to Mara Rocks, and eastern coast from the Ruhuhu River (Tanzania) to Lumbaulo (Mozambique).
Typical adult size: Usually 9–11 cm TL in imports, growing larger in aquarium conditions.
Sexual dimorphism: Males are larger, with longer fins and larger anal ocelli. Males show brown-red to ocher coloration with faint vertical barring, varying to intense orange-yellow. Females are beige with a yellow to lemon-yellow anal fin and a black submarginal band in the dorsal fin, which may disappear in dominant males.
Recommended aquarium size: An aquarium volume of around 300 L is suitable, and a minimum tank length of about 1.5 m is required to maintain more than one active male.
Aquarium setup: Provide abundant shelters such as rocks, flat stones and similar structures arranged over sandy patches to allow territory formation.
Diet: Feeds primarily on aufwuchs and also takes food from substrate and sediment layers deposited on rocks. In aquarium, a diet rich in vegetable matter is required.
Breeding: Maternal mouth-brooder. Males excavate a pit beneath a stone or defend spawning sites between or alongside rocks. Courtship involves displaying and quivering movements before leading the female to the spawning site. Incubation lasts about 3 weeks.
Aggression: Territorial but comparatively peaceful within the genus. Males defend territories against conspecific males and may guard areas at the base or surface of rocks.
Special notes: Belongs to the romandi group. Despite the name “red fin”, the anal fin of females is typically yellow to lemon-yellow. The provisional name originated from early taxonomic confusion in mixed material.

Photo gallery

Photo: © Mark Thomas
Photo: © Mark Thomas
malawi.si
Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps.
All images are used with permission of the authors. Unauthorized use is prohibited.
Quick links
By genera By locations Locations Maps Posters Interactive map
Contact
Email Facebook Instagram
© malawi.si