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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Melanochromis loriae 'Linganjala Reef'.jpg Petrotilapia flaviventris 'Linganjala Reef'.jpg Petrotilapia palingnathos 'Linganjala Reef'.jpg Protomelas sp. 'hertae' Linganjala Reef.jpg Tropheops macrophthalmus 'Linganjala Reef'.jpg
Previous pageNext pagePetrotilapia palingnathos 'Linganjala Reef'
Genus: Petrotilapia
Type locality: Same Bay, Chizumulu Island, Lake Malawi, Malawi
Biotope: Intermediate and rocky environments; typically shallow water. Recorded down to 5 m.
Geographic distribution: Occurs at Chizumulu Island and Taiwanee Reef; reported from Chiwi Rocks, Linganjala Reef, Machili Island, Membe Island, Mkanila Bay, Same Bay, and Taiwanee Reef.
Typical adult size: Males to about 16 cm total length; females rarely exceed about 14 cm. Another reported maximum total length is approximately 18 cm.
Sexual dimorphism: Adult males are light blue with orange body markings and an orange lower half of the head; females are overall orange-brown with eight dark brown vertical bars.
Recommended aquarium size: 600 L; a minimum tank length of about 200 cm is advised.
Aquarium setup: Rockwork with caves for retreats, including shelters the female can enter but that are too small for the male. Avoid keeping more than one male in the same aquarium. Choose tankmates that do not resemble the male breeding coloration; provide sufficient hiding places for females. A mouth-brooding female can be separated from the male until fry are released.
Diet: Herbivorous aufwuchs grazer; scrapes algae from rock surfaces. Uses a specialized raking technique to harvest diatoms and other small algae embedded in the aufwuchs matrix, leaving clearly cleaned substrate patches.
Breeding: Maternal mouthbrooder. Breeding males defend territories about 5 m in diameter centered on a spawning site, usually a cave with an entrance at the top among rocks. Spawning occurs inside the cave; females may visit several males. Females incubate for about three weeks, then release and abandon the fry, which begin feeding from aufwuchs almost immediately.
Aggression: Very aggressive within the species, especially males; generally tolerant toward other species. Males are likely to be permanently territorial.
Special notes: Typically found in shallow, calm water rather than wave-washed zones; at Chizumulu Island it is rarely seen deeper than 5 m, while at Taiwanee Reef it occurs to about 15 m. Prefers clear water and avoids sediment-rich areas; often browses algae from horizontal surfaces of large boulders. Easily identified by a downward-opening mouth and distinctly retrognathous jaws; lacks a dark submarginal band in the dorsal fin.

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Photo: © Larry Johnson
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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps.
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