Rocky habitat along the northeastern shores of Lake Malawi,
occupying tiny cracks and caves among small rocks.
Geographic distribution:
Recorded in small numbers between Matema and Ndonga in
Tanzania.
Sexual dimorphism:
Males resemble Pseudotropheus minutus in coloration, generally
showing a blue-barred pattern; at Ikombe and Makonde males have an
olive-colored upper body with vertical bars hardly visible.
Diet:
Nibbles from the aufwuchs using a small mouth; teeth are bicuspid
and arranged in a wide U-shaped jaw.
Breeding:
Territorial males occupy tiny cracks and caves among rocks.
Aggression:
Small but aggressive; males actively patrol and defend their
territories.
Special notes:
Member of the “minutus group”, characterized by a black
submarginal band in the dorsal fin and vertical barring on the
flanks.
Photo gallery