Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

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Protomelas taeniolatus 'Masasa Reef'.jpg

Tropheops sp. 'orange chest' Masasa Reef.jpg

Genus:	Tropheops
Type locality:	Monkey Bay, Lake Malawi
Biotope:	Inhabits sediment-rich intermediate habitat, most often at rock–sand interfaces and in areas where sand patches are interspersed among rocks.
Geographic distribution:	Reported from Masasa Reef to Otter Point.
Typical adult size:	Around 10–11 cm total length in males in imports, becoming larger in aquarium.
Sexual dimorphism:	Males are larger and show intense sky-blue coloration with blue-black bars and longer fins with broader anal ocelli; females are blue-grey.
Recommended aquarium size:	An aquarium volume of 300 L with a minimum tank length of 120 cm is recommended.
Aquarium setup:	Provide ample rock structures and shelters, while also maintaining open sandy areas without rocks. A harem ratio of one male to at least 5–6 females is recommended to diffuse aggression. In community tanks, robust mbuna from genera such as Metriaclima, Pseudotropheus, Melanochromis and Cynotilapia are suggested as tank-mates to help distribute intraspecific aggression.
Diet:	Primarily algivorous; feeds on aufwuchs by firmly grasping attached algae with closely set teeth and shaking to detach it from the substrate, and also consumes plankton.
Breeding:	Maternal mouthbrooder. Males excavate a pit beneath a stone and defend the spawning territory for several hours, while the spawning itself is brief; after spawning, the male maintains only a loose interest in the site. Females incubate eggs and fry for about three weeks, then release fry within about one week.
Aggression:	Highly aggressive within the species; toward other species aggression is mainly linked to territorial disputes and is most pronounced during spawning periods.
Special notes:	Recognizable by exceptionally broad vertical bars and an unusually vivid sky-blue male coloration within the genus. The species combines a short, high-backed body, steep angular head profile and narrow mouth, placing it among the most specialized Tropheops. It occupies a wide depth range and may track the rock–sand interface from very shallow water to at least 40 m, and it has been recorded colonizing an artificial reef at 3–5 m depth. Males show strong daily territorial activity, with morning defense followed by periods in which multiple males may feed in proximity.