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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Maylandia sp. 'aggressive bars' Minos Reef.jpg Maylandia zebra 'Minos Reef'.jpg Melanochromis melanopterus 'Minos Reef'.jpg Melanochromis mossambiquensis 'Minos Reef'.jpg Otopharynx sp. 'auromarginatus goldhead' Minos Reef.jpg
Previous pageNext pageMelanochromis melanopterus 'Minos Reef'
Genus: Melanochromis
Type locality: Monkey Bay, Lake Malawi
Biotope: Sediment-free rocky habitat. It is most frequently encountered in purely rocky areas but is sometimes seen in intermediate zones as well.
Geographic distribution: Very widely distributed. Along the eastern shore it occurs as far north as Liuli, Tanzania. Along the western shore it is not found farther north than the Mbenji islands. The southernmost populations occur just south of Monkey Bay, but not at Nkhudzi or farther south.
Typical adult size: Attains a total length of about 14–15 cm.
Recommended aquarium size: An aquarium volume of 500 L is recommended.
Diet: Omnivorous with a strongly predatory component. Predominantly hunts cichlid fry and is also observed feeding from the aufwuchs and from plankton. It may also take crustaceans, insect larvae, and nymphs, and is attracted to stirred-up sediment.
Breeding: Territorial males are rare and mainly occur where population density is high and sexually active males are close together, such as at Maleri and Mbenji islands. Mouthbrooding females hide among the rocks and are rarely encountered.
Aggression: Aggressive within the species, particularly among males, while generally tolerant toward other species. Adults are usually solitary, though subadults may form small groups.
Special notes: A predatory, non-specialized Melanochromis whose dark coloration blends with caves and rocky recesses where it hunts. It lacks the bright all-blue male coloration seen in some related species. Females along the Mozambique shore are often lighter with two distinct black stripes, whereas females at other localities may be very dark with the stripes nearly invisible. The species has previously been confused with the closely related M. chipokae, which is restricted to Chidunga Rocks.

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Photo: © Ad Konings
Photo: © Stuart M Grant Limited
Photo: © Stuart M Grant Limited
Photo: © Stuart M Grant Limited
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