Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Genus:	Pseudotropheus
Biotope:	Rocky habitat at depths down to about 20 m.
Geographic distribution:	Endemic to rocky areas around Ndumbi Rocks, Makulawe Point, and Maingano at Likoma Island, Lake Malawi.
Typical adult size:	Males up to about 12 cm total length; females up to about 10 cm total length.
Sexual dimorphism:	Adult males are blue and resemble large individuals of Pseudotropheus sp. ‘elongatus ornatus’; females are conspicuously golden.
Recommended aquarium size:	An aquarium volume of 250 l is recommended.
Aquarium setup:	Provide abundant rockwork with numerous hiding places. It is advisable to keep at least 2–3 females per male. This is a relatively peaceful species and should not be housed with highly aggressive mbuna.
Diet:	Omnivorous and opportunistic; feeds on aufwuchs, plankton, debris, and suspended particles.
Aggression:	Relatively peaceful both within the species and toward other species; males become somewhat more aggressive during spawning.
Special notes:	Previously thought to consist of golden males and females, but it was established that the blue mbuna known as “M-12” represents the male and the golden form the female of the same species. Both sexes are solitary. The limited distribution and opportunistic feeding habits suggest an old, non-specialized lineage with no obvious close relatives among mbuna.