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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Maylandia sciasma 'Nkanda'.jpg Melanochromis kaskazini 'Nkanda'.jpg Mylochromis sp. 'mchuse' Nkanda.jpg Protomelas sp. 'johnstoni solo' Nkanda.jpg Protomelas sp. 'steveni imperial' Nkanda.jpg
Previous pageNext pageMylochromis sp. 'mchuse' Nkanda
Genus: Mylochromis
Biotope: Intermediate habitat; recorded at depths of 3–15 m.
Geographic distribution: East coast of Lake Malawi in Tanzania, between the Ruhuhu River and Ikombe.
Typical adult size: Up to 16–18 cm total length.
Sexual dimorphism: Males are larger and more colorful. Females remain silvery with shorter fins; dominated or non-breeding males can resemble females but are usually larger.
Recommended aquarium size: A minimum aquarium volume of 400 L is recommended, preferably more than 600 L.
Diet: Primarily bottom-dwelling invertebrates and other soft-bodied invertebrates sifted from sand by pushing the snout into the substrate.
Breeding: Maternal mouth-brooder. Breeds year-round, mainly from August to January. Territorial males dig shallow bowls or small semicircular sand-scrape pits against rocks and court females around the site. Eggs are collected in the female’s mouth and fertilized during spawning; incubation lasts about three weeks, and fry are released over the following week.
Aggression: Generally not aggressive among Malawi haplochromines and is usually not dominant in a Malawi aquarium.
Special notes: Both sexes and juveniles show the genus-typical dark diagonal band from the nape to the caudal peduncle; in some individuals the band is interrupted in several places. The head is pointed with strongly developed lips, and females are darker in coloration compared to populations south of the Ruhuhu River. On our website tanganyika.si this form is treated as a distinct species under the name Mylochromis sp. 'mchuse'. Ad Konings considers these northern populations a geographical variant of Mylochromis sp. 'lateristriga makanjila'.

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Photo: © African Diving Ltd
Photo: © Jan Thoma
Photo: © Jan Thoma
Photo: © Jan Thoma
Photo: © Jan Thoma
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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps.
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