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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Stigmatochromis woodi 'Otter Point'.jpg Tramitichromis intermedius 'Otter Point'.jpg Tropheops biriwira 'Otter Point'.jpg Tropheops microstoma 'Otter Point'.jpg Tropheops sp. 'gold otter' Otter Point.jpg
Previous pageNext pageTropheops biriwira 'Otter Point'
Genus: Tropheops
Type locality: Otter Island, Lake Malawi, Malawi
Biotope: Rocky habitats among large and medium-sized rocks, including large caves. Reported from about 7 m to at least 40 m depth and often observed clinging to rock surfaces, including in an upside-down position. The species is described as being encountered in low numbers; males are weakly territorial and females are described as non-territorial in the wild.
Geographic distribution: Reported from Mumbo Island and Otter Island in the southern part of Lake Malawi.
Typical adult size: Wild males are reported to reach about 8.5–9 cm total length, while females remain about 25% smaller. Aquarium-kept specimens are reported to reach up to about 12 cm.
Sexual dimorphism: Territorial males are described as greenish-blue with a green-yellow nape and upper flank and 5–6 distinct brown bars. Females are described as light to dark brown with 4–5 faint lateral dark brown bars.
Recommended aquarium size: A minimum tank length of 120 cm is recommended for a species-only setup, and an aquarium volume of about 300 L is recommended.
When kept with other mbuna, an aquarium volume of at least 400 L with a minimum tank length of 150 cm is recommended.
Aquarium setup: Arrange extensive rockwork with many hiding places such as crevices, caves, and shaded areas; rock structures may extend close to the water surface. It is recommended to avoid tankmates that resemble the male breeding coloration, because males are described as responding more aggressively to lookalikes and females may mistake males of a similar species as mates, leading to hybrids.
Diet: An aufwuchs grazer that feeds by picking and tearing algal matrix from rock surfaces, including cyanobacteria and associated algae. It is also reported to feed on plankton when available; aquarium feeding notes include the option of offering small portions of frozen foods at intervals alongside an algae-based diet.
Breeding: A maternal mouthbrooder. Spawning is suggested to take place in the darker recesses of the rocky habitat, probably inside large caves. Mouthbrooding is described as lasting about 3 weeks, and females are described as rarely seen while brooding; it is further suggested that fry are released at the free-swimming stage and then abandoned.
Aggression: In the wild, males are described as only weakly territorial and females as non-territorial. In the aquarium, adult males are described as likely to become persistently territorial, with increased aggression reported toward lookalike males.
Special notes: Before its formal description, the species was known as Tropheops sp. ‘greenback’, a name coined for the Otter Island population. It is described as an elongate type that often clings to rock surfaces in an upside-down position, particularly in large caves.

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Photo: © Ad Konings
Photo: © Ad Konings
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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps.
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