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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Lethrinops sp. 'silver crescent' Tchinga Reef.jpg Maylandia usisyae 'Tchinga Reef'.jpg Mylochromis sp. 'lateristriga nkhata' Tchinga Reef.jpg Pseudotropheus livingstonii 'Tchinga Reef'.jpg
Previous pageNext pageMylochromis sp. 'lateristriga nkhata' Tchinga Reef
Genus: Mylochromis
Biotope: Intermediate habitat; recorded at depths of 3–15 m.
Geographic distribution: Western coast of Lake Malawi at Nkhata Bay, Lion’s Cove, Ruarwe, and Hora Mhango.
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.
Aquarium setup: Maintain alkaline, moderately hard water with regular water changes and filter cleaning.
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. Females guard the young after their initial release.
Aggression: Generally not aggressive among Malawi haplochromines and is usually not dominant in a Malawi aquarium.
Special notes: Displays the genus-typical dark diagonal band on the flanks, which may be blotchy or complete from the nape to the caudal peduncle. Compared to Mylochromis sp. 'lateristriga makanjila', this form has a relatively shorter snout. It occurs sympatrically with related diagonal-striped species in the intermediate habitat of the western coast.

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Photo: © Pete Barnes
Photo: © Pete Barnes
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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps.
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