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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Petrotilapia genalutea 'Thumbi West Island'.jpg Petrotilapia nigra 'Thumbi West Island'.jpg Petrotilapia tridentiger 'Thumbi West Island'.jpg Placidochromis milomo 'Thumbi West Island'.jpg Protomelas similis 'Thumbi West Island'.jpg
Previous pageNext pagePetrotilapia tridentiger 'Thumbi West Island'
Genus: Petrotilapia
Type locality: Monkey Bay, Lake Malawi, Malawi
Biotope: Wave-washed upper rocky habitat in purely rocky environments at depths of 1–5 m.
Geographic distribution: Present at every rocky shore on the western side of Lake Malawi; absent from all islands and from the eastern coast between Cobwé and Makanjila Point.
Typical adult size: Maximum total length almost 14 cm.
Sexual dimorphism: Females are generally dark brown and usually lack a distinct pattern. Sexually active males hold large territories exceeding 20 m² and chase only conspecific males.
Recommended aquarium size: An aquarium volume of 600 L and a minimum tank length of 160 cm are recommended.
Aquarium setup: Provide extensive rockwork with numerous hiding places. It is recommended to keep at least 6–7 females per male, or to maintain the species in larger groups such as 3 males with 9 females.
Diet: Herbivorous mbuna feeding by combing and scraping algae (aufwuchs) from rocks.
Aggression: Males are highly aggressive towards conspecific males, while generally tolerant towards other species.
Special notes: A well-established species adapted to purely rocky habitats and rarely entering sandy areas. It belongs to the P. tridentiger group, whose members inhabit the wave-washed upper rocky habitat.

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