Physical description: A Cichlid with a similar body shape to Fuelleborn's Cichlid. The body is elongated and the anal and dorsal fins are pointed. Male specimen are usually similar in color and pattern. They are blue with dark bands, and have yellow to red to brown anal, caudal, and dorsal fins. On the other hand, females range in color from: speckled in a number of colors, the coloring of male fish, to marbled orange. The lower jaw is under-slung for rasping algae off of rocks. Size/Length: To 4.5" (11 cm) Similar species: Zebra Cichlid ( Pseudotropheus zebra), Kennyi ( Pseudotropheus lombardoi), Fuelleborn's Cichlid (Labeotropheus fuelleborni ) Habitat: Eastern Africa; rocky shore areas of Lake Malawi where there is an abundance of algae. S: bottom, middle Aquarium: 40" (101 cm) or 45-55 gallons (170-209 L). See L. fuelleborni. Water chemistry: pH 7.0-8.5 (8.1), 10-30 dH (18), 72-82°F (22-28°C) Social behavior: An aggressive and territorial fish that should only be combined with other Mbunas. Males are especially aggressive and should be kept with several females. Retreats are important for the Mbunas in the tank. Suggested companions: Small Haplochromines, mbunas, Synodontis FOOD: Algae; flake; live; snails, bloodworms, mosquito larvae, microorganisms, crustaceans, snails, Tubifex ; pellets; tablets; plant matter; vegetables; peas, lettuce, spinach; fruit. The fish's color may fade if not fed sufficient vegetable foods. Sexual differences: The male has obvious yellow egg-spots on his anal fin, while the female has small ones or none at all. Breeding techniques: Forms a matriarchal family. Eggs are laid on carefully cleaned rocks and fertilized with the dummy-egg method. Up to 40 eggs are laid, but usually not more than 12. They are then mouthbrooded by the female (ovophile mouth brooder) for 21-30 days. The fry are free-swimming after 3 weeks and can be fed small live foods. Breeding potential: 6. Breeding is not difficult. Remarks: The Fuelleborn's Cichlid has chisel-shaped teeth which are adapted for scraping algae off of rocks. This fish's color and pattern varies greatly depending on the area that the fish is found. In some areas, males specimen possess female colors, and carry the eggs in the throat sac. Many of these morphs are named after the islands near where they are found ("Thumbi" and "Chilumba"). This fish can quickly acclaims to tap water. Difficulty of care: 5. A hardy mbuna that does well in a mbuna community tank. Recent articles about fish Overfishing may hurt Amazon forest trees (2/5/2008) Overfishing is reducing the effectiveness of seed dispersal by fish in the Brazilian Pantanal, reports Nature. The research suggests that fishing practices can affect forest health. Scientists find fish that literally lives in trees (10/17/2007) Scientists have found a fish that literally lives in trees, according to research published in The American Naturalist and highlighted in New Scientist Magazine. Piranhas originated when Amazon was flooded by seawater (12/4/2007) South America's piranha family of fish -- notorious as eaters of flesh -- can be traced back to a single ancestor which dispersed when the Amazon was flooded by seawater some five million years ago, report researchers from the Institut de Recherche Pour le Developpement (IRD). Today piranhas are exclusively freshwater fish found from the Orinoco River basin in Venezuela to the Parana in Argentina. |
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Copyright Rhett Butler 1994-2009 The copy for fish.mongabay.com was written in 1994-1995. Therefore some information such as scientific names may be out of date. For this, I apologize. Feel free to send corrections to me. |
