Physical description: An elongated fish with a large, triangular head. The body is splotched with random brown and white markings. This coloration serves an important purpose (see "Remarks:"). The mouth is large and the fins retain the same coloration as the rest of the body. Size/Length: To 12" (30 cm) Similar species: N. fuscotaeniatus Habitat: Eastern Africa; found above sandy areas in large thickets of aquatic reeds and grasses in Lake Malawi S: bottom, middle Aquarium: 40" (100 cm) or 45-55 gallons (170-209 L) is sufficient for smaller fish. A 60" (152 cm) 90-110 gallon (342-378 L) tank will eventually be needed as large open swimming areas are preferred. The sides, corners, and back of the tank should be heavily planted with Vallisneria. Use large, sturdy rock structures, with caves, in the back of the tank. Water chemistry: 7.5-8.5 (8.0), 10-22 dH (18), 75-82°F (24-28°C). Social behavior: A territorial and predatory fish that should only be kept with other robust Haplochromines of a similar size. Keep one male with several females. Suggested companions: Lake Malawi Haplochromines, Synodontis, Polypterus, Afromastacembelus FOOD: Live; insect larvae, aquatic insects, fish, earthworms, Tubifex, crustaceans; vegetables; lettuce, spinach, peas; tablets; pellets. Sexual differences: Males are more brightly colored with egg-spots on the anal fin. Breeding techniques: Use a large breeding tank with one male and three or four females. Use water with the following propertieS: a pH from 8.0-8.5, a water hardness from 12-18 dH, and a temperature from 81-82°F (27-28°C). Up to 100 eggs are mouthbrooded by the female for a period of 21-24 days. The young can be raised on Artemia and crushed dry foods. Breeding potential: 7. Breeding is moderately difficult. Remarks: The Livingstoni is well-known for its habit of depicting a dead fish. Its coloring is much like a decaying fish, so when the Livingstoni plays dead by lying on the bottom on its side, other fish will come to pick at the carcass. The unsuspecting fish are quickly devoured. This behavior has been observed both in aquaria and in the wild. Many still regard this fish by its original name, the "sleeper fish." Difficulty of care: 6. A hardy, predatory fish that has a very interesting feeding habit in nature. 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. |
