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Cichlids
/ Africa / Lake Malawi / Polystigma
Polystigma
Nimbochromis polystigma | Pictures
Synonyms:
Cyrtocara polystigma, Haplochromis polystigma
Physical description:
An elongated fish.
The coloration between the male and the female is very different.
The
female has a whitish-beige body color with overlaying brown markings.
Large brown spots and small brown speckled
markings make up this overlaying pattern.
The fins have the same coloration.
The male had a bluish-green head and
a golden yellow to green body.
Darker green to brown splotches cover both the body and the head.
The fins are yellow and the dorsal fin
has a bright yellow edging.
Size/Length: To 10" (25 cm)
Similar species: Elephant-nose Cichlid (
N. linni)
Habitat: Eastern Africa; found along the rocky coast of Lake Malawi.
S: bottom, middle
Aquarium: 48" (122 cm) or 55 gallons (209 L) is sufficient for young fish.
Adult
fish require large open swimming areas in order to prosper.
A tank of 60" (152 cm) or 90-110 gallons
(342-378 L) is usually adequate.
Use large, sturdy rock structures, including caves, in the back of the tank.
The
edges and the back part of the tank should be heavily planted with
Vallisneria.
Water chemistry: pH 7.5-8.5 (8.0), 10-22 dH (16), 73-79°F (23-26°C)
Social behavior: A territorial predator that will consume small fish.
Combine only with other large, robust
fish.
This species is also aggressive towards other species.
Keep one male with several females.
Suggested companions: Lake Malawi Haplochromines,
Synodontis, mbunas,
Polypterus, Afromastacembelus.
FOOD: Live; fish, Tubifex
, aquatic insects, insect larvae, earthworms; large flakes; tablets; chopped meat; pellets.
Sexual differences: Male shave egg spots and are more brightly colored (See "Physical description:").
Breeding techniques: Use water with a pH from 7.8-8.5, a water hardness from 10-18 dH, and a temperature
of 79-82 F (26-28 C).
Conflicting numbers to the amount of eggs that are laid are given (20-200?), but usually
20-30 are mouthbrooded by the female.
The eggs are fertilized by the dummy-egg method.
Remove the other fish for best results.
The
eggs are incubated for 21-25 days.
The young can be raised on
Artemia and dry foods.
The female continues her care for the
young, taking them into her mouth at times of danger and at night.
Breeding potential: 7.
Breeding is fairly difficult.
Remarks: Both captive-bred and wild-caught fish are available in the hobby.
Difficulty of care: 6.
An aggressive fish that thrives when frequent partial water changes are made.
The
Polystigma must be kept in a large 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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