Physical description: This species has a "typical" mbuna shape, though its mouth is smaller and head has a smooth slope. The body coloration is variable. The upperparts may be rusty brown while scales of the flanks are light blue and edged with copper. The body is marked with several vertical bands that may be apparent or inconspicuous. Female fish may be yellowish. The fins match the body color, except for the yellow anal fin. The caudal fin has a base coloration of rusty-orange with blue stripes. Size/Length: To 2.7" (7 cm) Similar species: P. livingstonii is another shell-dwelling mbuna. Habitat: Eastern Africa; inhabits empty snail shells ( Lanistes) of sandy regions of Lake Malawi S: bottom, middle Aquarium: 30" (76 cm) or 20-30 gallons (75-114 L). The tank should have a rocky set-up with caves and overhangs. Provide several large snails shells for each fish. Leave open swimming areas and use coral sand substrate. Use a strong light to promote the growth of algae. Water chemistry: pH 7.5-8.8 (8.2), 12-22 dH (16), 73-79°F (23-26°C) Social behavior: A territorial species that will guard its snail shell against intruders. This species will not usually harm plants and is unaggressive towards other species. Suggested companions: Lake Tanganyika Rainbowfish, mbunas, Synodontis FOOD: Algae; flake; live; snails, bloodworms, mosquito larvae, microorganisms, crustaceans, snails, Tubifex ; pellets; tablets; vegetables; peas, lettuce, spinach; fruit. Sexual differences: Males have brighter egg-spots on their anal fin. Breeding techniques: Use water with a pH around 8.2 with a water temperature from 79-82°F (26-28°C). Keep at least three females with the male. The female is an ovophile mouth brooder who lays as many as 60 eggs, which she incubates for three weeks. She continues to guard the fry for a week after they emerge from the mouth. Start feeding with Artemia and crushed flake foods. Breeding potential: 5. An easily bred species. Remarks: Will seek shelter in snail shells when danger is present. Difficulty of care: 4. This relatively peaceful mbuna is an excellent choice for 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. |
