Fishes Catalogue - Lake Malawi Cichlids (Family: Cichlidae )
Contents
East Africa’s
most significant landscape feature is the Great Rift Valley. Many lake-filled
troughs are contained within this feature, and have been a source of
tropical fishes for the aquarium hobby, in particular fishes of the
Cichlidae family, for many years.
Of all these bodies of water, the two lakes that have
become synonymous with fishkeepers are Lake Malawi, now known as Lake
Nyasa, and Lake Tanganyika. It is these two lakes that provide the bulk
of imported species.
Both lakes have unusual water chemistry, the water
being particularly hard and alkaline. In the case of Lake Malawi the
pH is usually between 7.7 and 8.6, with hardness up to about 22ºdH.
The Lake Malawi Cichlids consist of the Haplochromis
species, most of which are free-swimming fishes, and have the perch-like
body which I spoke of at the beginning of the Cichlids page, and when
in spawning condition the males assume a blue colouration. There are
over one hundred species of Haplochromis, some of which are most
desirable and quite a challenge for fishkeepers.
Several species of Mbuna, or rock-dwelling Cichlids,
have evolved brilliant colour patterns, and possibly the best known
of these would be the Zebra, PseudoTropheus Zebra. Somewhere
between Haplochromis and the Mbuna lie such genera as the peacocks,
Aulunocara and Trematocranus. These are more closely related
to Haplochromis, although being found among the rocks fishkeepers
look on them as being Mbunas.
Generally, Lake Malawi Cichlids are easy to keep, being
relatively hardy, and good spawners, although they do need very alkaline
pH , hard water, and lots of room, with plenty of rocks and caves, especially
the Mbunas.
They will take most types of prepared foods, although
mainly feeding on algae in the wild; they should have some plant materiel
in their diet.
Top
|
Key to abbreviations
|
| F: |
Female |
| M: |
Male |
| C: |
Carnivorous (flesh-eater).
|
| H: |
Herbivorous (vegetarian,
plant eater). |
| L: |
Limnivore (Mud-eater,
bottom feeding on vegetation, algae, worms, etc. any micro-organisms
they may find in the detritus on the bottom). |
| O: |
Omnivorous (varied diet,
live or recently killed meaty type food and plant material).
|
| FD: |
Freeze Dried. Min. Aquarium
size (minimum). |
| dH: |
degrees of hardness
(on the German scale). |
| KH: |
Carbonate Hardness (a
measure of temporary hardness see
Water
Quality). |
| Temp: |
Temperament. |
Top
| Common Name |
Blue Lumphead
View Picture |
| Scientific Name |
Cyrtocara moorii...also
known as Haplochromis moorii |
| FAMILY |
Cichlidae |
| Origin |
Coastal, sandy areas
of Lake Malawi |
| pH |
7.5 - 8.5 |
| Hardness |
18º - 22ºdH |
| Temperature |
75º - 82ºF (24º - 28ºC)
|
| Size |
10ins (25cm) |
| Min. Aquarium |
46 Gal (212 ltr) e.g.
48 x 15 x 18in (122 x 38 x 46cm) |
| Feeding |
C;O: Live Food, tablet,
wafer |
| Reproduction |
Egg Layers |
| Aquarium Lighting
|
Medium Light |
| Behaviour/Temp |
Territorial, not recommended
for beginners |
| Aquarium Set-Up |
Rocks, form caves, plenty
of swimming space |
| Swimming Habits |
Swims All Levels
|
Top
| Common Name |
Zebra Cichlid
View Picture |
| Scientific Name |
PseudoTropheus zebra
|
| FAMILY |
Cichlidae |
| Origin |
Rocky coast of Lake
Malawi |
| pH |
7.8 - 8.8 |
| Hardness |
18º - 22ºdH |
| Temperature |
75º - 82ºF (24º - 28ºC)
|
| Size |
5ins (12.5cm) |
| Min. Aquarium |
35 Gal (159 ltr) e.g.
36 x 15 x 18in (90 x 38 x 46cm) |
| Feeding |
L;O: Flake, Live Food,
Algae, Veg, Tablet...recommended. |
| Reproduction |
Egg Layers |
| Aquarium Lighting
|
Medium Light |
| Behaviour/Temp |
Territorial, Aggressive,
not recommended for beginners |
| Aquarium Set-Up |
Rocks, form caves, some
hardy plants possibly to define territories |
| Swimming Habits |
Swims All Levels
|
Top
| Common Name |
Golden Tropheops
View Picture |
| Scientific Name |
PseudoTropheus Tropheops
|
| FAMILY |
Cichlidae |
| Origin |
Rocky coast of Lake
Malawi |
| pH |
8.0 - 8.5 |
| Hardness |
15º - 18ºdH |
| Temperature |
77º - 80ºF (25º - 27ºC)
|
| Size |
8ins (20cm) |
| Min. Aquarium |
40 Gal (186 ltr) e.g.
42 x 15 x 18in (107 x 38 x 46cm) |
| Feeding |
C;O: All Live Food,
Flake, FD |
| Reproduction |
Egg Layers |
| Aquarium Lighting
|
Medium Light |
| Behaviour/Temp |
Territorial, Aggressive,
not recommended for beginners |
| Aquarium Set-Up |
Rocks, form caves, some
hardy plants possibly to define territories |
| Swimming Habits |
Swims All Levels
|
Top
| Common Name |
Fuelleborn's Cichlid
View Picture |
| Scientific Name |
LabeoTropheus fuelleborni
|
| FAMILY |
Cichlidae |
| Origin |
Lake Malawi |
| pH |
7.5 - 8.5 |
| Hardness |
10º - 20ºdH |
| Temperature |
75º - 79ºF (24º - 26ºC)
|
| Size |
5 - 6ins (13 - 15cm)
|
| Min. Aquarium |
35 Gal (159 ltr) e.g.
36 x 15 x 18in (90 x 38 x 46cm) |
| Feeding |
L;O: Flake, Live Food,
Algae, Veg, Tablet...recommended. |
| Reproduction |
Egg Layers |
| Aquarium Lighting
|
Medium Light |
| Behaviour/Temp |
Territorial, Aggressive,
not recommended for beginners |
| Aquarium Set-Up |
Rocks, form caves, some
hardy plants possibly to define territories |
| Swimming Habits |
Swims All Levels
|
Top
|
