Unknown; trade name refers to populations reported
from the Likoma Island area.
Biotope:
Rocky habitat with large boulders and exposed rock surfaces.
Territorial males occupy horizontal rock areas
used as feeding and display sites.
Geographic distribution:
Likoma Island region, Lake Malawi.
Exact distribution unclear due to taxonomic uncertainty
and overlap with other aggressive elongatus-like forms.
Typical adult size:
Approximately 12–15 cm total length.
Sexual dimorphism:
Males larger and more intensely colored,
showing zebra-like vertical barring.
Females smaller, duller and less distinctly patterned.
Recommended aquarium size:
500 L or larger.
Aquarium setup:
Large aquarium with extensive rockwork and strong visual barriers.
Provide flat rock surfaces and caves.
Best kept as one male with several females.
Diet:
Primarily an aufwuchs grazer feeding on algae
scraped from rock surfaces,
with incidental intake of small invertebrates.
Breeding:
Maternal mouthbrooder.
Spawning occurs on defended rock surfaces
within the male territory.
Aggression:
Extremely aggressive.
Strongly territorial toward conspecifics
and other similarly shaped mbuna.
Special notes:
Undescribed taxon within the elongatus / aggressive complex.
The trade name “aggressive zebra Likoma” is informal
and may include more than one distinct population.
Photo gallery