Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

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Astatotilapia sp. 'calliptera chizumulu' Chizumulu Island

Genus:	Astatotilapia
Biotope:	Very shallow vegetated and intermediate habitats, usually not deeper than 2 m. Commonly associated with Vallisneria beds and shallow rubble/sand interfaces.
Geographic distribution:	Endemic to Lake Malawi. Restricted to Chizumulu Island, most often observed in the eastern Same Bay and in Makanjila Bay.
Typical adult size:	Males up to 13 cm; females up to 8 cm.
Sexual dimorphism:	Strong. Breeding males develop a distinctive grey-blue coloration, unlike Astatotilapia calliptera males which are typically yellow to greenish-yellow in breeding dress. Females are considerably smaller and are not reliably distinguishable in coloration from females of A. calliptera.
Recommended aquarium size:	200 L (aquarium length at least 100 cm)
Aquarium setup:	Sandy substrate with rocks that allow males to excavate shallow tunnels and burrows, combined with areas planted with Vallisneria or similar robust plants. Keep only one male per aquarium, as males are persistently territorial. Choose tankmates whose males do not resemble this species in breeding coloration, as look-alikes may trigger elevated aggression. Do not keep together with A. calliptera, as hybridization is likely and females cannot be separated reliably by appearance.
Diet:	Feeds primarily on softer invertebrates such as insects and crustaceans. Unlike typical lake-dwelling A. calliptera forms, snails are not considered a normal part of its diet.
Breeding:	Maternal mouthbrooder. Males dig tunnels beneath rocks in very shallow intermediate habitat, and spawning takes place on the sand inside the male’s burrow. Females guard the fry for about one week after release; fry-guarding females are found among shallow rubble and more often within Vallisneria beds.
Aggression:	Territorial, especially males. Aggression is highest toward conspecific males and similarly colored “look-alike” males.
Special notes:	Rarely exported and usually referred to simply as 'Chizumulu Callipterus' in the hobby. Although locally common in a few shallow sites around Chizumulu Island, its overall population is small and highly restricted, so it should be treated with conservation in mind. Historical accounts suggest that some of the original 1891 type material used to describe Chromis callipterus may have come from Chizumulu Island. If future taxonomic revision were to select a lectotype from the Chizumulu population, it could potentially complicate the application of the well-established name Astatotilapia calliptera.