Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

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Genus:	Aulonocara
Type locality:	Mbenji Island, Lake Malawi, Malawi.
Biotope:	Intermediate habitat between sand and rocks. Most commonly found over sand with nearby rocky structures.
Geographic distribution:	Endemic to Lake Malawi. Restricted to the Mbenji Islands.
Typical adult size:	Males up to 13 cm; females up to 11 cm.
Sexual dimorphism:	Pronounced. Territorial males are entirely blue, including the anal fin, where egg-spots are absent or strongly reduced. Females and non-breeding males show broad vertical bars and characteristic elongated blotches on the flanks.
Recommended aquarium size:	350 L (minimum tank length 120 cm)
Aquarium setup:	Fine sand substrate with open sandy areas interrupted by groups of rocks arranged to form caves and passages. Keep one male with two females, or in larger groups (e.g. several males with a larger group of females) provided sufficient space and hiding places are available. Should be housed only with peaceful cichlids; mbuna are generally too aggressive.
Diet:	Carnivorous. Feeds on small invertebrates and crustaceans living in the sand, detected using the enlarged cephalic sensory pores characteristic of the genus.
Breeding:	Maternal mouthbrooder. Males defend caves located at sand level. Females occur in small groups on the sand between male territories. Spawning takes place inside the cave.
Aggression:	Low. A peaceful species that does not compete well with aggressive cichlids. Aggression is mainly limited to territorial males during breeding.
Special notes:	A distinctive Aulonocara characterized by broad vertical barring and large flank blotches in both sexes. Closely related to Aulonocara stuartgranti but differs by its stronger vertical barring and the absence or strong reduction of egg-spots in the anal fin. Females and non-breeding males show three elongated flank spots that are typical for this species. Although it forages over sand, the rocky nature of the Mbenji Islands likely offers protection against overfishing, and no major threats are currently known.