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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Aulonocara korneliae 'Chilongo Bay, Chizumulu Island'.jpg Aulonocara korneliae 'Chizumulu Island'.jpg Aulonocara korneliae 'Same Bay, Chizumulu Island'.jpg
Next pageAulonocara korneliae 'Chilongo Bay, Chizumulu Island'
Genus: Aulonocara
Type locality: East coast of Chizumulu Island, Lake Malawi.
Biotope: Intermediate habitat at shallow depths, typically between 3–10 m. Regularly encountered near rocky areas but forages mainly over sand.
Geographic distribution: Endemic to Lake Malawi. Restricted to Chizumulu Island.
Typical adult size: Males up to 12 cm; females up to 10 cm.
Sexual dimorphism: Clear. Males are larger and develop a distinct orange hue on the shoulder when in breeding coloration. Females remain smaller and more cryptically colored.
Recommended aquarium size: 400 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) if 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, located by detecting movements beneath the substrate using enlarged cephalic sensory pores.
Breeding: Maternal mouthbrooder. Males defend territories at the boundary between sand and rocks, usually centered around a cave or an overhang where sand meets rock.
Females gather in foraging schools, often numbering more than 20 individuals.
Aggression: Low. A peaceful species that does not compete well with aggressive cichlids. Territorial behavior is mainly limited to breeding males.
Special notes: Closely related to Aulonocara hueseri from Likoma Island but distinguishable by the clear orange shoulder in breeding males and the presence of distinct egg-spots in the anal fin.
The species prefers shallow water and appears absent from deeper reefs around Chizumulu Island, rarely occurring below about 12 m and not recorded deeper than 20 m.
Very placid in aquaria; overfeeding can easily lead to excessive fat deposition, visible as rounded contours and fatty bulges behind the head.

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Photo: © Mattia Matarrese
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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps.
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