malawi.si

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
By genera By locations Locations Maps Posters Interactive map
Champsochromis spilorhynchus.jpg Champsochromis spilorhynchus 'Mazinzi Reef'.jpg
Next pageChampsochromis spilorhynchus (unknown locality)
Genus: Champsochromis
Type locality: Lake Nyassa (Lake Malawi) — Domira Bay.
Biotope: River mouths and sediment-rich bays with extensive vegetation beds, especially Vallisneria and Ceratophyllum. Typically occurs at 1–15 m depth. Most common over sandy and muddy substrates near vegetation; juveniles and subadults are mainly encountered in plant beds.
Geographic distribution: Lake Malawi (reported lake-wide), also Lake Malombe and the Upper Shire River. Many records and observations are concentrated in the southern and southeastern parts of the lake.
Typical adult size: Males up to about 35 cm or more. Females up to about 30 cm.
Sexual dimorphism: Males grow larger and are more strongly territorial. Females remain smaller.
Recommended aquarium size: At least 1000 L.
Aquarium setup: Minimum tank length around 250 cm. Fine sand substrate with only a few rocks. Heavily plant the aquarium, ideally with Vallisneria (including V. gigantea) and Ceratophyllum demersum, leaving ample open swimming space above the substrate. Stocking: one male with two females. Groups with multiple males are not recommended. Tankmates must be large enough not to be considered prey; smaller cichlids will be eaten.
Diet: Carnivorous piscivore. Predatory on other fish; in the wild it frequently hunts juvenile and subadult haplochromines/utaka, often striking prey while cruising about 30 cm above the sand or near plant beds.
Breeding: Maternal mouthbrooder. Territorial males have rarely been encountered in the wild. In aquaria, males may spawn directly on the bottom and are not known to construct sand bowers. Eggs are very small and broods may exceed 250 eggs.
Aggression: Relatively peaceful toward sufficiently large species, but strongly predatory toward smaller fish. Adult males are highly territorial; keep only one male per aquarium.
Special notes: Distinguished from many similar predators by a black preorbital (tear) stripe and well-spaced unicuspid teeth. Resembles Champsochromis caeruleus and Mylochromis formosus; differs from C. caeruleus by a deeper body and cheeks. IUCN status: Endangered (EN, 2018), with severe decline linked to beach seining in shallow vegetated habitats.

Photo gallery

Photo: © Ad Konings
Photo: © Alessio Moriconi
Photo: © Ems-Vechte-Aquaristik
Photo: © Lukas Meierjohann
Photo: © Lukas Meierjohann
Photo: © Lukas Meierjohann
Photo: © Lukas Meierjohann
malawi.si
Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps.
All images are used with permission of the authors. Unauthorized use is prohibited.
Quick links
By genera By locations Locations Maps Posters Interactive map
Contact
Email Facebook Instagram
© malawi.si