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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Nimbochromis polystigma 'Chilumba'.jpg Nimbochromis polystigma 'Masinje'.jpg Nimbochromis polystigma 'Mazinzi Reef'.jpg Nimbochromis polystigma 'Otter Point'.jpg Nimbochromis polystigma 'Selewa'.jpg
Previous pageNext pageNimbochromis polystigma 'Mazinzi Reef'
Genus: Nimbochromis
Type locality: Domira Bay, Lake Malawi
Biotope: Most common in intermediate and vegetated habitats, but also encountered in rocky areas. Hunting groups may roam through various habitat types.
Geographic distribution: Occurs throughout Lake Malawi. No distinct geographic variants are recognized.
Typical adult size: Males slightly over 26 cm total length in the wild; females up to about 18 cm. In aquaria males may reach approximately 30 cm total length.
Sexual dimorphism: Territorial males become entirely blue and the spotted pattern is obscured. The dorsal fin shows red-orange lappets and a pale submarginal band, and the anal fin has a yellow to orange distal border. Females and non-territorial males are white or yellow with numerous dark brown spots and speckles arranged partly in rows on the fins.
Recommended aquarium size: An aquarium volume of at least 1000 L is recommended for a community tank with several large species, while a species tank with one male and several females should contain about 750 L.
Aquarium setup: Keep with similarly sized cichlids and avoid small species that may be preyed upon. Maintain only one adult male per tank. Provide rocky structures and spawning sites such as shallow pits beside large rocks or cave-like spaces formed by piled rocks or pipes.
Diet: Piscivorous predator. Often forms hunting groups of 20 to 500 subadult or adult individuals that move through the habitat capturing small fishes. When solitary it may remain motionless on the sand as an ambush predator, but unlike N. livingstonii it does not lie on its side.
Breeding: Maternal mouth-brooder. Males dig large shallow saucer-shaped spawning pits beside rocks, sometimes forming a cave-crater bower. Eggs are fertilized on the substrate before being taken into the female’s mouth. After first release the fry are taken back into the mouth for at least four weeks. Breeding males do not feed during the breeding period and defend territories mainly against conspecifics.
Aggression: Large predatory species that can dominate smaller haplochromines; males defend territories during breeding.
Special notes: Distinguished from other congeners by dark spots on the pectoral fins and by the absence of four dark bars radiating from the eye. Considerable morphological variability has been recorded, including variation in body depth, eye diameter, snout length and lower jaw proportions.

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Photo: © Ad Konings
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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps.
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