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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Protomelas ornatus 'Chewere'.jpg Protomelas ornatus 'Chidunga Rocks'.jpg Protomelas ornatus 'Chilumba'.jpg Protomelas ornatus 'Chizumulu Island'.jpg Protomelas ornatus 'Gome'.jpg
Previous pageNext pageProtomelas ornatus 'Chilumba'
Genus: Protomelas
Type locality: Domira Bay, Lake Malawi
Biotope: Shallow intermediate habitat at depths of 1–10 m, typically where small rubble and a few rocks lie on a mainly sandy bottom.
Geographic distribution: Lake-wide distribution, but absent from Mbenji Island and from purely rocky habitats such as small islands and reefs.
Typical adult size: Males reach about 25 cm total length; females up to about 17 cm.
Sexual dimorphism: Breeding males show intensified coloration, with variation in the proportion of yellow on the ventral body. Females and juveniles display a pronounced blotched pattern on the upper flanks.
Recommended aquarium size: A large aquarium is required for this sizable predator, with only one adult male per tank due to strong territorial behavior.
Aquarium setup: Provide sandy areas combined with rocks and crevices to allow natural hunting and spawning behavior.
Diet: Predatory species feeding on invertebrates and juvenile fishes, especially mbuna. Frequently rolls onto its side and seals cracks or grooves with its thick lips to extract prey.
Breeding: Males defend spawning sites among rocks with sandy bottoms, constructing small raised platforms against large boulders. Mouthbrooding females hide between rocks and guard offspring for 1–2 weeks after first release.
Aggression: Males are territorial year-round and defend spawning sites, often occurring in small territorial groups.
Special notes: Characterized by thick, laterally compressed lips adapted to sealing narrow grooves, creating a distinct feeding niche compared to Placidochromis milomo and Chilotilapia euchilus. Several geographical variants exist; Haplochromis lobochilus and H. festivus are now regarded as synonyms. Widely known in the aquarium trade as “Haplochromis Flavimanus”.

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Photo: © Aqua-Treff
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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps.
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