Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

By genera By locations Locations Maps Posters Interactive map

Genus:	Chindongo
Type locality:	Pombo Rocks, Lake Malawi (Tanzania)
Biotope:	Shallow rocky habitat, mainly between 0 and 4 m depth. Individuals are evenly distributed throughout the habitat, each occupying a feeding area of roughly 2 m in diameter on rock surfaces covered with aufwuchs.
Geographic distribution:	Very restricted distribution. Endemic to Pombo Rocks and nearby Ndumbi Point along the Tanzanian coast of Lake Malawi.
Typical adult size:	Males up to about 8 cm in the wild (up to ~10 cm in aquaria); females smaller, up to about 6.5 cm.
Sexual dimorphism:	Minimal. Males and females share the same blue-and-black barred coloration. Dominant males may show slightly more intense coloration.
Recommended aquarium size:	At least 300 L; larger aquaria strongly recommended due to intraspecific aggression.
Aquarium setup:	Dense rockwork with many hiding places. Strong water movement is beneficial. Best kept in large groups (12 or more individuals) to distribute aggression. Species-only aquaria are strongly recommended.
Diet:	Strictly herbivorous mbuna. Feeds primarily on algae scraped from aufwuchs. Requires a diet rich in spirulina and other plant matter; high-protein foods should be avoided due to risk of digestive disorders.
Breeding:	Maternal mouthbrooder. Spawning occurs without permanent territories in the wild. Females incubate small broods (often fewer than 10 eggs) for about three weeks.
Aggression:	Highly aggressive in aquaria, especially toward conspecifics, despite relatively peaceful behavior in the wild. Aggression is best managed by keeping large groups.
Special notes:	One of the smallest mbuna species. Extremely popular in the hobby but naturally very range-restricted, which makes wild populations vulnerable despite extensive captive breeding.