Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

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Genus:	Chindongo
Type locality:	Chinyankwazi Island, Lake Malawi
Biotope:	Rocky habitat with small to medium-sized rocks, rich in crevices and grazing surfaces. Occurs mainly at shallow to intermediate depths, typically between about 7 and 18 m, but recorded down to greater depths in some areas.
Geographic distribution:	Endemic to Lake Malawi. Restricted to Chinyankwazi Island.
Typical adult size:	Usually 7–9 cm in the wild; aquarium specimens may reach up to about 12 cm.
Sexual dimorphism:	Males are larger and much more colorful, showing a deep mustard-yellow body coloration. Females remain smaller and brownish-yellow with shorter fins.
Recommended aquarium size:	At least 300 L; larger aquaria (400–500 L or more) strongly recommended.
Aquarium setup:	Rock-dominated aquarium with abundant caves, crevices and visual barriers. Multiple territories must be possible. To keep more than one male, very large tanks (around 2 m length) are required. Females are also territorial.
Diet:	Aufwuchs grazer. Feeds mainly on algae and microorganisms scraped from rocks. In captivity, a vegetable-rich diet is essential; animal protein should be limited.
Breeding:	Maternal mouthbrooder. Males dig pits beneath rocks and court females over the spawning site. Females incubate eggs and fry in the mouth for about three weeks before releasing the young.
Aggression:	Very aggressive, especially toward conspecifics. Territorial males and females both defend feeding and breeding areas. Considered one of the most aggressive members of the elongatus group.
Special notes:	Formerly known in the aquarium trade as “dinghani”. A true micro-endemic mbuna restricted to Chinyankwazi Island. Export of wild specimens has become difficult due to its occurrence within Lake Malawi National Park, making the species rarer in the trade in recent years.