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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Cynotilapia sp. 'chinyankwazi' Chinyamwezi Island.jpg Cynotilapia sp. 'chinyankwazi' Chinyankwazi Island.jpg
Next pageCynotilapia sp. 'chinyankwazi' Chinyamwezi Island
Genus: Cynotilapia
Biotope: Rocky habitat; most common around medium-sized rocks at depths of 10–20 m, also occurring from 3 m down to at least 40 m
Geographic distribution: Endemic to Chinyankwazi Island and Chinyamwezi Island, south-eastern Lake Malawi; also reported from Chinyamwezi Reef
Typical adult size: Males up to 11–12 cm; females usually up to 9 cm
Sexual dimorphism: Males larger with intense blue coloration, strong black barring and broader fins; females smaller and greyish, older dominant females may turn blue but never as intensely as males
Recommended aquarium size: Minimum 300 litres; larger aquaria recommended for long-term maintenance
Aquarium setup: Rocky layout with multiple hiding places; at least one small cave per male and sufficient open swimming space; minimum tank length 120 cm
Diet: Omnivorous; non-territorial individuals feed mainly on plankton, while territorial males additionally graze aufwuchs and associated microorganisms
Breeding: Maternal mouthbrooder; males establish and defend territories among rocks during spawning
Aggression: Strongly aggressive towards conspecifics, especially between males; less aggressive towards other species but highly territorial
Special notes: Undescribed form; known for its large size among conical-toothed Cynotilapia and intense blue-black barred pattern. Avoid keeping with closely related Cynotilapia or zebra-type Metriaclima due to high risk of hybridisation

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Photo: © Larry Johnson
Photo: © Larry Johnson
Photo: © Pete Barnes
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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps.
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