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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Maylandia flavifemina 'Chidunga Rocks'.jpg Maylandia flavifemina 'Maleri Island'.jpg Maylandia flavifemina 'Nakantenga Island'.jpg
Next pageMaylandia flavifemina 'Chidunga Rocks'<br><font color=gray>Metriaclima flavifemina 'Chidunga Rocks'
Genus: Maylandia
Type locality: Maleri Island, Lake Malawi, Malawi.
Biotope: Rocky habitat, mainly in intermediate zones around islands at depths of 5–40 m (most common around ~15 m). At Chidunga Rocks it is most common near the bottom of the reef at about 6 m.
Geographic distribution: Occurs at all three Maleri Islands (Maleri, Nakantenga, Nankoma), at Thumbi West Island, at Chidunga Rocks and at Namalenje Island.
Typical adult size: In the wild, males reach about 10 cm total length and females about 9 cm; in aquaria males may grow to 16 cm or more.
Sexual dimorphism: Adult males are blue with black bars and variable black markings in the dorsal fin, often including a dark submarginal band (some Thumbi West males may lack a clear submarginal band but show other black streaks/spots). Females differ by population: Maleri and Chidunga females are mainly yellow, while Thumbi West and Nakantenga females are beige with a bright yellow anal fin. Juveniles and females are light blue-beige to yellow with a bright yellow anal fin; males have a black anal fin and black membranes in the caudal fin.
Recommended aquarium size: 250 L.
Aquarium setup: Provide extensive rockwork with many caves and hiding places. Keep one male with 3–4 females.
Diet: Herbivorous. Diet in the wild can include invertebrates and plankton in addition to loose aufwuchs, especially in deeper, sediment-influenced habitats.
Breeding: Breeding males are territorial, usually holding spaces between rocks (often with a sandy bottom) and may burrow beneath a rock to create a spawning cave. Females are often solitary or in small groups and are courted near a male’s territory. Spawning occurs inside the male’s burrow. Females are maternal mouthbrooders; broods typically number 10–30 eggs, with release after about three to three and a half weeks, followed by abandonment.
Aggression: Aggressive within the species; generally tolerant toward other species.
Special notes: Part of Ad Konings’ “black-dorsal group” (with M. lundoensis, M. nigrodorsalis, M. phaeos and M. sp. ‘black dorsal mbenji’; also associated with M. sp. ‘msobo’ and M. sp. ‘msobo heteropictus’). It was formerly known in the hobby as Maylandia sp. ‘black dorsal’.

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Photo: © Ad Konings
Photo: © K&C Rift Valley Cichlids UK
Photo: © K&C Rift Valley Cichlids UK
Photo: © Ricky Ward
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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps.
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