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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Maylandia hajomaylandi 'Chiwi Rocks'.jpg Maylandia hajomaylandi 'Chizumulu Island'.jpg Maylandia hajomaylandi 'Linganjala Reef'.jpg
Next pageMaylandia hajomaylandi 'Chiwi Rocks'<br><font color=gray>Metriaclima hajomaylandi 'Chiwi Rocks'<br></font>
Genus: Maylandia
Type locality: Chizumulu Island, Lake Malawi
Biotope: Sediment-rich rocky habitat, including rocky areas with sand–rock interfaces where the fish remains close to rocks while foraging.
Geographic distribution: Endemic to Chizumulu Island, Malawi, and the surrounding reefs, including Chiwi Rocks and Linganjala Reef.
Typical adult size: Males reach up to about 12 cm total length, while females remain smaller, typically around 10 cm. In the aquarium, males may grow to 16 cm or more.
Sexual dimorphism: Males are greyish-blue with 7–9 yellow vertical bars and an orange-tinged head, while females are more subdued in coloration, appearing yellowish to brownish without strongly contrasting bars.
Recommended aquarium size: 300 liters.
Aquarium setup: The aquarium should be dominated by rockwork arranged to form numerous hiding places and territories. For each male, it is recommended to keep two to three females to distribute aggression.
Diet: Primarily herbivorous, feeding on algae scraped from rocks (aufwuchs), but also consuming plankton from the water column.
Breeding: Breeding males defend rocky territories where spawning takes place. Females are maternal mouthbrooders, incubating eggs and fry in the mouth before releasing free-swimming juveniles.
Aggression: Aggressive within the species, particularly among males, but generally tolerant toward other mbuna species.
Special notes: This species has a very restricted distribution and is closely associated with Chizumulu Island.

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Photo: © Mark Thomas
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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps.
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