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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Maylandia nkhunguensis 'Chilucha Reef'.jpg Maylandia nkhunguensis 'Minos Reef'.jpg Maylandia nkhunguensis 'Nkhungu Reef'.jpg
Previous pageMaylandia nkhunguensis 'Nkhungu Reef'<br><font color=gray>Metriaclima nkhunguense 'Nkhungu Reef'</font>
Genus: Maylandia
Type locality: Nkhungu Reef, Lake Malawi, Mozambique
Biotope: Shallow intermediate habitat, generally uncommon below about 12 m depth. Most individuals occur in the water column above mixed rock–sand substrates, while territorial males remain closer to the bottom near spawning sites.
Geographic distribution: Restricted to Nkhungu Reef, Minos Reef, and Chilucha Reef in Mozambique.
Typical adult size: Males reach a maximum total length of about 9 cm in the wild, while females remain approximately 1-2 cm smaller.
Sexual dimorphism: Differences between the sexes are subtle. Males are slightly larger and show a brighter, more intense cobalt-blue coloration, whereas females are paler gray-blue. Otherwise, the sexes are very similar in appearance.
Recommended aquarium size: At least 100 cm tank length for a single breeding male with females.
Aquarium setup: An aquarium with fine sand and abundant rockwork forming caves and shelters. Males excavate burrows under rocks, so stable rock structures and open sandy areas are important. Due to strong male territoriality, more than one adult male should only be attempted in very large aquaria.
Diet: Primarily feeds on phytoplankton in the water column, but also browses loose algae from the aufwuchs on rocks. Like other members of the genus, bicuspid teeth comb diatoms and short algal strands without removing the algal matrix.
Breeding: Territorial males maintain a burrow beneath rocks or among small rock piles. Females and non-territorial males usually form large schools in the water column and visit territorial males for spawning. Females are maternal mouthbrooders and typically remain solitary among rocks during incubation.
Aggression: Males are strongly territorial toward conspecific males, while schooling individuals show little aggression. Aggression is mainly associated with territory defense around spawning sites.
Special notes: Both sexes are uniformly light blue, a rare condition within Maylandia, shared only with Maylandia callainos. At Minos Reef, Maylandia nkhunguensis occurs sympatrically with Maylandia estherae, and males of the two species are nearly indistinguishable. Species recognition is maintained by female choice: males of M. nkhunguensis court only blue females, while M. estherae males court red or OB females. The yellow base of the pectoral fin in males is a key diagnostic character for distinguishing M. nkhunguensis.

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Photo: © Ad Konings
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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps.
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