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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Maylandia sp. 'daktari' Chiwindi.jpg Maylandia sp. 'daktari' Hai Reef.jpg Maylandia sp. 'daktari' Ngombe.jpg Maylandia sp. 'daktari' Undu Reef.jpg
Previous pageNext pageMaylandia sp. 'daktari' Hai Reef<br><font color=gray>Metriaclima sp. 'daktari' Hai Reef</font>
Genus: Maylandia
Biotope: Intermediate habitat along the northeastern shores of Lake Malawi and adjacent areas, typically at depths between about 5 and 15 m, with a mix of rocks and sand.
Geographic distribution: Occurs at Undu and Hai reefs in Tanzania and at Chiwindi and Liutche in Mozambique.
Typical adult size: Approximately 9 cm for males and about 7 cm for females.
Sexual dimorphism: Males and females differ in coloration. Males from Tanzanian populations are completely yellow, while males from Mozambique show a light yellow body with a blue sheen. Females are beige in Tanzania and yellowish in Mozambique.
Recommended aquarium size: At least 200 liters.
Aquarium setup: The aquarium should not be smaller than 200 liters and should include a structured layout of rocks and sandy areas that mimic the natural intermediate habitat. Keeping the species in a somewhat larger group is recommended.
Diet: Herbivorous. In the wild, the species feeds mainly on algae (Aufwuchs), but plankton is also taken. In aquarium conditions, it accepts a variety of foods based on vegetable ingredients, with spirulina recommended as a supplement.
Breeding: No specific breeding behavior is described beyond typical mbuna reproduction.
Aggression: Generally relatively peaceful, with occasional aggression occurring mainly within the species.
Special notes: This undescribed species belongs to the so-called lime group of Maylandia, whose members have bicuspid teeth but a morphology and behavior reminiscent of conical-toothed Cynotilapia. It is closely related to Maylandia sp. ‘lime’ and Maylandia sp. ‘lime nkhomo’, with males of these taxa showing very similar color patterns. Two geographical races are known, differing mainly in male and female coloration between Tanzanian and Mozambican populations.

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Photo: © Mark Thomas
Photo: © Mark Thomas
Photo: © Mark Smith
Photo: © Malawimbunas Patrice
Photo: © Malawimbunas Patrice
Photo: © Michel Raab
Photo: © Michel Raab
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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps.
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