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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Petrotilapia tridentiger 'Boadzulu'.jpg Petrotilapia tridentiger 'Nkhata Bay'.jpg Petrotilapia tridentiger 'Pombo Rocks'.jpg
Next pagePetrotilapia tridentiger 'Boadzulu Island'
Genus: Petrotilapia
Type locality: Monkey Bay, Lake Malawi, Malawi
Biotope: Wave-washed upper rocky habitat in purely rocky environments at depths of 1–5 m.
Geographic distribution: Present at every rocky shore on the western side of Lake Malawi; absent from all islands and from the eastern coast between Cobwé and Makanjila Point.
Typical adult size: Maximum total length almost 14 cm.
Sexual dimorphism: Females are generally dark brown and usually lack a distinct pattern. Sexually active males hold large territories exceeding 20 m² and chase only conspecific males.
Recommended aquarium size: An aquarium volume of 600 L and a minimum tank length of 160 cm are recommended.
Aquarium setup: Provide extensive rockwork with numerous hiding places. It is recommended to keep at least 6–7 females per male, or to maintain the species in larger groups such as 3 males with 9 females.
Diet: Herbivorous mbuna feeding by combing and scraping algae (aufwuchs) from rocks.
Aggression: Males are highly aggressive towards conspecific males, while generally tolerant towards other species.
Special notes: A well-established species adapted to purely rocky habitats and rarely entering sandy areas. It belongs to the P. tridentiger group, whose members inhabit the wave-washed upper rocky habitat.

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