Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

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Tropheops sp. 'chinyamwezi' Chinyamwezi Island

Genus:	Tropheops
Geographic distribution:	Endemic to Chinyamwezi Island at the southern end of Lake Malawi.
Biotope:	Sediment-free rocky habitat with broken rocks of varying sizes; most individuals occur among medium-sized rocks. Found from the surface down to at least 30 m, most commonly between 5 and 20 m.
Typical adult size:	Up to approximately 12–13 cm TL in males; females smaller.
Sexual dimorphism:	Males steel blue in relaxed coloration with orange-yellow head and chest; longer fins and larger anal ocelli. Females beige to yellow in normal morph. OB (orange-blotched) morph common in females and occasionally present in males, the latter showing bluish hues within the blotches.
Recommended aquarium size:	A large aquarium of at least 400 L is required; tanks over 500 L and at least 200 cm in length are recommended if more than one male is to be kept.
Aquarium setup:	Rocky setup with numerous caves, crevices and visual barriers to break line of sight. Provide extensive territories and stable rockwork; strong filtration and regular water changes essential.
Diet:	Primarily aufwuchs grazer; also consumes plankton when available. In aquarium, feed a diet rich in vegetable matter to prevent obesity and digestive issues typical of mbuna.
Breeding:	Maternal mouthbrooder. Males excavate a pit beneath a stone and defend a territory aggressively during spawning. Incubation lasts about 3 weeks. Fry are released within about a week thereafter.
Aggression:	Highly territorial and among the more aggressive members of the genus, especially towards conspecifics.
Special notes:	One of the few Tropheops species exhibiting frequent OB morphs in females and occasionally in males.