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.
Photo gallery