Sand zone habitat; fish roam mainly over open sand, with the environment optionally including a light
transitional zone featuring some rock structures while still providing extensive sand areas.
Geographic distribution:
Northern Lake Malawi, mainly around Itungi.
Typical adult size:
Males reach about 15 cm; females are smaller at about 10–11 cm in the lake.
Recommended aquarium size:
A minimum aquarium volume of 600 L with a minimum tank length of 180 cm is recommended.
Aquarium setup:
Base the layout on a broad sand area with only a few tall stones; a light transitional zone with some
stone structures is possible, but extensive open sand should remain available.
Diet:
A carnivorous sand-sifter that filters small animals from the sand; in the aquarium it accepts
common prepared foods, with guidance to prioritize protein-rich diets and to offer frozen or live foods
periodically.
Breeding:
A mouthbrooder. Often kept in harem structure such as 1 male with 2–4 females; group keeping
with multiple males and females is also described, depending on aquarium size.
Aggression:
Described as a relaxed non-mbuna; mixing with very aggressive tankmates is discouraged, and keeping
with mbuna is generally advised against except for a few suitable, not overly aggressive carnivorous
species.
Special notes:
This form is reported to occur exclusively in the sand zone and may be encountered moving in larger
groups. In aquaria it may grow a few centimeters larger under heavy feeding, and restrained feeding is
advised.
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