African cichlids

Biodiversity

The cichlids family has more than 25 thousand different species (and every year they discover a new one), considered the largest family of fish in the world, representing about 5% of all vertebrates on Earth!

Tank species

Suckermouth catfish

Hypostomus plecostomus

They live in the waters of South America. Associated with the bottom, they feed on algae and small crustaceans. They are fish with mouths in the shape of a suction cup, which facilitates scraping algae and fixing them on rocks, as they live in environments with a lot of current.

Hump-head

Cyrtocara moorii

They only live in Lake Malawi, in very shallow waters with a sandy bottom. Despite being calm, during breeding times, males become territorial, their body colors become more striking and females take care of their young, incubating them in their mouths. They feed on molluscs and crustaceans. They can reach a maximum size of 18 cm.

Blue iceberg

Sciaenochromis fryeri

Found in Lake Malawi, Africa. It lives on rocky shores at depths of up to 40 meters. They can reach 11 cm in length. The male of this species imitates the foraging of the Mbuna, a cichlid that feeds on algae, to get closer to small fish and eat them. The females are difficult to see as they are hidden among rocks, and come out during the breeding season to lay their eggs in caves excavated in rocks by the males.

Lombardoi

Maylandia lombardoi

Found in Lake Malawi, Africa. In areas with sandy or muddy bottoms, at depths of up to 30 meters. It feeds on algae. It can reach 8 cm in length. They dig into the sandy bottom to lay eggs during breeding seasons.

Blue streak hap

Labidochromis caeruleus

Found in Lake Malawi, Africa. It lives in a harem, with about 5 females to 1 male. The female incubates the eggs in the mouth, in this period she does not feed and becomes more territorialist. They can reach 8 cm in length.

Emperor cichlid

Aulonocara nyassae

Found only in Lake Malawi. It can be found at a depth of up to 15 meters. It lives on the sand and feeds on invertebrates found there.

Venustus cichlid

Nimbochromis venustus

Found only in Lake Malawi, Africa. It lives on the sandy bottom, reaching a maximum depth of 23 meters, juveniles are seen in shallower waters and adults in deeper areas. They can reach a maximum size of 25 cm. They feed on small fish. Females of this species also incubate eggs in their mouths.