Page 152 - Encyclopedia of Aquarium and Pond Fish, 3rd Edition

150 FRESHWATER FISH DIRECTORY

Nimbochromis livingstonii Sciaenochromis fryeri Iodotropheus sprengerae
Livingstoni Electric Blue Rusty Cichlid

ORIGINS East Africa, occurring only in Lake Malawi, ORIGINS East Africa, occurring only in Lake Malawi, ORIGINS East Africa, occurring only in Lake Malawi,
where it is widely distributed throughout the lake. widely distributed along the rocky shoreline. where it is found in the southeastern part of the lake.
SIZE 10 in (25 cm). SIZE 7 in (18 cm). SIZE 4 in (10 cm).
DIET Prepared cichlid foods and live foods. DIET Prepared cichlid foods and live foods. DIET Prepared cichlid foods and live foods.
WATER Temperature 73–79°F (23–26°C); hard WATER Temperature 72–79°F (22–26°C); hard WATER Temperature 72–79°F (22–26°C); hard
(150–200 mg/l) and alkaline (pH 7.5–8.0). (150–200 mg/l) and alkaline (pH 7.5–8.0). (150–200 mg/l) and alkaline (pH 7.5–8.0).
TEMPERAMENT Highly predatory. TEMPERAMENT Predatory and territorial. TEMPERAMENT Reasonably nonaggressive.
The rich blue of male Electric Blues takes up to
a year to develop. Females are always paler. Like
other mouth-brooding cichlids, eggs are fertilized
in the female’s mouth. Once they emerge, the
young do not return to their mother’s mouth,
even if danger threatens. Males are aggressive
toward other males and fish with a similar
coloration. Electric Blues eat fry in the wild, so
they will prey on smaller species in the tank.
Orange-
A mottled brown-and-silver pattern with a brown iris The background color of this cichlid is bluish,
slight bluish cast identifies this mouth-brooding with whitish areas and darker stripes on the sides
cichlid. Males can be distinguished by the red of the body, and a prominent black area on the
suffusion on their anal fin. The distinctive dorsal fin. Some individuals display areas of rusty
color scheme gives Livingstoni the appearance coloration. Caves and gravel are recommended
of a dead fish as it lies on the bottom of the lake. for the tank to mimic the rocky areas where
Any small fish or invertebrate that arrives to these fish naturally occur. The females are
investigate the “corpse” is snapped up into the Faint traces of dark mouth-brooders, laying over 30 eggs; they
capacious mouth of this ambush hunter. barring on the flanks Male may breed at an age of less than four months.

Haplochromis compressiceps
Malawi Eye-Biter

ORIGINS East Africa, occurring throughout Lake Malawi,
relatively close to the shore.
SIZE 9 in (23 cm).
DIET Live foods of various types.
WATER Temperature 72–79°F (22–26°C); hard
(150–200 mg/l) and alkaline (pH 7.5–8.0).
TEMPERAMENT Predatory.
Large jaws and a narrow head characterize
this aggressive hunter, which is bluish in
color overall, with a dark stripe running
along the midline. The long dorsal fin,
which is black at the front, becomes taller and
largely transparent toward the rear, where
it is tipped with red. The common name derives
from the way these cichlids strike at the eyes when
attacking large prey. Their more usual prey—
invertebrates and smaller fish—are simply seized
whole. A large aquarium with open and rocky
areas is recommended for this species, which,
if necessary, can be accommodated with similar-
sized lake cichlids. When breeding, the male
Malawi Eye-Biter is territorial, creating hollow
depressions in the sand on the floor of the lake,
to which it attracts females for mating purposes.
The female collects the eggs after spawning, and
the young hatch in her mouth.

US_150-151_Lake_Malawi_2.indd 150 29/08/18 4:09 PM