Malawian cichlids are guests from Lake Malawi. Beautiful exotic Keeping Malawian cichlids in an aquarium

Cichlids of Lake Malawi - photo, maintenance, reproduction of cichlids

Date: 2010-01-18

Lake Malawi and its inhabitants

The cichlids of Lake Malawi are full of a variety of colors in aquariums. Lake Malawi (Nyasa) is a unique natural reservoir that is part of the Great Lakes of Africa. "Nyasa" in the language of the Bantu linguistic group means " big water". The lake has another name - Malawi, used in the republic of the same name, which owns most of the coast.

Lake Malawi framed by high (about 1500-3000 m above sea level) blocky mountains and plateaus. It stretches from north to south for 580 km and has a width of 80 km and an area of 30 thousand km3. The greatest depth of the lake is 706 m. The temperature of the surface layers of water varies seasonally from 23 to 28°C, at a depth it is kept within 22°C all year round.

Photo Lake Malawi

In the process of mixing waters, winter southeasterly winds are of great importance. Where the depths do not exceed 300 m, the entire water mass is subjected to annual mixing. The annual inflow of water into the lake is 70 km3, of which 37 km3 are precipitation and 33 km3 are tributaries. Only the Shire River flows out of the lake, carrying 6 cubic kilometers of its waters south to the Zambezi. The remaining 64 km3 are lost due to evaporation. Lake Malawi was formed as a result of tectonic processes 1-2 million years ago.

Inhabitants of Lake Malawi

The ichthyofauna of this reservoir is closely tied to its biotopes. Isolation of populations, plasticity to various places habitats and food sources has led to the emergence of a large number of polymorphic species, the uniqueness of which is enhanced by two factors. Firstly, 98% of the entire ichthyofauna. especially her cichlid parts are endemic. that is, they live only in the water area of \u200b\u200bthe lake.

Second, everything caviar is incubated in the mouth. The rocky coast is quite diverse in nature. Vertical stone walls alternate with a pebble zone consisting of rolled boulders and stone fragments. In such biotopes, the ichthyofauna is represented by the "Mbuna" group, composed of cichlids of the genera Pseudotropheus, Labeotropheus, Labidochromis, etc. The sandy coast is formed by long beaches of reddish or white sand.

In places there are thickets of wallisneria and hornwort. The main inhabitants are representatives of the "Utaka" group (genera Copadichromis, Protomelas, Cyrtocara). The transition zone between rocks and sand is formed by a bottom made up of large rock fragments. Thickets of higher vegetation are also found here, and the boulders are covered with a dense algae carpet. The transparency of the water in the lake reaches 20 m. The only exception is the swampy part, the silty sand areas of which are often stirred up by the lake surf. I must say that the ichthyofauna of the lake is quite diverse and includes not only cichlids.

Photo Malawian cichlids

Every year there is a catch of two or three, or even more new, previously unknown species, often of not always clear origin. Such a variety of polymorphic, that is, species that differ only in color, in my opinion, cannot be explained only by the remoteness of island populations, but is most likely a product of natural hybridization.

The fact is that Malawians of various species easily interbreed with each other, even if there are females and males of their own species in the aquarium. All this would be, as they say, not so bad, but the offspring is not sterile, but actively breeding and, moreover, without splitting according to parental characteristics. Because of this, having received a batch of hybrids from nature, the aquarist will not be able to thoroughly know the pedigree of his pets.

On the basis of the Ichthyology Department of the Moscow Zoo, unique ones were obtained at one time, which can still be seen today. Thus, we obtained productive stable forms of Ps.zebra (RR) x L.fuellebomi. and a year later, the grown fish were easily crossed with C.boadzulu, Aulonocara nyassae x Melanochromis exasperatus, C.boadzulu x M.crabro, etc. The phenomenon of facultative hermaphroditism, that is, the ability to change sex, should also be attributed to the features of the biology of the Malawians. under conditions where the existence of the population may depend on it.

Photo aquarium with Malawian cichlids

True, it should be noted that, unlike free crossing, sex change occurs only if there is a spawning situation in the aquarium (a combination of factors): conditions of detention. feed, pressure leaders. Such abundant "unusual" material constantly gives food for thought to any aquarist whose home collection is collected deliberately, and not according to the "saw - bought" principle. The brightest representative The blue dolphin (Cyrtocara moori), which got its name because of its amazing similarity with the sea animal of the same name, is the lake cichlid ichthyofauna.

Cichlids of Lake Malawi

The body of the fish is painted in bluish-blue tones. On the head, especially in hardened 20-centimeter males, there is a fatty outgrowth (dolphin forehead). Males and females are colored the same. On the side of young fish are two dark irregular shape spots. Juveniles are grayish in color. The long-snouted haplochrome (Dimidiochromis compressieps) can be considered the most original representative of cichlids. elongated fish body. elongated muzzle helps them to get prey (small fish) from the narrowest cracks. Males are blue, with a pattern and piping on unpaired fins. On the gill covers there is a tint of emeralds. There are races that are pure blue with a pattern of brown-red dots on the body. Females are silvery-gray, with a longitudinal stripe.

Juveniles are maternally colored. The maximum length is 25 cm, usually 15-18 cm. The emerald-turquoise attire of fish is very effective in reflected light. Females are more modestly colored and have a silver-mesh pattern on the body. The luxurious haplochrome Buazulu, whose body length reaches 20 cm, can also be attributed to the same group. Both species have several color forms. as well as closely related species, often differing only in color details. The same group can rightfully include fish whose juveniles and females have a brown-coffee body with three black spots on the sides.

Photo Aulonokara Nyasa

This is the silver-headed haplochrome Copadichromis chrysonotus - a magnificent 15-cm handsome fiery blue with a silvery-white top, and closely related Copadichromis borleyi - dull blue or yellow-blue fish with elongated pelvic fins. Speaking of the Malawians, one cannot fail to mention the Aulonokara, the most famous of which.

By the way, according to another and, in my opinion, extremely far-fetched taxonomy, these fish are assigned to another species (A.stuartgranti) and are just its color variation. In Russia, these blue beauties with a red belly have been known for a long time and enjoy constant success, despite the modestly colored females. AT recent times in Russia, new types of aulonocara with colored females appeared - pink, piebald, marmalade and other forms. The main role in the mass breeding of these aulonokars was played by A. Kamyshov, who gave a "start in life" to more than one interesting look Malawians. The polymorphism of Malawian cichlids is best expressed in Pseudotropheus zebra. On the this moment About 30 color variations of this species are already known.

If earlier only six "zebras" were distinguished and among them there was one striped one (BB), then according to the new nomenclature, almost the entire more or less striped population of Malawian pseudotropheus zebras arrived in their regiment. These fish have long been successfully kept and bred in our country. Their popularity is largely facilitated by the fact that in an aquarium inhabited by fish only of this species. painted in red, white, piebald, mottled (marmalade) and blue tones, you can create a bright color scheme.

In nature, Pseudotropheus lead a vegetarian lifestyle, and therefore, when kept in an aquarium, they need plant food or a substitute like Tetra Fill. Completing short review the main forms of the Malawians, one cannot ignore the labeotropheus - Labeotropheus trewavasae, L.fuellebomi. In our country, three variations of labeotropheus Trevavaz were known: red-pink, blue with a red fin and piebald forms.

Photo of cichlids of Lake Malawi

Moreover, only the second one has gained a foothold in aquaculture. Many people know about the second species (L.fuellebomi) mainly from books. Labeotropheus is also a polymorphic species with many color variations. They differ mainly in the color of males and females. The latter are pink, reddish-orange, piebald. marmalade. Males, with the exception of the red and spotted forms, are painted in blue tones and differ only in the color of the mask on the nosed muzzle and the color of the dorsal fin, which varies from dazzling silver to fiery red.

Malawian cichlids are perhaps the most common cichlids in our aquariums, with the exception of of course Astronotus and red parrots. colorful pretty unpretentious fish will be a decoration of any aquarium. As a rule, Malawian cichlids are bought when they are made in the style of "pseudo sea", because the colorful Malawians are so similar to marine life. And now more about these fish.

Lake Malawi and its features

Lake Malawi is one of the largest in Africa. The history of its discovery is associated with the name of the Scottish explorer and scientist David Livingston, who found this reservoir in 1859. Initially, Lake Malawi was called Nyasa, but later the reservoir was renamed Malawi, which translates from the local dialect as "shining light over the lake." The lake is the border of three states - Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania. In terms of water volume and size, Malawi is second only to Lake Baikal and the ultra-deep Tanganyika, which is located nearby. To date, more than five hundred species of cichlids have been discovered, which are mostly endemic (living only in this reservoir).

Types of Malawian cichlids

To simplify the classification, all types of Malawian cichlids are divided into utaka and mbuna. Cichlids belonging to the mbuna group feed mainly on plant foods. The name "mbuna" is translated from the local dialect as "attacking the rocks" - that is, the fish eats algae and vegetation that grows on the rocks. Pseudotropheus, melanochromis, and labidochromis are the most widespread of the mbuna. Usually the size of this group of cichlids does not exceed 15 centimeters.

Mbuna has a special structure oral cavity, which helps them scrape algae from rocks. Mbuna fry and juveniles feed on zooplankton, but subsequently switch to a plant-based diet. That is why, when keeping this group of cichlids in an aquarium, they need to provide a complete plant-based diet, but private feeding with plankton should be abandoned. Since this leads to problems with reproduction and contributes to the obesity of fish.

Utaka cichlids, on the contrary, prefer animal food and can feed on plankton. Such popular cichlids of this group include haplochromis, aulonocara, cirtocar. The size of these species of fish can reach 20 centimeters.

One of the most beautiful and popular fish from Lake Malawi among aquarists is the blue dolphin. Are popular different kinds aulonocorus and cornflower blue labidochromis.

The main requirement for keeping Malawian cichlids is the volume of the aquarium. A large space is needed, especially when keeping several species together at once. The minimum volume is 150 liters. 30 percent of the water needs to be changed weekly. For substitutions, it is necessary to use clean, settled water. It also requires high-quality biofiltration and the use of aeration to saturate the water with oxygen. The acidity index can be in the range of 7.5-8.5, and optimum temperature 24-28 degrees.

As decorative elements in an aquarium with Malawi, you can use all kinds of grottoes, stones, caves and shells. The decor used should serve as hiding places for the fish. It should also be remembered that cichlids love to dig in the ground, so it is necessary to select the appropriate soil fraction. If you want to plant plants in a Malawi aquarium, then you need to use only plants with a strong root system, and surround the plants with large stones, which will not allow the fish to dig directly under the root. Be aware that certain species of Malawi may simply perceive plants as food, and quickly eat young leaves.

Malawian Cichlid Compatibility

On the Internet you will find numerous compatibility charts for Lake Malawi cichlids. It should be remembered that in addition to the food supply, these aquarium fish may differ in their behavior and conditions of detention. Many species are territorial and will invariably oppress other weaker fish in an aquarium. In such an aquarium, especially if it is small in size and with little cover, fights will be inevitable. To avoid this, it is necessary to create numerous shelters in the aquarium, where weaker inhabitants can wait out a dangerous period for them.

Feeding Malawian cichlids

Feeding is not difficult. You can feed Malawian cichlids with a variety of foods. But at the same time, it is necessary to take into account the preferred forage base. It is possible to feed frozen, dry and canned food. Remember that you can bring an infection along with live food, so it is recommended to refuse to use it. An excellent option would be spinach, lettuce, cucumbers and pieces of bell pepper.

In the aquarium, subject to quality feeding herbivorous species Malawian cichlids can reach sizes larger than in their natural habitat, due to a plentiful and balanced diet.

Reproduction of Malawian cichlids

Malawian cichlids are predominantly polygamous, that is, one male has several females. You can determine the readiness for mating by a pronounced tubercle at the anus. Many species of cichlids court their partners beautifully by playing and dancing in front of them.

After fertilization, the female takes the eggs into her mouth and carries the eggs and then the larvae for several weeks. During this time, the larvae grow into full-fledged fry, which, immediately after leaving the mother's mouth, can fully eat. All this time, the female is starving and after the release of the fry, she may look emaciated and sick. Fry can be fed with daphnia, cyclops or brine shrimp. There is also a technology for self-incubation of the game in special devices incubators. This reduces the load on the female, and she can soon give new offspring.

The aquarium world is mysterious and amazing, and, of course, fish are its main decoration. And the bright Malawian cichlid fish cannot be deprived of attention here: they have a huge number of shapes and color variations. But, as the famous saying goes: beauty requires sacrifice, because the content of such aquatic life has some nuances. What exactly? Read our article!

[ Hide ]

Description

Malawian fish migrated to our aquariums from the freshwater lake Malawi in East Africa. A huge number of fish live in its depths, most of which belong to the cichlid family. Some of them are edible, while others are purely decorative value.

Lake Malawi is the third deepest freshwater body of water in the world. Its depth reaches 700 meters, and its length is about 576 km.

Malawian cichlids are medium-sized fish, reaching 12 to 20 cm in length as adults. They also live for a long time: with full observance of the conditions of keeping and feeding, they may well please aquarists for 15 years.

Kinds

Features of the diet and habitats made it possible to divide the cichlid lakes of Malawi into two groups: utaka and mbuna. These species of Malawian cichlids have the same requirements for keeping conditions, but differ in color and size.

Mbuna - inhabitants of the waters near the coast, they are slightly smaller than their relatives and usually do not exceed 12 cm in length. Females and males of the mbuna species usually have the same beautiful and bright color, they like aquariums densely planted with vegetation;
Utaka are larger inhabitants of the depths, the length of which can reach up to 20 cm. Female ducks lose against the background of bright males and have grey colour scales. They love the rocky bottom and live food.

There are a lot of species of these fish, and the choice can be very difficult. And you can see a selection of the five most beautiful representatives of this species of cichlids in the video from the Scalariki Ru channel below.

Accustomed to living in the spacious waters of the lake, Malawian cichlids require conditions as close as possible to their home environment. The most important requirement is the presence of a spacious aquarium, with a volume of 150 liters or more. The maintenance and care of mbuna and utaka are about the same, so they can be placed in one jar. The liquid in the aquarium should have a hardness index of 4-8 ° and an alkaline pH of 8-8.5.

A weekly change of 30% of the water in the aquarium is an excellent prevention of the inhabitants' diseases. home aquarium. In addition, it is useful to arrange another 1-2 replacements of 10% of the liquid in the jar during the week.

The water temperature in Lake Malawi varies throughout the year. During the drought period, from June to August, the winds pick up deep waters, lowering the temperature of the reservoir to 20 ° C. During the rainy season, from November to April, the water stays between 23-28°C. From this it follows that the ideal temperature can be considered an indicator of 25 ° C, and lowering once a year to 20 ° C will benefit the fish.

The soil is chosen according to the special preferences of the type of fish. So, Malawian mbuna cichlids are lovers of digging in the ground, therefore, a sand fraction of 3-5 mm can be used for them. And some types of ducks swallow hard crumbs to help them digest food, so grains of sand 1-2 mm are used for them.

Feeding

In nature, the diet of Malawians consists of zoo- and phytoplankton, insects, caviar and fry - that is, almost everything that gets in their way. Captives can be offered a variety of flakes and pellets, as well as frozen minced seafood. Malawians adapt well to almost any type of food, and therefore some top dressing can be done by hand.

So, mbuna fish will like finely chopped dandelion, burdock and plantain. Fish from the duck group will be happy to eat daphnia, bloodworms and coretra. You can also use seafood ground into minced meat, which is gelled and frozen in portions.

Here are a few recipes for minced meat that are successfully used by aquarists to feed the inhabitants of the cichlid:

Half a kilo of cod or pollock, as well as 100 grams of shrimp and squid, is ground in a meat grinder. They are mixed with 100 g of nettle, lettuce or cabbage soaked in boiling water, as well as 200 g of green peas, which are also ground. In the resulting mass, boiled for 5 minutes, cottage cheese and a chopped egg are placed. Next, 10 ml of multivitamins are added to the minced meat.
Another recipe has more high value and therefore you can feed them to fish only 1 time per day. For him, take 1 kg of shrimp and 1 kg of green peas, as well as 10 g of pureed spirulina. All this is ground with the addition of 10 grams of multivitamins. Next, add 10% of the total mass of agar-agar, add water, in accordance with the instructions. Now you need to heat the mass until the agar-agar dissolves, and then pour it into molds.

Who do they get along with

When keeping this type of fish, special attention should be paid to their compatibility. Some Malawians are quite aggressive and will not react well to the neighborhood in the aquarium. So, large tyrannochromis or buccochromis do not get along well with smaller mbunas - pseudotropheus, labidochromis and lodotropheus. Bad neighbors will be inhabitants of rocky terrain, such as melanochromis, sandy species of letrinops and the like.

If a neighborhood with non-cychlovs is planned, then success depends on the specific species. One has only to say that almost all Malawians get along well with the genus of synodonts and some types of iris.

Diseases

For the most part, this type of fish is not very susceptible to any diseases. But there is such a disease as dropsy of fish, which manifests itself due to non-compliance with water requirements. You can identify the disease by bulging (bulging) scales. Exposure to poor quality water first causes the fish to lose their appetite, then their scales begin to bristle, and after a few days the cichlid dies. On the early term the disease can be treated with drugs, however, if the cover is already strongly bristling, then it will not be possible to save it.

reproduction

Almost all cichlids spawn in the same aquarium where they live. Malawian cichlids have interesting feature- they hatch eggs in their mouths. This protects future offspring, however, and brings some problems. Females often fail long stay without food and swallow their own young.

Readiness for spawning in fish can be determined visually. So the male has a tiny swollen anal tubercle of an acute shape. In a female ready for spawning, it has the shape of a truncated cone.

Each female spawns up to 10 eggs, which are immediately collected by mouth. Then there is enough milk produced by the male. Females carry fertilized eggs in their mouths for about 21-25 days. Due to the fact that only a small part of the fish are able to successfully spawn in an aquarium, artificial incubation in a nursery is required for successful breeding.

Fry

The fry grow up quite adapted to life and grow rapidly. Within a month, they reach 3 cm in length and, in the presence of a large number of shelters, may well coexist with large adults. You can feed babies with Artemia nauplii, Daphnia and Cyclops.

Sorry, there are currently no surveys available.

Photo gallery

Video "The basics of keeping Malawians in an aquarium"

Theory is theory, but only experience will tell about the content of the Malays in full! Video channel member Elena Falkenthal shares a description of all the components of a home for African guests, as well as her experience.

Lake Malawi

Lake Malawi is a reservoir of tectonic origin, located in southeast Africa in the East African Rift Valley. The waters of Lake Malawi are located on the territory of three states: Malawi, Tanzania and Mozambique. The lake is located at an altitude of 472 m above sea level. In the most deep place the depth is 700 m, which means that its bottom is below sea level, forming the so-called cryptodepression. Lake Malawi is 550 km long and 80 km wide in places. Hundreds of endemic species of cichlids live in its waters, the existence of which is limited exclusively to the boundaries of this reservoir.

The most famous lakes for aquarists: Malawi, Tanganyika and Victoria are located within the East African Rift Valley. They are a phenomenon in the aspect of adaptive radiation - from one species (ancestor) new species arose, adapted to life in various ecological niches. It is estimated that over 800 species of cichlids live in Lake Malawi and new ones are being discovered all the time.

Mbuna group

In Lake Malawi, two groups of fish have formed that differ markedly in ecology: Mbuna and Utaka. The definition of "Mbuna" can be translated as "fish that gnaws stones", which perfectly reflects the behavior of most of these fish during fattening. Mbuna cichlids are characterized by bright colors. They reach a size of 10 to 18 cm. Reproduction of this species occurs quite unusually - immediately after spawning, the eggs are collected by the female in the mouth, where incubation takes place, lasting from 21 to 27 days. After this period, the fry are released by the female and must continue to live on their own.
Keeping in mind territorialism, as well as intra- and external aggression, breeding fish from the Mbuna group in an aquarium requires a thoughtful selection of species and an appropriate numerical ratio of males to females. Usually Mbuna cichlids are considered herbivorous fish, but that's a big simplification. In fact, the diet of this group of fish is very varied, and when deciding to breed these fish in an aquarium, one should carefully check what the trophic tendencies of a particular species are.

Areas inhabited by Mbuna cichlids

Most species of cichlids are concentrated in the coastal zone (littoral). Within its limits, rocky, transitional, sandy littoral and river mouths are distinguished. The rocky littoral is characterized by almost vertical rock blocks covered with periphyton, while the transitional littoral is the accumulation of large boulders and smaller stones between the rocky and sandy littoral. Found in these two areas the largest number representatives of the Mbuna group. Some species that live in the rocky and transitional littoral are sometimes also found in the sandy littoral, for example, Pseudotropheus sp. Acei, or in the pelagic zone (open sea) Cynotilapia afra, whereas Astatotilapia calliptera lives in muddy bays with a bottom covered with vegetation.

Water treatment for Malawian cichlids

Lake Malawi is a body of water of tectonic origin, located in southeast Africa. It is located south of all the lakes of the East African Rift Valley. Many endemic fish species live in it, including Malawian cichlids, which are very popular for keeping in aquariums.

The water in Lake Malawi has an alkaline reaction, which ranges from pH 7.5 to 8.5. In an aquarium, it is best to keep this setting around pH 8. Water that is neutral or slightly acidic can increase the fish's susceptibility to disease and hinder the development of eggs.

Despite the fact that the water in the lake has an alkaline reaction, it is still characterized by a rather low overall hardness, which does not exceed 10°dGH. For fish, this parameter is not so important. Malawian cichlids thrive in aquarium water with hardness exceeding even 20°dGH. At the same time, it is better to avoid using water that is too soft, as the low carbonate hardness of the water can lead to dangerous pH fluctuations, especially if the aquarium is kept under controlled overcrowding and vegetation is bred.

The preparation of water for Malawian cichlids is usually not a problem, as tap water is most often characterized by significant hardness and a neutral or slightly alkaline reaction. Therefore, in addition to the basic procedures associated with the preparation of water, it is usually not necessary to do anything else. However, it should be borne in mind that in a stabilized aquarium, as a result of
biological processes, the pH reaction and water hardness are naturally reduced. This phenomenon is most easily counteracted by placing limestone rocks in the aquarium, and coral chips in the soil or filter. These elements will not only increase the pH reaction and water hardness, but will also stabilize these parameters.

The same is done when tap water is too soft and it is difficult to maintain an alkaline pH. For aquariums with the Malawian biotope, special preparations are also produced that allow you to prepare water with the required parameters in a short time. They can be used alone or better combined with natural methods. When using products that correct the pH reaction of the water, prepare outside the aquarium and use only ready-made water for changes. But remember that using any preparations for adjustment, it is imperative to control the reaction of the pH of the water with aquarium tests.

It should always be remembered that the most important thing in an aquarium is the stability of the parameters. Even if these are the minimum or maximum allowable values, they will be less dangerous if kept permanently than sudden fluctuations. This is especially true for the pH reaction of water, since a decrease or increase in this indicator by 0.1 units actually means a 10-fold change in the concentration of hydrogen ions.

Food in nature

Food in the aquarium

It is difficult to replicate the natural diet of Malawian Mbuna cichlids in an aquarium. However, if you know their preferences in the natural environment, you can easily create a menu with the appropriate proportion of components of plant and animal origin. An important aspect is the correct selection of fish when settling the aquarium, so that their nutritional needs are approximately the same.

Original article from www.tropical.pl
Text adaptation: V.

Fish of the cichlid family living in the Great African lakes, are collectively called African cichlids. Around the world, Malawian and Tanganyika cichlids are also called variegated perches because of their color and behavioral responses. They are very reminiscent of deep sea inhabitants. Lake Malawi (another name for Nyasa) - the southernmost of the Great Lakes of Africa - is represented by the only basin with maximum depth at 706 m. 87% of the ichthyofauna of this reservoir are various types of cichlids. About them further and will be discussed.

The family of cichlids (lat. Cichlidae) is estimated at more than a thousand species. For most ichthyo inhabitants water depths two pairs of nostrils, while cichlids have only one, which is their characteristic difference.

In addition, they have a slightly elongated dorsal fin, the first rays of which are rigid, like the anal fins of fish.

If we consider cichlids as a whole, then they are very diverse both in terms of appearance as well as lifestyle and behaviour. However, all of them are brightly colored, and delight their owners with an enchantingly festive look.

The cichlid species present in Malawi are mostly endemic, meaning they are found only in this area.

Malawian cichlids are locally classified into two main groups:

mbuna;
duck, which is due to their morphological originality, as well as food preferences.

The first group includes herbivorous fish, the basis of the diet of which is algal fouling. If you try to change the diet of these pets to a live food version, this will lead to their obesity and inability to reproduce. The mbuna group includes:

labidochromis;
pseudotropheus;
melanochromis.

Labidochromis Yellow.

Fish of the duck group prefer live food, and can use their congener in this capacity. These include:

aulonocars;
haplochromis;
cirtocars.

If you decide to get yourself an aquarium with African cichlids, it is recommended to stop at only one of these two groups, since representatives are very aggressive towards the opposite group, and with insufficient aquarium volumes, frequent bloody skirmishes can occur.

Blue dolphin from the genus Cyrtocar.

Behavioral features of the family Cichlidae

The behavior of these representatives of the underwater fauna is peculiar and attractive. Sociable and active by nature, cichlids are in constant motion, using the entire space of the aquarium.

Their activity increases in proportion to the increase in hunger. In pursuit of a portion of food, they organize real races and can absorb everything that is offered to them in an instant, although such greed does not benefit them.

At certain types fish are highly developed hunting skills:

nimbochromis, buried in the sand, pretend to be inanimate, thereby luring prey;
Copadichromis, having a tube-shaped mouth, are able to easily draw in plankton like a vacuum pump.

The intelligence of cichlids is attractive to aquarists. They are able to recognize their owner and demonstrate peculiar social behavior.

So almost all varieties of this family have developed parental care for offspring. Aquarium cichlid fish carefully guard their masonry, care for larvae and fry. Specifically, the Malawian species of fish hatch clutches in their mouths, and hatched fry find shelter in the throat pouch of their parents in a moment of danger. Therefore, with a relatively small number of eggs in these fish, their survival rate is quite high.

Features of keeping and breeding Malawian cichlids

For comfortable life fish from Malawi need a large - from 150 liters - an aquarium with clear water, which needs to be updated by a third every week, after allowing it to settle. It is equally important to subject the water to powerful aeration and filtration, cichlids are in great need of oxygen. Other parameters of aquarium water are also important for them:

temperature - 24-26°C;
hardness - 4-8ºdH;
pH level - 8.0-8.5.

Lake Malawi has a unique hydrochemical regime. Due to the constant tectonic activity, the water has an alkaline environment and high hardness.

The decor of a home pond should combine a large number of shelters in the form of grottoes, shells and other things. When planting plants, it is necessary to take into account the predilection of Malawian fish for digging up the soil. The roots of green spaces should be protected with larger pebbles. It is not recommended to plant plants in an aquarium with cichlids of the mbuna group, as they will gnaw them with pleasure. If you still want to add some greenery to the interior, you can use hard-leaved species, such as anubias.

Thanks to the bright coloration, reminiscent of saturated colors marine fish, Malawian cichlids are used to create a style aquarium.

Depending on the type of cichlids, they are fed with vegetable or live food. What to feed a particular species, you can ask the seller.

Aulonocara.

The readiness for reproduction of cichlids is determined by the anal tubercle. In the male, ready for spawning, it is sharp, in the female it is truncated cone-shaped. At the same time, the female lays 3-8 eggs, which are immediately fertilized by the male, and then pecked by the female for further gestation.

The offspring of the female bears about 4 weeks. All this time, she not only does not eat, but also becomes completely defenseless against the attacks of aggressive neighbors. Under severe stress, she can swallow her offspring.

Sometimes there are situations when, after the due date, the female does not release the juveniles outside. Young fry may try to swim out of the mother's mouth, but she constantly sucks them back. If such conditions continue for too long, the little fish will die of starvation.

To avoid this, aquarists "shake out" the female. To do this, they wrap it in a small handkerchief, place it in a basin in which there is some water, and holding it with one hand, open its mouth with a toothpick, helping the fry to swim out. Sometimes a thin incised tube is used for these purposes, and with the help of a jet of water, babies are washed out of the female's oral cavity.

Juveniles leave their shelter fully adapted to independent existence. The fry are fed with finely ground dry food, brine shrimp nauplii and cyclops.

Compatibility

The selection of neighbors for each species is individual. It is important to remember that Malawian cichlids can have a very bad temper, depending on the species.

Unlike their American relatives, Malawians do not form stable pairs, and it is better to keep them in harems of one male and several females. If several males are present in a small container, then one of them will sooner or later show dominant behavior. In this case, the rest will either have to hide in the corners, or fight him to the death.

Of the representatives of other families with them, you can keep large chain catfish, synadontis and some large iris, occupying the upper layers of the water. You can also add mobile and cocky Sumatran barbs to them.

For all the laboriousness of the process of keeping these fish, they, with their external attractiveness, clearly expressed social and social behavior, touching care about offspring and high intelligence won the love of many amateur aquarists.