Malawi Freak

The 2 fish turns rubbing the mouth against each other's stomachs, swim around each other and chasing other intrusive fish away. After a little play, the female swim over a surface and plants eggs, right after the male comes and fertilizes the eggs and the female then goes with eggs / young in about 10-12 days. During the period of eggs in the mouth the female does not eat. When the female believes she has done her with the eggs, the pair plays one more time, you could say she calls for the male. Tale to tale, close together and sides vertically in the water, the female spits out the fry which immediately looking into the jaws of the male. When the female is emptied and the male is filled, he goes with the eggs in approx. 10-12 days. During this period the male doesn't eat. The female will eat a lot to get ready for yet another play when the male is ready again. This way of breeding is called biparental, these fish are all biparental mouthbrooders. When the male drops the young it's up to them to survive.

C. frontosa is one of the larger cichlids from Lake Tanganyika, where it is endemic. It lives on a fairly large depth. It is following caught as low as 70 meters.

 

It becomes large. For the main types are (Burundi variant) it up to 35 cm. Under aquarium terms on individuals of up to 45cm. However, this is not documented.

 

The species live in the lake's rocky areas at depths ranging from 10 meters to less than 100 meters. Although the species is prey living is too slow to catch its prey by hunting. Instead foraging the early morning when most other species are still inactive, here the so quietly gather his prey up on the bottom. It is particularly Cyprichromis are picked up, also, the food is also of shrimp and other large invertebrates. The species is maternal mouthbrooder, the kids are only fully developed after approx. 5 weeks of incubation. The species is, as I said maternal mouthbrooder, but there are a few (aquarist) cases observed biparental behavior (pers. Comm N. Ventzel 2008) - which is blah. Also a video of this phenomenon youtoube. C. frontosa can be kept in pairs but works best in groups of min. 6-7 fish - the larger specimens it is an advantage that there are too many males unless the aquarium is really big. This species is in many Tanganyika aquarists eyes one of the very finest. It has a lovely quiet temperament, but during play the alpha male good push something around with the other fellow residents. It may therefore be necessary to build up the aquarium so that the fish have anything (rocks, plants, etc..) To swim around so that they can escape - out of sight, out of mind. Are there ways to escape, the lower ranking individuals at risk of being pushed into a corner, moreover it is also necessary to mouth brooding females have some caves to stand in - otherwise the risk is that the other individuals can stress them. One consequence may be that they lose the eggs again. Suitable foods: Krill, shrimp, black gnats, mosquitoes white, daphnia, shrimp, fish, flakes, granules. Aquarium size (indicative, can vary from fish to fish): The young fish from 8cm. and up to 12 cm. Can a 325 ltrs. aquarium well used, but as soon as the fish reach sexual maturity should be 500 liters to a minimum. When an adult flock fish in sizes of 15 - 25 cm. Should a 720 liter aquarium to a minimum. Individuals of 25 - 35 cm long. should have very large aquariums.

C. frontosa is just as calm when it breeds, such as when it is doing everything else. The male dampens its color and lays its fins down, not to scare the female. Then he tries to identify her for a predetermined area. This phase can take a very long time. Personally, I have experienced it went on for more than 14 days before she was ready. The male was not at any time, impatient or violent to her. When she finally is ready, depositing an egg, which she immediately takes in the mouth. The male attaches itself then on the side, quivering slightly and releases his sperm. This the female takes in the mouth and start over. It is only the female takes care of mouthbrooding.

 

Petrochromis sp. "moshi yellow" live at the top of the rocky coast. It is closely related to P. ephippium, but they each have their geographic range and vary in color. P. sp. "moshi yellow" occurs between Msalaba and Luagala Point, and between Kigoma and Cape Kabogo. Adult males are colored in more or less clear yellow. Ad Konings said, that possibly is the same fish. To sp. moshi yellow actually identical to ephippium.