african_tank.jpg
The African Cichlid Tank
This is a list of fish I keep in my lounge tank / African tank. I'll try to keep it updated. 🤣
Check out my Aquarium videos
Livingstoni
Livingstoni
Nimbochromis livingstonii
Habitat
Endemic to Lake Malawi. It is found in relatively shallow water around the shoreline, though it can also be seen in deeper (it has been recorded at depths of over 100m) water. These areas usually have soft substrates of mud or sand and are often thickly vegetated with beds of Vallisneria.
Maximum size
250mm.
Frontosa / Humphead Cichlid
Frontosa / Humphead Cichlid
Cyphotilapia frontosa
Habitat
Endemic to Lake Tanganyika. C. frontosa is most commonly observed in littoral, sediment-rich, rocky environments at depths of 6-120 metres, typically among boulders with patches of open substrate between 15-70 metres.
Maximum size
255mm.
Golden mbuna
Golden mbuna
Melanochromis auratus
Habitat
Endemic to Lake Malawi. It inhabits rocky areas of shorelines, reefs and islands.
Maximum size
110mm.
Eye biter
Eye biter
Dimidiochromis compressiceps
Habitat
Endemic to Lake Malawi, where it’s widely distributed.
Maximum size
250mm.
Electric yellow
Electric yellow
Labidochromis caeruleus
Habitat
Endemic to Lake Malawi. It occurs in the northern part of the lake, between Cape Kaiser and Lundo, and also from Chirmbo Point to Charo. The “electric yellow” morph has been recorded only between Charo and Lion’s Cove.
Maximum size
100mm.
Kennyi cichlid
Kennyi cichlid
Maylandia lombardoi / Pseudotropheus lombardoi
Habitat
Endemic to Lake Malawi. It has a limited natural range, being confined to the Mbenji Islands and Nkhomo Reef, but has also successfully been introduced around Namalenje Island. It inhabits the intermediate zone, where the rocky shoreline gives way to sandy substrates. These areas are characterised by large amounts of sediment.
Maximum size
150mm.
Peacock cichlid
Peacock cichlid
Aulonocara sp.
Habitat
Inhabits the so-called intermediate zones of the lake, where rocky shores give way to sandy bottoms with scattered rocks. It displays a preference for natural caves, and several males may possess territories in larger examples, with dominant individuals tending to be located higher up and have darker colour patterning.
Maximum size
130mm.
OB Peacock cichlid
OB Peacock cichlid
Aulonocara sp. OB
Habitat
OB Peacocks are a man made cross bred species, not a naturally occurring fish at all. The name OB is used to describe the varying black blotches that occur in many cichlid species. The originally discovered OB's were 'orange blotched', orange as you would expect, but the name has stuck and is used to describe all blotched fish, including those that are more pink/white, than orange. You will see quite a variety of colours on these fish, including varying degrees of blues, reds and yellows, as well as the pinkish/white background, and the dark blotches.
Maximum size
130mm.
Longfin albino bristlenose
Longfin albino bristlenose
Ancistrus sp. Albino
Habitat
A. cirrhosus is native to the Argentinian portion of the Paraná river drainage but all A. cf. cirrhosus in the hobby are produced commercially and of uncertain origin.
Maximum size
125mm.
Fairy cichlid
Fairy cichlid
Neolamprologus pulcher
Habitat
Endemic to and widely-distributed throughout Lake Tanganyika with type locality the town of Kasanga in southwestern Tanzania.
Maximum size
90mm.