These lakes formed millions of years ago as the result of tectonic plates shifting. Lake Malawi, along with Lake Tanganyika, is one of the two great rift lakes in Eastern Africa. However, the Utaka Cichlids from this group can be housed with less aggressive Mbuna species as long as there is an abundance of space. Most of the more peaceful species should not be housed with Mbuna Cichlids. These cichlids inhabit both sandy areas and open waters. But many of the Malawi Cichlids are from the Haplochromis group, often referred to as Haps or Haplochromis cichlids in the aquarium hobby. Malawi Cichlids include the energetic rock-dwelling cichlids from the Mbuna group, like the popular Zebra Cichlids. With this vast quantity of species and a variety of habitats in Lake Malawi, there is much diversity in the cichlids. The Malawi Cichlids give aquarists a beautiful showpiece and a delightful experience, making them some of the most popular freshwater fish to keep. Cichlids from this group are generally larger than the Mbuna cichlids and many species, like the spectacular Peacock Cichlids, are also more peaceful.Ĭichlids from Lake Malawi are quite active, display complex behaviors, and with the right environment, many can be bred in captivity. Many of the species of this group are endemic to Lake Malawi. The Haplochromis group is the largest group in the Cichlidae family, with 213 described species as of 2007. Many are only surpassed in beauty by the most magnificent specimens of marine tropical fishes. The beautiful Malawi Cichlid Haps often display bright colors, iridescence, or striking patterns.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |