Scientific name: Protomelas sp. "spilonotus tanzania" |
Trade name: - |
Natural habitat: Rocky environments |
Food in the lake: Invertabrates that live in the open water. |
Food in the aquarium: A mix of quality pellets, flakes, krill, artemia, etc fed sparingly. No mammal meat! |
Behaviour in my aquarium: Swims mainly above the rocks and in the open water. It spawns here and also against the background. Protomelas spilonotus "Tanzania" doesn't build a nest. |
Tankmates: Mid sized to large Malawi Haps. Mbuna are to be avoided. |
Maximal size: Can vary quite a bit depending on water quality and food amount. Grows to about 18 cm. |
Aquarium: At least a tank of >500L with a sufficient amount of big rocks and caves. A sand bottom, pH between 7.5 - 8.5, temperature about 25°C |

Protomelas spilonotus "Tanzania" in my tank.
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Personal notes:
This mid sized cichlid is among the most beautiful Utaka from Lake Malawi. I have a pair that seems to be very fertile. The greyish female only attracts attention by carrying eggs almost all of the time!

The male

The female, this time without eggs in her mouth!
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