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Profile:
Distribution :
Lake Malawi
Size
: Up to 10 inches for Male, Smaller for female
PH
: 7.7 to 8.6
Temperature
: 22 to 29 0 C (higher temperature for breeding).
Hardness
: (Medium hard to hard, moderately alkaline water).
Diet
: Piscivore. Flake, freeze fried & frozen and pellet food. Live
Prawns etc.
Breeding
: Open polygamous, mouth brooder.
Sexual
Difference : Males are much more colourful with a blue head.
Females are more drab in colour.
Spawning
of the Venustus
The eggs can be clearly seen
"hanging" from the female and both fish started to circulate the
site, chasing away other fishes. The male will first indicate the location
and the female circled around the spot depositing 2-3 eggs every round. Some eggs
were subsequently consumed by the male in the following round. Some were
picked up by the female and she then tried to nip at the male's anal fins to
fertilise the eggs in her mouth.
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Description:
This
Hap inhabits sandy substrates of Lake Malawi. It is an aggressive
fish but can easily be bullied by bigger Malawi Haps. Therefore it is not a
good idea to put them in the company of bigger fishes.
I
used to have 3 of these
in the tank, 2 males and 1 female. They seemed to be doing well with 1
of the male being the dominant party. The female is quite drab but the dominant
male is beautiful with a dark blue face and spots of yellow on the body.
Likes
: Eats anything. Active and
colourful.
Dislikes
: Aggressive (but manageable)
See
Other Related Topics:
My Cichlid Tank
African Cichlids
Central America Cichlids
South America Cichlids
Photo Gallery
Articles
Aquarium Books & Magazines
Links
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See
Other African Cichlid Profiles :
Pseudotropheus Zebra
Venustus
Frontosa
Aulonocara
Tilapia Buttikoferi
Moorii
Electric Blue Ahli
Duboisi
Pemba
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