Namely these lake malawi beauties are one the most colorful fish species.

Malawi fish types. As adults they are sexually dimorphic with males becoming very colorful and females remaining bland. There are many beautiful fish in this group but a number of species are plainer colored. Commonly known as peacocks auloncara come in a wide variety of species and are some of the most beautiful.

Some species readily available to the hobbyist include the blue moorii electric blue hap and the malawi eyebiter. Of lake malawis many freshwater species easily the most beloved is its collection of over 600 species of cichlid. Technically protomelas taeniolatus the red empress is a fish closely related to the auloncara species but.

Nyasensis bathyclarias nyasensis worthington 1933 endemic synonyms. These colourful fish are found all over the world but are abundant in lake malawi proof of its credentials as a truly unique underwater ecosystem. Some species of mbuna can be quite aggressive especially the larger varieties.

The mozambique portion of the lake was officially declared a reserve by the government of mozambique on june 10 2011 8 while in malawi a portion of the lake is included in lake malawi national park. Bathyclarias longibarbis worthington 1933 type species endemic. Blue moorii cyrtocara moorii.

Malawi cichlid haps fish information on the lake malawi cichlids known as the haps haplochromis group habitats and cichlids tanks for free swimming types of cichlids including the utaka. Order tropical aquarium fish online from live fish direct. Lake malawi is home to more species of fish than any other lake including at least 700 species of cichlids.

There are two general types of cichlids in lake malawi. These fish display a range of bright colors like a peacocks tail hence the name. However mbuna is a common name for a whole lot of varieties and the name itself simply means rockfish.

Sizes usually range from 4 to 6 inches. 22 species of peacock cichlids have been described all from lake malawi. Bathyclarias loweae jackson 1959 endemic see note under b.

It is the males that display most of the color while the females often look drab in comparison. The most famous is probably mbuna cichlid and for a reason. Popular lake malawi cichlids auloncara.