Edit Chindongo flavus

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Name

Scientific name

Chindongo flavus

Described by

Authority Stauffer, Year 1988, Bracketed

Family

Cichlidae

Common names

Not recorded

Photograph credits

All 1 credited

Summary

Chindongo flavus is a mbuna endemic to Lake Malawi, recorded only at Chinyankwazi Island and Chinyamwezi Reef. Not especially aggressive fo…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

90mm, standard length

Aquarium size

Minimum length 90 cm, Minimum depth 45 cm, Minimum height 38 cm

Water

Water conditions

Temperature 24–28°C, pH 7.6–8.8

Hardness

10–25dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Not recorded

Community suitability

Not recorded

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Malawi, Lake Malawi

Writing

Etymology

Not written yet

Distribution

Endemic to Lake Malawi. It has been recorded exclusively at Chinyankwazi Island and Chinyamwezi Reef.

Habitat

It inhabits rocky areas around the island and reef.

Aquarium size

90 ∗ 45 ∗ 38 cm - ~154 litres.

Maintenance

Much of the aquarium should contain piles of rocks arranged to form caves with small areas of open water between. A sandy substrate is best. The growth of alga…

Water conditions

Temperature: 24 – 28 °C pH: 7.6-8.8 Hardness: 10-25°H

Diet

It will accept most foods offered but vegetable matter in the form of spirulina flakes, blanched spinach, nori etc. should form a large proportion of the diet.…

Behaviour and compatibility

Not especially aggressive for a mbuna. It should not be kept with large mbuna or other very boisterous fish or equally peace loving species such as Peacocks or…

Sexual dimorphism

Males are far more colourful than females.

Reproduction

Possible. Maternal mouthbrooder. Ideally it should be spawned in a species tank in a harem of one male and at least 3 females, although it will often spawn in …

Possible. Maternal mouthbrooder. Ideally it should be spawned in a species tank in a harem of one male and at least 3 females, although it will often spawn in the community aquarium. A 36" aquarium is a good size (although larger is preferable) and this should be furnished as suggested above, along with some flat stones and areas of open substrate to act as potential spawning sites. The pH should be around 8.2-8.5 and the temperature 25 – 26.5 °C77 – 80 °F. Condition the fish with a high quality diet composed mainly of vegetable matter.

The male fish will clean and then display around his chosen spawning site, showing intense colour, and attempt to entice females to mate with him. He is quite vigorous in his pursuits and it is in order to dissipate this aggression that we spawn this species in a harem. When a female is willing, she will approach the spawning site and lay her eggs there, after which she picks them up in her mouth. The male fish has egg-shaped spots on his anal and the female is attracted to these. When she tries to add them to the brood in her mouth she actually recieves milt from the male, thus fertilising the eggs.

The female will carry the eggs for around 3-4 weeks before releasing the free swimming fry. She will not eat during this period and can be easily spotted by her distended mouth. If a female is overly stressed she may spit out the brood prematurely or eat them, so care must be taken if you decide to move the fish in order to avoid fry predation or harassment by the males. Some breeders artificially strip the fry from the mother's mouth at the 2 week stage and raise them from that point as this usually results in a larger number of fry.

The fry are large enough to take brine shrimp nauplii, microworm and powdered dried foods from birth.

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Where does this come from?

My own experienceFor example, I've kept twelve in a planted 60 cm tank since March 2024.A website I sawFor example, an IUCN Red List assessment, a museum catalogue or a FishBase page.A paperFor example, Marshall et al. (2011), Water temperature differences in interfluvial palm swamp habitats of Paracheirodon axelrodi and P. simulans.A book, or something not onlineFor example, Tappin (2010), Rainbowfishes: their care and keeping in captivity.Something already on the pageFor example, the Behaviour and compatibility section already says this.

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DOI

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Authors

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Year

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Pages

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Notes

Although it is a good choice for the general mbuna community, as mentioned above C. flavus should not be kept together with any member of the C. elongatus comp…

References

No references

Name

Scientific name

Described by

Family

Common names

Photograph credits

Summary

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

Aquarium size

Water

Water conditions

Hardness

Conductivity

Behaviour

Temperament

Social needs

Community suitability

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Writing

Etymology

Distribution

Habitat

Aquarium size

Maintenance

Water conditions

Diet

Behaviour and compatibility

Sexual dimorphism

Reproduction

Notes

References

References