Protomelas

Known as the fenestratus, Protomelas fenestratus is a cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi, found in the northern and southwestern parts of the lake. It inhabits rocky shorelines and the sandy zones beyond them, feeding by blowing sediment from rocks and taking what it uncovers. A gentle species unsuited to the boisterous mbuna community, it should not be kept with P. taeniolatus or Protomelas sp. 'steveni taiwan reef', as they may hybridise.

Protomelas pleurotaenia is a cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi, known from Nkhata Bay and Monkey Bay, where it lives in vegetation between rock and sand. It feeds by blowing at the top layer of the substrate, usually sand, and eating the invertebrates it uncovers. Rare in the hobby, it is gentle and unsuited to the mbuna community, though it becomes territorial when breeding.

Protomelas sp. 'steveni taiwan reef' is an undescribed cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi, found at Taiwan Reef, Higga Reef and Mbamba Bay Island. Often sold as a subspecies of P. fenestratus, it is thought to be distinct, and adult males are told from P. fenestratus and P. taeniolatus by their bright red anal fin. Males hold territories on flat rock deeper than 20 metres, and in nature these can measure 5 or 6 feet across.

Protomelas taeniolatus is a cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi, where it is widespread over rocky areas of shallow, clear water. Very similar to P. fenestratus, it is one of the more popular Protomelas, and its colour forms include 'Red Empress', 'Super Red Empress' and 'Blue Fire'. Some of these may be reclassified as distinct species, as they reach different maximum sizes. Tougher than its congeners, it can even be kept with mbuna.