Kingsizei Malawi-Cichlid (Metriaclima pulpican)

Kingsizei Malawi-Cichlid Metriaclima pulpican
Name	Kingsizei Malawi-Cichlid
Name Lat.	Metriaclima pulpican
Synonym	Cynotilapia pulpican
Family	Cichlids
Family lat.	Cichlidae
Order	Cichlids
Order lat.	Cichliformes
Origin	Lake Malawi
Habitat	Rocky habitat
Diet	Planktivore, Aufwuchs
pH	7.5-8.8
Behavior	Semi-aggressive
Keeping	Harem
Care Level	Moderate
Reproduction	Mouthbrooder
Breeding	Simple
Life Span	6-10 years
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	8-9 cm
Temperature	24-28 °C
Hardness	10-25 °dH
Aquarium	~ 250 l
US Units
Size	3"-3.5"
Temperature	75-82 °F
Hardness	178-445 ppm
Aquarium	~ 65 gal

Distribution and habitat

The range of the Kingsizei rock cichlids is exclusively (endemically) Lake Malawi, where they are found only on Likoma Island, near Maingano. They belong to the group of mbuna, which lives in the rocky shore zones.

Maintenance

The aquarium setup should have rock structures reaching to the water surface, with many crevices, caves and shelters that serve as hiding places, as well as robust plants and some free sand areas. There should be no detectable ammonia, ammonium or nitrite, and the nitrate level should not exceed 100 mg/l. To ensure the water quality and oxygen content, a filter and heater adapted to the aquarium size is required, as well as lighting for the species-appropriate day-night rhythm of the animals.

Diet

They feed mainly on plankton as well as on the plant cover (growth) and the microorganisms contained therein. The food supply consists of live, frozen and dry food. For a balanced diet, feed once daily with a high quality dry food for Malawi cichlids (flakes, granules, pellets) as well as cyclops, daphnia, artemia and plankton (live or frozen). In addition, they also need plant food, such as algae leaves, scalded leafy and wild vegetables or high-quality dry food with plant components (kelp, spirulina)

Only feed as much as will be eaten within a few minutes. A regular and varied diet promotes health and increases resistance.

Behaviour and compatibility

Males occupy territories which they defend vigorously against conspecifics, they are not very aggressive towards other fish. They should be kept in a harem, one male with several females. Keeping multiple harems is only recommended in a larger and richly structured tank. They can be socialized well with other small cichlids from Lake Malawi, especially from the mbuna group.

Basically, only compatible fish species with similar demands on water condition and water temperature should be socialized.

Sex dimorphism

The sexually mature male has a bluish base coloration and a distinct yellow egg spot on the anal fin. Juveniles and females have a golden yellow to orange ground coloration.

Reproduction and breeding

They are maternal mouth brooders. Immediately after spawning on a rock, the females take the eggs into their throat sac for mouth brooding. They retain the fry in their throat sac even after hatching. After about 4 weeks, the fry are released and brood care ends. During the entire brood care, the female does not take any food.

Fry must be fed several times a day with special rearing food. In community tanks breeding is hardly possible, because the fry are easy prey.

Important

The well-being of the fish should be checked regularly. The temperature should be checked daily, the pH, hardness and nitrate value at least every 14 days. A regular partial water change is recommended, even if the pollutant load has not yet reached the upper limit. Sudden changes in water quality should be avoided. Newly introduced fish must be accustomed slowly to the water in the aquarium.

Further literature can be found in your pet store.

References

Text: petdata; Image: petdata

Source: BMELV (1998): Tierschutzgutachten - Haltung von Zierfischen (Süßwasser); BAENSCH & RIEHL (2004): Aquarien Atlas Bd. 4, Mergus Verlag; ENGELMANN (2005): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Fische, Verlag Harri Deutsch

• Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF