Polit Mbuna (Pseudotropheus sp. 'Polit')

Polit Mbuna Pseudotropheus sp. 'Polit'
Name	Polit Mbuna
Name Lat.	Pseudotropheus sp. 'Polit'
Family	Cichlids
Family lat.	Cichlidae
Order	Cichlids
Order lat.	Cichliformes
Origin	Lake Malawi
Habitat	Rocky habitat
Diet	Omnivore, aufwuchs
pH	7.5-8.8
Behavior	Aggressive
Keeping	Harem
Care Level	Moderate
Reproduction	Mouthbrooder
Breeding	Simple
Life Span	5-8 years
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	7-9 cm
Temperature	24-28 °C
Hardness	10-25 °dH
Aquarium	~ 300 l
US Units
Size	2.8"-3.5"
Temperature	75-82 °F
Hardness	178-445 ppm
Aquarium	~ 80 gal

Distribution and habitat

The range of the blackheaded mouthbrooders is exclusively (endemically) Lake Malawi, where they are found at Thoto near Lion's Cove (Malawi). They belong to the group of mbuna that 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. No ammonia, ammonium or nitrite should be detectable in the water, 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 the plant cover (growth) and the microorganisms contained therein, as well as on plankton. 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 vegetable food, such as algae leaves and commercially available green food (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

They are lively and very assertive mbunas. Males occupy territories only briefly, which they defend vigorously. They should be kept in a harem, one male with several females or better in a large group. In this way social structures are formed which reduce quarrels. Keeping a group is only recommended in a larger and richly structured tank. They can be socialized well with other robust cichlids from Lake Malawi, especially from the Mbuna group. Basically, only compatible fish species with similar demands on water conditions and water temperature should be socialized.

Sex dimorphism

The slightly larger male has longer extended fins and distinct yellow egg spots on the anal fin, which are weaker or absent in the female. The females are inconspicuously colored.

Reproduction and breeding

They are maternal mouth brooders. Immediately after spawning, on a rock or small depression, the females pick up the eggs in their throat sac for mouthbrooding. They keep the fry in their throat sac even after hatching. After about 3 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 (Artemia nauplii). In community tanks breeding is hardly possible, because the fry is easy prey.

Important

Different Pseudotropheus species should not be kept together, as they can interbreed (hybridize)

The well-being of the fish should be checked regularly. Temperature should be checked daily, pH, hardness and nitrate levels at least fortnightly. Regular partial water changes are recommended, even if the contaminant level 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); RIEHL & BAENSCH (2006): Aquarien Atlas Bd. 1, Mergus Verlag; ENGELMANN (2005): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Fische, Verlag Harri Deutsch

• Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF