Red Empress Cichlid (Protomelas taeniolatus)
| Red Empress Cichlid Protomelas taeniolatus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Red Empress Cichlid |
| Name Lat. | Protomelas taeniolatus |
| Synonym | Haplochromis taeniolatus |
| Family | Cichlids |
| Family lat. | Cichlidae |
| Order | Cichlids |
| Order lat. | Cichliformes |
| Origin | Lake Malawi |
| Habitat | Shallow water |
| Diet | Limnivore, aufwuchs |
| pH | 7.5-8.8 |
| Behavior | ♂ territorial |
| Keeping | Harem |
| Care Level | Difficult |
| Reproduction | Mouthbrooder |
| Breeding | Simple |
| Life Span | 6-10 years |
| Protection | No |
| Metric Units | |
| Size | ♀ 12 cm, ♂ 15 cm |
| Temperature | 24-28 °C |
| Hardness | 10-25 °dH |
| Aquarium | ~ 350 l |
| US Units | |
| Size | ♀ 4.7", ♂ 6" |
| Temperature | 75-82 °F |
| Hardness | 178-445 ppm |
| Aquarium | ~ 90 gal |
Distribution and habitat
The Striped Malawi Cichlids are found exclusively (endemically) in Lake Malawi, where they are widespread throughout the lake and have produced many site variants that differ in coloration. They live in the clear, shallow waters of rocky shorelines.
Maintenance
The aquarium should be furnished with rock structures reaching the water surface, with crevices, caves and shelters that serve as hiding places and offer plenty of free swimming space. No ammonia, ammonium and nitrite should be detectable, the nitrate value should not exceed 100 mg/l. To ensure the water quality and the oxygen content, a filter and a heater adapted to the aquarium size are required, as well as lighting for the species-appropriate day-night rhythm of the animals.
Diet
They eat the microorganisms from the plant cover (growth) of stones. The food supply consists of live, frozen and dry food. For a balanced diet, feed once a day with a high-quality dry food for Malawi cichlids (flakes, granules, pellets) as well as cyclops, daphnia, artemia, mosquito larvae, etc. (live or frozen). For this purpose, they need vegetable food, such as algae leaves, over-scalded leafy and wild vegetables or high-quality dry food with vegetable components
It is recommended to feed only as much as will be eaten within a few minutes. A regular and varied diet promotes health and increases resistance.
Behaviour and compatibility
These Malawi cichlids are relatively peaceful, but assertive. Males occupy territories, which they defend vigorously during spawning season. They should be maintained 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 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 sexes differ clearly in coloration (sexual dichromatism). The male is much more colorful and has longer extended fins. The female is smaller and inconspicuous gray colored with two horizontal bands.
Reproduction and breeding
They are maternal mouth brooders. Males occupy a spawning site on a rock plateau or large boulder and try to attract females there that are ready to spawn. Immediately after spawning, the females pick up the eggs in their throat sac for mouthbrooding and hide among rocks. 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 location or color varieties of Striped Malawi Cichlids should not be maintained together, as undesirable crossbreeding (hybridization) may occur.
The well-being of the fish should be monitored regularly. Temperature should be checked daily, pH, hardness and nitrate levels should be checked at least every 14 days. 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: Werner Winter; Image: petdata
Source: BMEL (1998): Tierschutzgutachten - Haltung von Zierfischen (Süßwasser); RIEHL & BAENSCH (2004): Aquarien Atlas Bd. 3, Mergus Verlag; ENGELMANN (2005): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Fische, Verlag Harri Deutsch
- Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF