CICHLIDS OF MADAGASCAR ISLAND.
Order Perciformes
Family Cichlidae
Subfamily ( Ptychochrominae )
Madagascar (native Nosin Dambo – island of boars) is the fourth largest island in the world, located in the Indian Ocean, off the eastern coast of Africa, separated from it by the wide (up to 400 km) Mozambique Channel. The island is home to the Republic of Madagascar. The area of the island is 590 thousand sq. km. The length is about 1600 km, the width is over 600 km.
Although Madagascar is located close to Africa, the animal and plant life of the island is unique. Most species are endemic. The climate is tropical. The extreme south of the island is often referred to as subtropical. Madagascar is poor in fish. The development of the species living here began in the sea, and only over time did they adapt to a new habitat in fresh water (secondary freshwater fishes).
Genus Katria.
— Katria katria [Reinthal & Stiassny, 1997] — Katria. Synonym: Ptychochromoides katria. Madagascar. 12 cm. Golden-brown body coloration, two wide black vertical stripes. Adult males may develop an occipital hump. The body has slight black markings and silver spots. Fins are generally dark. In males, the bronze-orange color is more intense. Spawning coloration – the upper part of the body is white and the lower part is black.
They can be very aggressive and therefore require large aquariums for a group of fish. They have high demands on oxygen content in the water. The fish are heat-loving. Large weekly water changes of 50% are recommended. Omnivorous, accepting a wide range of food products. During spawning, the female stays with the eggs and fry, while the male defends the territory.
Genus Oxylapia.
— Oxylapia polli [Kiener & Mauge, 1966]. 13 cm.
Genus Ptychochromoides.
— Ptychochromoides betsileanus [Boulenger, 1899]. Island of Madagascar. 20 cm. The body has a uniform deep black coloration, head with a well-developed occipital hump, deeply emarginate tail.
Genus Ptychochromis.
— Ptychochromis grandidieri [Sauvage, 1882]. Island of Madagascar. 21 cm, females are smaller. Appearance can vary significantly from bronze with dark spots to golden or dark gray. Peaceful, moderately aggressive. Can be aggressive when kept in small aquariums. Should not be kept with aggressive fish. Occupy middle water layers. Very susceptible to skin infections. Regular partial water changes and salt addition are necessary. pH 5.5-7.0; dH 3-15°; T 21-26°C.
— Ptychochromis insolitus [Stiassny & Sparks, 2006]. Island of Madagascar. 8 cm. Not aggressive. They should not be kept with aggressive Central American cichlids. They will accept dry food with almost as much enthusiasm as frozen or live bloodworms, Artemia, Daphnia, and of course earthworms. pH 7.7; dH 15°; T 26°C.
— Ptychochromis oligacanthus [Bleeker, 1868] — Juba Cichlid. Northwestern tip of Madagascar Island, southeastern coast of Africa. 15-22 cm. Indistinct lateral spots on a silvery-blue background, the male has a wine-red dorsal fin during spawning. Darken with age. Depending on their mood, they show color variations ranging from almost gray to black and purple. Adults have blue lips. There is a subspecies — Ptychochromis oligacanthus nossibeensis.
Aggressive, keep in groups of 5 or more individuals to reduce aggression. Prefers middle water levels. Substrate of inert sand, which these fish sift through their gills, much like South American species Satanoperca and Geophagus. Can live in hard water. Feed with frozen bloodworms, earthworms, shrimp, Artemia, and good quality cichlid pellets. Eggs are laid in pits in the substrate or on glass and stones. Live up to 6 years. pH 7.0-8.0; dH 10-24°; T 24-30°C.
Identification: Ptychochromis oligacanthus.
Genus Paratilapia.
— Paratilapia bleekeri [Sauvage, 1882]. Island of Madagascar. 30 cm, female is significantly smaller. Has a magnificent velvety black color, with attractive gold and blue spots on the body and in the caudal and dorsal fins. The male generally has a more rounded head shape.
In a large tank, they can be combined with other lake cichlids and even some from Central America. Small fish will be eaten. The aquarium should contain a large number of shelters in the form of ceramics, roots and driftwood parts, plants can also be used. Keep a single male or in pairs, they have strong intraspecific aggression. The male occupies his own large territory. They become more aggressive during the breeding period.
Sandy substrate is preferred, but fine gravel is also acceptable. More active in the early morning and at dusk. Very sensitive to changes in water parameters and large water changes should be avoided. Also particularly susceptible to Oodinium. The pair digs a large pit in the substrate in their territory, where spawning takes place. Eggs have long sticky threads, forming long clusters. pH 7.7; dH 15°; T 26°C.
— Paratilapia polleni [Bleeker, 1868] — Marakeli Cichlid, Pollen’s Cichlid. Synonyms: Paratilapia bleekeri, typus. Island of Madagascar. 25 cm. Large powerful velvety-black fish with a not very motley, but at the same time contrasting saturated coloration.
Two main color forms are known today – spotted and speckled: in some, the brownish-black body and head are dotted with large shiny gold and blue spots on the body and on the caudal and dorsal fins, in others – rare silver dots. The speckled variety is less spectacular. Typical color – the main velvety black color with more or less gloss is the prerogative of an adult, dominant fish during spawning.
Subdominants, as well as young fish, are colored weaker, the main color of varying intensity and range of shades from brown or olive color. Bright spots can be of various sizes and colors – usually pearl, golden, blue, greenish or almost orange, sometimes even completely absent. The dorsal fin is yellow of various shades.
The male is more massive and high-bodied, with a large fat pad on the forehead and elongated dorsal and anal fins. Young females have a rounded dorsal fin. During the breeding season, the fish transform noticeably. The anthracite body glows with golden spots flashing with sapphire fire during “bows”.
An aquarium of 200 liters is needed for a single pair and from 400 liters for a community of fish. Predator, carnivorous species. Prefers diffused lighting, loose substrate, an abundance of shelters of appropriate sizes for females and other inhabitants (ceramic pipes, caves, crevices between stones and driftwood). Decorations must be firmly installed and securely fastened.
Do not overload the tank with them so that the Paratilapia have enough free swimming space. They feel better in a densely planted aquarium. During spawning, while digging pits, they can destroy roots, but well-chosen potted plants can safely withstand this.
It is better to keep fish singly or in pairs in a separate tank, but if necessary (and provided there is enough space) they can be combined with commensurable or larger non-aggressive neighbors. The male spends most of his time in hiding. Filtration, regular water changes with fresh water. Food: small feeder fish, frozen shrimp and other animal-derived foods, granulated and tableted dry mixtures. Live 10-15 years. Mature at 1.5-2 years. Grow very slowly, at three years the length is two-thirds of the maximum size. pH 7.0-8.0; dH 15°; T 20-26°C.
Identification: Paratilapia polleni.
Subfamily ( Etroplinae )
Genus Paretroplus.
Most Paretroplus species are found in lakes and rivers in northwestern Madagascar. Omnivores.
— Paretroplus dami, damii [Bleeker, 1868] — Damba. Endemic to northwestern Madagascar, in the area of Lake Pambilao. 25 cm. Has an interesting coloration – the front half of the body is red and the back is black. The aquarium should be equipped with driftwood and stones to form caves and territory for each fish. Plants should be used with caution as this fish destroys them. Moderately aggressive cichlids. When the pair is ready to spawn, they begin excavating a series of pits, usually between rocks or among plants, in various areas of the aquarium. The pair takes turns guarding the clutch. T 26-30°C; pH 7.0; dH up to 15°.
— Paretroplus dambabe [Sparks, 2002].
— Paretroplus kieneri [Arnoult, 1960]. Island of Madagascar. 15 cm. The smallest in the genus. Head is completely black. Its main body color is orange, with dirty gray spots that lighten or darken with mood. Peaceful. May become aggressive if kept in inappropriate aquariums. Occupy middle water layers. Dig a lot in the substrate, sifting it through their gills. Feed with frozen bloodworms, earthworms, shrimp. pH 6.5-7.5; dH 6-17°; T 23-28°C.
Identification: Genus Paretroplus — Paretroplus damii, dambabe, kieneri.
— Paretroplus maculatus [Kiener & Mauge 1966] — Damba Mipentina. Island of Madagascar. 30 cm, in the aquarium 15 cm. Body compressed laterally and with a high profile. The general coloration of the fish is beige or golden-green, which upon closer inspection actually consists of intermittent vertical lines of these two colors.
Has a characteristic large black shoulder spot. There are faint black vertical stripes on the body. A black line runs above the forehead between the eyes. Anal and pelvic fins with black color. The emarginate caudal fin and dorsal fin are also faintly black colored with a red rim. Tail with elongated and sharp corners.
Adult attractive coloration begins to show when reaching 10 cm in size. Sexual dimorphism is imperceptible. Aggressive, especially during the spawning period. If kept in groups of more than 6 specimens, and having enough space and shelters, these fish are peaceful towards their own kind as well as other fish in the aquarium. Eat snails. pH 6.5-7.5; dH 6-18°; T 23-28°C.
Identification: Paretroplus maculatus.
— Paretroplus maromandia [Sparks & Reinthal, 1998]. Island of Madagascar. 30 cm. Aggressive.
— Paretroplus menarambo [Allgayer, 1996] — Pinstripe, Pin Striped Damba. Northern part of Madagascar Island. 25 cm, in the aquarium 14-17 cm. Body beige with silver, scales with dark borders. Juveniles have a pale gold color, with horizontal rows of small black dots along the side of the body. Dark stripes on the flanks will appear and disappear depending on their mood. Adult fish have a bluish-gray to creamy-white coloration with rows of dark dots. The head is colored in an iridescent green-blue color.
They have a peculiar large emarginate caudal fin with sharp corners of blue color with a red border on the outer edge. The dorsal and anal fins are small, slightly elongated backwards, rounded, and also with a red border. Pectoral fins are red, dorsal and anal are iridescent blue with a red border. Males and females are very difficult to distinguish until the breeding period. Juveniles are pale golden, with horizontal rows of small black dots, dark stripes on the flanks appear and disappear depending on their mood.
A large aquarium is needed, inert sand substrate, stones, driftwood and artificial plants. Aggressive, if possible, to reduce territoriality, keep in a school of at least six fish. Can be kept with other large cichlids, but during the spawning period it is better to move them to a separate aquarium. Dig a lot in the substrate sifting it through their gills, plants will not be able to survive.
In nature, they mainly feed on mollusks, in the aquarium they eagerly eat all live and dry foods. Require good water filtration, with a pH neutral or higher, at temperatures above 24°C. Lay eggs on the substrate in pits. Live up to 8 years. pH 7.0-8.0.
Identification: Paretroplus menarambo.
— Paretroplus nourissati [Allgayer 1998] — Lamena. Synonym: Lamena nourissati. Island of Madagascar. 20 cm. Body color orange-red with two contrasting black stripes. Dorsal, anal and caudal fins are yellowish with a red border. Juveniles are gray-yellowish with characteristic dark vertical stripes. Color morph: — P. nourissati “Blue Lips”. Has an attractive yellow-orange body color. When spawning, it acquires a dark brown color.
The male is very aggressive, border clashes for territory are frequent. Substrate of a thin layer of sand, stones on it, pieces of driftwood and large flower pots for shelters. Weekly water changes and good filtration. Feed flakes and pellets, daphnia, bloodworms and artemia, frozen mix with spinach, peas, shrimp, white fish and mussels. Eat snails. Lay eggs inside the cave. The male guards the clutch and does not let anyone within 20-30 cm of the cave, even the female. pH 7.0-8.5; T 24-27°C.
— Paretroplus polyactus [Bleeker, 1878]. Island of Madagascar, inhabits most of the east coast. 25 cm. Aggressive. Tolerates brackish water.
— Paretroplus petiti [Pellegrin, 1929]. Island of Madagascar. 25 cm. Aggressive.
— Paretroplus tsimoly [Stiassny, Chakrabarty & Loiselle, 2001]. Have fleshy, blue lips and vertical stripes on the flanks. pH 7.8; T 26°C.
Cichlids of Asia, Genus Etroplus, Genus Iranocichla.
Tropheus moorii and its color variations. 
Last changes and additions made on June 15, 2014.
