Mylochromis melanonotus

Haplochromis Yellow-black Line

Classification

Cichlidae

Distribution

Endemic to Lake Malawi. It has a wide distribution in the lake.

Habitat

It usually inhabits areas with sandy substrates in deeper water but is also often found around the intermediate shoreline areas, where there are scattered rocks over sandy bottoms.

Maximum Standard Length

10.4″ (26cm).

Aquarium SizeTop ↑

60″ x 24″ x 24″ (150cm x 60cm x 60cm) – 540 litres for adult specimens. Juveniles can be kept in smaller aquaria.

Maintenance

Arrange piles of rocks to form caves and hiding places, with areas of open space between for swimming. A sandy substrate is essential, as the fish will often take mouthfuls of sand into their mouths, sifting it for food items. If gravel is used the mouthparts or gills may be damaged or a piece may get stuck in the throat of the fish.

Water Conditions

Temperature: 75-82°F (24-28°C)

pH: 7.6-8.8

Hardness: 10-25°H

Diet

Offer a varied diet of meaty live and frozen foods and good quality cichlid pellets.

Behaviour and CompatibilityTop ↑

It is piscivorous and will eat small fish. It is not particularly aggressive with anything too large to fit in its mouth, but the choices are fairly limited. Tankmates could include Aristochomis, Fossorochromis rostratus or Rift Lake Synodontis species. It should not be kept with mbuna. Male fish should be kept along with several females but are territorial with other males, so we suggest only one male per aquarium.

Sexual Dimorphism

Males are more colourful than females.

Reproduction

Not known to have occured in aquaria. It is a maternal mouthbrooder and in nature, breeding occurs in a similar fashion to others of the genus, with the males excavating large pits which they defend against other males. Spawning occurs in these pits after which the female leaves the male’s territory.

NotesTop ↑

M. melanonotus is rarely imported and little information is available regarding its captive care. The shovel-like lower jaw possessed by some individuals of this species has been the cause of some confusion regarding the fishes’ true identity. It was originally placed in the genus Platygnathochromis, in which it was the only species. However, Ad Konings observed that amongst wild breeding populations there existed individuals both with and without the modified lower jaw. The specimens without the modification were identical to another species, Mylochromis semipalatus. Therefore all these fish are now classified as Mylochromis melanonotus, with Platygnathochromis and semipalatus being regarded as synonyms of this species.