This species is not often seen in the hobby, which is a pity as it is a stunning fish with interesting behaviour. If you do manage to get some, be sure to provide the best possible conditions from the start, as they appear to travel quite badly and losses are common.

There are currently 3 subspecies, Pseudocrenilabrus philander philander, P. p. dispersus and P. p. luebberti. However, recent studies suggest as many as 11 distinct populations exist, differing in location, colour, patterning, be…

This species was one of the first cichlid species to be spawned in captivity and has been in the hobby for over a century. It is less popular than it once was but remains a good choice for the beginner as it is tolerant of a wide range of water conditions and is easily bred.

There currently exist 2 subspecies, Pseudocrenilabrus multicolor multicolor and P. m. victoriae. These are quite distinct in terms of colouration and patterning and exist as separate populations in nature. Both subspecie…

One of the more popular and readily available Protomelas species in the hobby, P. taeniolatus is very similar to P. fenestratus. Several colour forms of both these species exist. Some of the popular morphs of taeniolatus include "Red Empress", "Super Red Empress" and "Blue Fire". It is likely that some of these may be reclassified as distinct species in the future, as they attain different maximum sizes. None of these related species or morphs should be kept togethe…

Protomelas sp. "steveni taiwan reef" is often sold as a subspecies of P. fenestratus, but is actually thought not to be synonymous and is currently undescribed. It can be distinguished from similar species such as P. fenestratus and P. taeniolatus by the bright redof adult males. None of these related species or morphs should be kept together in aquaria as they may hybridise.

Some captive spawns of this species have resulted in albino fry. It is one of the more popular and readily a…

This species has an interesting method of feeding in nature. It 'blows' at the top layer of the substrate (usually sand) and feeds on any invertebrates or other morsels that are uncovered. It is rare in the hobby and little information regarding it's care is available….

This species has an interesting method of feeding in nature. It will 'blow' sediment from the surface of rocks and feed on morsels that are uncovered. Protomelas sp. "steveni taiwan reef" is often sold as a subspecies of P. fenestratus but is actually thought not to be synonymous. P. taeniolatus is also very similar to fenestratus, and several colour forms of both these species exist. It is likely that some of these may be reclassified as distinct species in the future. None …

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 witho…

Wild caught specimens of this fish possess a truly amazing set of lips! They are massively enlarged and designed for scraping algae and invertebrates from rock surfaces. In nature, these actually develop in direct proportion to the amount of turbidity in a given locality. Fish inhabiting more turbulent waters have larger lips, as the algae in these areas is anchored to the rocks more firmly. In the aquarium, the lips usually recede or, in tank bred fish, do not develop at all, as they are not re…

The common name is derived from the fact that it was previously thought to be found only in much deeper water than we now know it inhabits. In nature, P. electra feeds from the surface of the substrate on invertebrates and other morsels stirred up by the action of digging substrate feeders such as Taeniolethrinops praeorbitalis. It is attracted to the clouds of sediment thrown up by these species.

Several colour forms exist and these should not be kept together in aquaria as they may hybridis…

The mouthparts of this species are highly specialised, reflecting its natural feeding habits of rasping algae and other organisms from rock surfaces. It feeds almost exclusively on unicellular algae and has very thick, extended lips and brush-like, mobile pads of teeth. The mouthparts thus form a rasping 'plate', used when the fish is feeding. It is somewhat rare in the hobby, perhaps due to its violent reputation or the fact that this is not a particularly gregarious species in nature…