Description
Geographic Range: Endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa, particularly found in rocky habitats along the shoreline.
Diet:
Chilotilapia rhoadesii is primarily herbivorous, feeding on algae and plant matter in the wild.
In captivity, they should be fed a diet consisting mainly of high-quality pellets or flakes formulated for herbivorous cichlids. Supplement their diet with fresh vegetables like blanched spinach, zucchini, and spirulina flakes.
Average Adult Size:
Adult Chilotilapia rhoadesii typically reach sizes ranging from 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimeters), with males often being larger and more colorful than females.
Minimum Tank Size:
A minimum tank size of 50 gallons is recommended for a small group of Chilotilapia rhoadesii.
Larger tanks with plenty of swimming space and areas for grazing are preferred, especially for keeping multiple specimens.
Temperament:
Chilotilapia rhoadesii is relatively peaceful compared to many other Lake Malawi cichlids, but they can still exhibit territorial behavior, especially during breeding.
They can be kept in a community tank with other similarly sized and temperamented cichlids, but aggression should be monitored, especially during breeding periods.
Recommended Water Parameters:
pH: 7.5-8.5
Temperature: 76-82°F (24-28°C)
Hardness: Lake Malawi cichlids prefer hard water with a dH range of 10-20.
Ammonia: Should be maintained at zero ppm (parts per million).
Nitrite: Should be maintained at zero ppm.
Nitrate: Keep nitrate levels below 20 ppm through regular water changes and efficient filtration.