Melanochromis mossambiquensis "Metangula"

Metangulameh-tahn-GOO-lah (approx.)

The fish

How this cichlid is built, and everything about how it lives, eats and breeds, is shared with the species — this page doesn't repeat it.

Read the full Melanochromis mossambiquensis account →

Specific to Metangula

  • Collection locality & coordinates
  • Local coloration — best judged from the living-fish photo
  • Kept as a single-provenance line, never crossed with other collection points

Care facts below are the species' — shared with Melanochromis mossambiquensis.

CARESNOT LISTED
Scientific size4 in10 cm total length
Temperature75–82 °F24–28 °C
pH7.7–8.6alkaline
Hardness (GH)slightly hardup to 214 ppm
Depth3–49 ft1–15 m
DietOmnivorous grazer of algal turf, opportunistically taking small invertebrates
BreedingMaternal mouthbrooderNot documented for this species; likely a few dozen eggs by comparison with similarly sized Melanochromis
Sexual dimorphismYesMelanochromis often shows unusual, sometimes near-inverted, male/female striping contrasts; specific pattern for this species not confidently documented here.
PhotographsSee photosGoogle Images →

The Metangula population

Melanochromis mossambiquensis "Metangula" is the Metangula population of Melanochromis mossambiquensis, a geographic colour form from the Mozambique coast of Lake Malawi in the south-central part of the lake. It is the same species as Melanochromis mossambiquensis, distinguished by its collection locality and local coloration; aquarists keep and breed it as a discrete, provenance-labelled line.

Colour reference: living Metangula fish at malawi.si

About the species

Melanochromis mossambiquensis is a rock-dwelling mbuna from the eastern shore of Lake Malawi, documented from sites in the stretch of lakefront that lies within Mozambique — the geography behind its species name. It belongs to Melanochromis, a genus best known in the hobby for bold horizontal-striped species such as M. auratus and M. johannii, and shares the genus's mix of algae grazing and more opportunistic, occasionally aggressive feeding habits.

Full Melanochromis mossambiquensis account →

Sources

  1. malawi.si — Melanochromis mossambiquensis "Metangula"
  2. Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes — species search (California Academy of Sciences)
  3. Konings, A. — Malawi Cichlids in their Natural Habitat (Cichlid Press)