Aquarist Atlas
↑ Collection form of Placidochromis johnstoni

Placidochromis johnstoni "Cobwe"

Cobwe — KOH-bweh (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 Placidochromis johnstoni account →

Specific to Cobwe

  • 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 Placidochromis johnstoni.

IUCNLEAST CONCERN · 2018
CARESNOT LISTED
Scientific size7.9 in20 cm total length
Temperature75–82 °F24–28 °C
pH7.7–8.8alkaline
Depth0–52 ft0–16 m
DietInvertivore/predator (follows foragers for disturbed prey)
BreedingMaternal mouthbrooderup to ~120 eggs
Sexual dimorphismYesDominant breeding males turn metallic blue-turquoise with darker bars and yellow/orange fin edging; females and subordinate males stay silvery-tan. Coloration is socially gated — only the top male in a group shows full breeding dress.
PhotographsSee photosGoogle Images →

The Cobwe population

Placidochromis johnstoni "Cobwe" is the Cobwe population of Placidochromis johnstoni, a geographic colour form from Lake Malawi in Lake Malawi part of the lake. It is the same species as Placidochromis johnstoni, distinguished by its collection locality and local coloration; aquarists keep and breed it as a discrete, provenance-labelled line.

Colour reference: living Cobwe fish at malawi.si →

About the species

Placidochromis johnstoni is a widespread, sandy-bottom haplochromine cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi, where it makes a modest living as a small-group forager picking invertebrates and tiny fish from the sediment. It is one of the most broadly distributed members of its genus, found lake-wide and downstream into the upper Shire River, and in the trade it still travels under its old name 'Haplochromis johnstoni.' Its quietest trick is also its most interesting: in a shoal of its own kind only a single male turns on full breeding color, so a tank of them can look drab until the social order sorts itself out.

Full Placidochromis johnstoni account →

Sources

  1. malawi.si — Placidochromis johnstoni "Cobwe"
  2. FishBase — Placidochromis johnstoni summary
  3. Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes (CAS) — Haplochromis sexfasciatus, synonym of Placidochromis johnstoni
  4. Identification of the Cichlid Fishes of Lake Malawi/Nyasa, Part 1: Cyrtocarina (benthic/'hap' sub-radiation)
  5. GBIF — occurrence dataset including Placidochromis johnstoni (Günther, 1894)
  6. FishBase — Placidochromis johnstoni point-data occurrences (GBIF/MRAC)