All fish / Cichlidae

Copadichromis pleurostigma

Copadichromis pleurostigma

Also known as pleurostigma haplochromis, haplochromis pleurostigma, copadichromis pleurostigma likoma, utaka pleurostigma

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This is a Lake Malawi utaka, a plankton-feeding haplochromine that lives in open water above the rocks. Females and juveniles are silvery with a row of dark spots along the flank. Breeding males turn blue, often with a darker throat and paler blaze on the head. People keep it because it is fairly calm for a Malawi cichlid and suits a mixed tank of peaceful haps and Aulonocara.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

15 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

7.5 to 8.6

Smallest tank

300 litres

Keep as

One male with 3 or more females

Diet

Omnivore: quality cichlid pellets, flakes, frozen mysis, brine shrimp and krill

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lake Malawi (Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania)

Breeding

It is a maternal mouthbrooder. The male digs a spawning site and displays to females, and the female carries the eggs and fry in her mouth for about three weeks. In a well set up Malawi tank it breeds without much difficulty.

Good to know

Do not keep it with aggressive mbuna, which will bully it. It can also hybridise with other Copadichromis, so avoid keeping closely related utaka together.