All fish / Cichlidae

Polystigma Cichlid

Nimbochromis polystigma

Also known as polystigma, kaligono, polystigma hap, haplochromis polystigma, kaligono hap, spotted hap, ポリスティグマ, 多点豹, 多斑雨林

A large, heavy-bodied Malawi haplochromine covered in irregular brown blotches on a pale background, with breeding males turning metallic blue on the head and fins. In the wild it lies still on the bottom and ambushes small fish, and keepers prize it for its striking pattern and bold character.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

22 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

7.5 to 8.6

Smallest tank

400 litres

Keep as

One male with three or more females

Diet

Carnivore: quality cichlid pellets, krill, prawn, mussel and fish fillet

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 12 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lake Malawi, Lake Malombe and the upper Shire River (Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania)

Breeding

A maternal mouthbrooder: the female carries the eggs and fry in her mouth for about three weeks after spawning on a flat stone or in a pit. It breeds fairly readily in a large tank with several females to spread the male's attention.

Good to know

It grows large and will eat any fish small enough to swallow, so keep it only with robust Malawi cichlids of similar size. It is often confused with Nimbochromis livingstonii and N. venustus, so check the blotch pattern when buying.