All fish / Cichlidae

Pinstripe Damba

Paretroplus menarambo

Also known as pinstripe damba, menarambo, damba menarambo, paretroplus menerambo, パレトロプルス・メナランボ

A tall-bodied Malagasy cichlid with a silvery grey to brown body marked by fine dark lines along the scale rows and red-edged fins. It is kept mainly by specialists and conservation breeding programmes because it is believed to be extinct in the wild, so captive stocks are vital to its survival.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

20 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

7 to 8

Smallest tank

500 litres

Keep as

A group of 6 or more in a large tank to spread aggression

Diet

Omnivore: sinking pellets, vegetable matter, shrimp, bloodworm and other invertebrates

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Madagascar (Lake Sarodrano and nearby waters, northwest Madagascar); extinct in the wild

Breeding

It is a substrate spawner that lays eggs on a cleaned flat surface, with both parents guarding the eggs and fry. Breeding has been achieved regularly in zoos and by dedicated hobbyists, but pairs need space and mature fish to succeed.

Good to know

Grows large and can be quarrelsome with its own kind, so it needs a big, well-filtered tank. Listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN, so obtain fish from captive-bred sources that support conservation programmes.