All fish / Cichlidae

Pseudotropheus ater

Pseudotropheus ater

Also known as chindongo ater, black mbuna, pseudotropheus sp. ater, ater mbuna

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A small mbuna from rocky shores around two islands in southern Lake Malawi. Males are very dark, almost black, with faint blue barring, while females are duller brown or grey. It is kept by Malawi cichlid enthusiasts who want a less common, compact rock dweller.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

8 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

7.6 to 8.6

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

One male with several females in a busy mbuna community

Diet

Herbivore: algae, spirulina flakes and pellets, blanched greens, with only small amounts of meaty food

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

6 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lake Malawi (Chinyamwezi and Chinyankwazi Islands), Malawi

Breeding

A maternal mouthbrooder: the female carries the eggs and fry in her mouth for about three weeks. It breeds fairly readily in a well-fed group with plenty of rockwork.

Good to know

Males are territorial and quarrelsome, so give it plenty of rocks and avoid keeping it with similar dark barred mbuna, as they may hybridise. Listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN because its natural range is very small.