Dogtooth Cichlid
Cynotilapia afra
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A mbuna from Lake Malawi's rocky areas, with conical teeth unique among the lake's cichlids. Males defend territories by caves and feed on what grows on the rocks; females stay in midwater feeding on plankton. There are many regional colour forms, which should not be mixed. Aggressive and territorial, it does best with one male to several females. The female mouthbroods the eggs.
- Scientific name
- Cynotilapia afra
- Family
- Cichlidae
Fact sheet
General
- Water
- Freshwater
- Group
- Fish
Taxonomy
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Order
- Cichliformes
- Synonyms
- Hemichromis afer, Paratilapia afra
Origin
- Native region
- África
Water
- Temperature
- 25–29 °C
- pH
- 7.5–8.5
- General hardness (GH)
- 10–25 °dGH
Size and lifespan
- Adult size
- 10 cm
- Minimum tank (volume)
- 90 L
- Minimum tank (length)
- 100 cm
Behavior
- Temperament
- Semi-aggressive
- Swimming level
- Middle
Care
- Care difficulty
- Moderate
Reproduction
- Breeding strategy
- Mouthbrooder
Conservation and trade
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
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