Haplochromis yellow black line

About

A rarely imported cichlid from Lake Malawi, Mylochromis melanonotus has an interesting taxonomic backstory worth knowing before you track one down. Some individuals sport a distinctively shovel-shaped lower jaw, which led early researchers to classify them in their own genus, Platygnathochromis. It took careful observation of wild breeding populations to reveal that fish with and without this modified jaw were actually the same species, interbreeding freely. Today Platygnathochromis and the name Mylochromis semipalatus are both considered synonyms. In the lake, this species hangs out primarily over sandy substrates and occasionally in transitional zones where rock meets sand. It is a true predator, hunting small fish and mollusks, so tankmate selection needs careful thought. Anything small enough to swallow is a meal, which narrows your options considerably. Good companions include other large, robust Malawi species like Aristochromis or Fossorochromis rostratus, and Rift Lake synodontis catfish can work well too. Keep it well away from mbuna. Males are territorial with each other, so plan on one male paired with several females. Breeding has not been documented in captivity, though in the wild males dig large pits and defend them during spawning before the female retreats to brood the eggs on her own.