Zimbabwe Rock

About

Found only in the southern reaches of Lake Malawi, this rocky-habitat cichlid, Otopharynx lithobates, has carved out one of the more unusual ecological niches in the lake: it feeds primarily on the waste of other fish, particularly large catfish like Bagrus meridionalis, picking through droppings and substrate debris for nutrition. The name lithobates translates directly as "rock dweller," and it lives up to that billing both in the wild and in the aquarium, where it rarely ventures into open water. Out of breeding condition, males and females are relatively subdued in appearance, but spawning males undergo a dramatic transformation. The three characteristic flank spots disappear beneath an intense neon blue patterning, while much of the dorsal fin and the top of the head flush a deep yellow-orange. The "Zimbabwe Rock" form is considered the most vivid expression of this coloration. In the aquarium, this species does best with similarly sized, peaceful Haplochromine cichlids and should not be paired with boisterous mbuna. Males can be persistent and aggressive in courtship, so keeping a harem of at least two or three females per male is strongly recommended. It has been sold under the trade name "Aristochromis sp. red top" in the past, so some care is needed when sourcing fish.