Bumblebee Cichlid

About

Found on the rocky reefs and cave systems of Lake Malawi, this bold cichlid, Pseudotropheus crabro, has one of the most unusual feeding strategies in freshwater fishkeeping. In the wild it maintains a working relationship with the large catfish Bagrus meridionalis, picking parasites and lice from its body while displaying a distinctive yellow and black pattern the catfish appears to tolerate. But when the opportunity arises to raid the catfish's egg clutch, it shifts to an almost entirely black coloration in under a second, effectively disguising itself to sneak past the host undetected. This near-instant color change is genuinely remarkable and can occasionally be observed in the aquarium when the fish is feeling particularly bold or aggressive. In the lake it turns up across a wide range of habitats, though it gravitates toward large boulders and cave entrances at sites like Mbenji, Likoma, and Chisumulu Islands. In the aquarium it lives up to its aggressive reputation and should be housed with other robust Malawi cichlids that can hold their own. Plenty of rockwork that creates caves and sight-line breaks goes a long way toward keeping the peace. This is a fish best suited to keepers who already have some experience with the harder-edged end of the mbuna world.