Encyclopaedia
Afra Cichlid (Dogtooth Cichlid)
Cynotilapia afra (ora divisa in Cynotilapia zebroides per le specie a strisce)
The Afra Cichlid (*Cynotilapia afra*) is one of the most sought-after visual gems of Lake Malawi. Also called 'Dogtooth Cichlid' for the unique conformation of its unicuspid teeth visible when it opens its mouth wide to threaten, it sports a dazzling sexual dimorphism: the males explode in colors ranging from cobalt blue to vibrant purple, split by bold and thick vertical black zebra stripes, and sometimes embellished by flushes of golden yellow on the head or back (like the famous 'Cobue' variant). Although not physically huge (it reaches 10 cm / 4 inches), it amply compensates with an open aggression and a leonine courage, often dominating fish much larger than him in the aquarium. It is a splendid fish but not for beginners, requiring strict management of harems and rocky spaces.
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Africa (Endemico del Lago Malawi, zone rocciose a nord del lago: es. Cobue, Jalo Reef, Likoma)
- Origin
- Tropical oceans and reefsExtra-Amazon South AmericaAfrica and MadagascarEast Asia
- Tank use
- Used in 0 tanks
Share
24 °C - 28 °C
7.8 - 8.6
Freshwater
Bottom and middle
10 cm
Description
Geographic Origin and Biotope: Endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. Lives in the purely rocky habitat, feeding mainly on plankton carried by the strong currents of open water (a unique feature among Mbuna).
Taxonomy and Morphology: Afra Cichlid / Dogtooth Cichlid (Cynotilapia afra). Rock cichlid (Mbuna). The anatomical peculiarity that names the genus are the spaced and conical teeth, similar to those of a dog, unlike the "file" teeth of other herbivorous Mbuna.
Social Behavior: Extremely territorial (males) and aggressive towards conspecifics. Indispensable to keep them with a male/female ratio of 1 to 3 or 1 to 4. A second male in the tank risks certain death.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Males of extraordinary beauty: base color blue or bright purple with intense vertical black bands, the dorsal fin is crossed by a white, yellow or orange band (depending on the geographical location, e.g. "Cobue"). Drab, grayish or vaguely bluish females.
Care and observations
Aquarium Setup: Minimum 120 cm (48 inches) tank (for community Mbuna keeping). Recreate a bottom mixed with fine sand and a real wall of tall calcareous rocks, full of caves and blind tunnels. The rockwork should reach almost to the water surface.
Diet and Feeding: Omnivore with a carnivorous tendency, feeds on zooplankton. In the aquarium offer excellent mixed granules (both green plant-based and red protein-based), mysis, brine shrimp and minced krill. Highly proteinaceous foods must be alternated so as not to tire the liver.
Water Quality: Classic alkaline waters of Malawi: pH always above 8.0 (excellent use of calcareous rocks), hard and very clean. Vigorous water movement and high aeration.
Compatibility and Tankmates: Compatible with other Malawi Cichlids (Mbuna) of similar temperament, but be careful to avoid fish with blue/black vertical striped coloring (such as male Pseudotropheus saulosi) to thwart deadly territory wars.
Aquarium Reproduction: Maternal mouthbrooders, easy to reproduce. The male attracts the female to his den by vibrating. Immediately after fertilization, the female incubates the eggs (10-30) in her mouth, hiding among the rocks for 21 days.
Risks and Diseases: Hole-in-the-head disease and "Malawi Bloat" (dropsy/swelling) often derive from poor water quality or blockages caused by an incorrect diet. Wounds and death from internal struggles are common.
Fish profile
- Temperament
- Feroce, sfrontato e ultra-territoriale. Non ha paura di niente. Un maschio di Cynotilapia afra in fregola riproduttiva attaccherà impavidamente pesci due volte la sua stazza per difendere la sua caverna nuziale e il suo Harem.
- Diet
- Onnivoro tendente al carnivoro (Planctivoro). Non vanno incontro al letale 'Bloat' erbivoro come gli Pseudotropheus. Anzi, necessitano di buone quantità di proteine: mysis, krill, artemia e granulati proteici di alta qualità, sempre bilanciati da una componente di spirulina verde per simulare lo stomaco delle loro prede.
- Tank level
- Bottom and middle
- Minimum group
- 4
- Adult size
- 10 cm
- Minimum tank
- 200 L
- GH
- 10 dGH - 20 dGH
- KH
- n/a
- TDS
- n/a
- Conductivity
- n/a
- Sex ratio
- Harem Gigante Tassativo (1 maschio dominante e MINIMO 4-5 femmine). MAI DUE MASCHI: Il più forte sbiadirà a morte il secondo o lo ucciderà. Le femmine sono di un grigio-marrone sbiadito e anonimo (a volte azzurro pallido), totalmente prive delle vistose bande nere da zebra maschili. Il colore del maschio si accende solo se si sente padrone incontrastato.
- Feeding frequency
- 1-2 volte al giorno. Famelici in superficie.
- Bioload
- Medio-Alto
- Flow
- Corrente da Moderata a Forte. Adorano nuotare controcorrente verso il flusso delle pompe di movimento per simulare la cattura del plancton alla deriva.
- Reproduction
- Incubatori orali materni. Riproduzione affascinante ma brutale. Il maschio attirerà la femmina nella sua caverna tremando furiosamente (Shimmying). La femmina sputerà fuori decine di piccoli dopo quasi 4 settimane, durante le quali dovrà potersi nascondere perfettamente per non essere uccisa per il troppo stress dal maschio che rivuole accoppiarsi.
- Compatibility
- Convivenza Esplosiva (Richiede Massima Attenzione). Eccellente con Labidochromis caeruleus (Gialli) e Iodotropheus (Ruggine). DIVIETO TOTALE ASSOLUTO: MAI abbinarlo al *Pseudotropheus demasoni* o a qualsiasi pesce di taglia simile che sia Blu con Bande Nere. La somiglianza cromatica attiverà una competizione per l'annientamento totale tra le due specie.
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.