Fossorochromis Rostratus

Geographic Origin and Biotope: Endemic to Lake Malawi. Moves like a shepherd in giant flocks along the expanses of very fine sand located at great depths, to sift the sand.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Fosso Cichlid (Fossorochromis rostratus). The "Gentle Giant" of Haplochromine cichlids. Has a long snout (rostratus), sloping and scoop-like, to literally dive snout-first under the seabed, acting almost like an Ectodine of Tanganyika.

Social Behavior: Mild and extremely shy. Scares easily and its peculiar defense is to "dive" completely into the sand until it disappears leaving only its eyes out. A male and 3-4 females cohabit perfectly.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Iridescent sand gray females and juveniles with three rows of evident and large black spots. The adult male changes incredibly: the spotted pattern disappears, and he assumes a dazzling golden green-cobalt blue with a deep velvet black throat (Black Throat).

Aquarium Setup: Requires an aquarium at least 150-200 cm (60-80 inches) long. Zero sharp rocks and zero sharp obstacles on the bottom: it MUST have over 8-10 centimeters (3-4 inches) in height of very soft silica sand on which it can "dive" and hide without flaying itself.

Diet and Feeding: Carnivorous-benthic (digs worms and larvae from the mud in nature). In the tank sinking dry foods and high molecular weight frozen foods (Mysis, Krill, mussels) are ideal. It is very greedy but tolerates excess stomach poorly, provide split meals.

Water Quality: Perfect Rift Valley lake conditions (pH 8 and high hardness). Like any "sand sifter", if the water pollutes the sand substrate it will produce bacterial outbreaks infecting its snout and skin.

Compatibility and Tankmates: Ideal fish for "Hap Tanks" (tanks of peaceful large Haplochromis). Being submissive and not very defensive (except when breeding), if put with aggressive Mbunas it will be terrified and will end up living always buried.

Aquarium Reproduction: Polygamous mouthbrooders. Surprisingly, pregnant females join in compact schools to protect themselves from predators; if cornered they spit all the babies into the sand ordering them to hide in sync!

Risks and Diseases: Quartz gravel (sharp) or medium granulometry, instead of sand, is fatal: it will tear its head diving into it out of fear, heading for certain septicemia.