This
is for hobbyists who have not kept many Tanganyikan cichlids.
Most hobbyists, myself included, started keeping Africans that
included the more common Pseudotropheus, Melanochromis,
Labidochromis, etc.
The
color of that cherry red zebra sure looked nice a long time ago,
but I grew tired of these type of cichlids. (The senseless swimming,
chasing and killing got old fast. It can be compared to a new
car, perhaps a bright yellow or pink one. It’s alright at
first, but classics usually prevail.)
I
still admire and enjoy the brilliant coloration of a nice specimen
of Mbuna, but I have learned that many pro-Malawi hobbyists assume
the actions and personality of Tanganyika cichlids are similar
to that of their Malawi relatives. These people need to be enlightened!
The personalities of the two are extremely different.
My
opinion is that the reason for this relates to the fact that Lake
Tanganyika itself is around 20 million years old, and is the oldest
lake in Africa, if not the world. Lake Malawi is only about half
as old. The cichlids in Tanganyika have evolved, developed and
specialized about twice as long as the Malawians.
I
think this accounts for the many different shapes and sizes (dwarfs,
etc.) found in Tanganyika. Most of the cichlids in Malawi have
the same basic overall shape. Ditto the Victorian cichlids. Obviously,
there are some variations, but not nearly as many as are found
in Lake Tanganyika. Besides, many Tanganyikan cichlids have as
much color as the Malawi residents and there does tend to be more
variety of color among Tanganyikans.
My
purpose is not to demean Malawi cichlids. I am only stating my
observations and opinions. Many of our tanks contain Malawi specimens,
but tanks that we really study and enjoy for long periods of time
contain Tanganyikans.
The
value and uniqueness of the Tanganyikans is more greatly appreciated
when observed in a natural, community setting. When these fish
start to replicate the actions they perform in the wild, it is
something to behold.
I
have found it is easy to recreate a natural environment for Tanganyikans.
1.
Most species stay fairly small.(Many shelldwellers and Julidochromis
species are right at home in a 10 or 20 gallon aquarium.)
2.
In larger aquaria (55+), the relative small size of the fish permits
use of a variety of habitat structure to accommodate widely divergent
species.
3.
Some open water species, especially Cyprichromis, actually
spawn in the water stream using no rocks. Sparring between conspecifics
produces colorful shows and very little actual damage.
4.
Adaptability, as in the wild, is a strong suit for Tanganyikans.
One might be amazed at what a featherfin will use as a nest, or
what an Altolamprologus compressiceps might use as a cave
for spawning. Also, the Tanganyikans seem to get along well with
many Malawi species. One community tank we have set up includes
fish from Tanganyika, Malawi and Victoria. Spawns occur from all
three species.
Recently,
a customer called and said he and his wife were only interested
in large, adult, colored male peacocks. They arrived and purchased
a couple of peacocks. They stayed for over two hours and left
with nearly a tankful of Tanganyikans they had never heard of
or seen.
I
agree with a quote (Back to Nature Guide to Tanganyikan Cichlids)
from Ad Konings: “Tanganyikan cichlids ARE the most interesting
aquarium fishes known today.”
Back to Armke's Rare Aquarium Fish Title Page