My blog this week focuses on one of the most popular species of cichlid from Lake Malawi, Cynotilapia afra Cobue. Males of this species are known to have some of the most vibrant and beautiful colors of any species in Lake Malawi.Sporting an orange back and blue/purple stomach, the two colors of the fish contrast each other nicely. I have had the fortune of keeping several different males, two of which are pictured in this post. Males can vary in coloration and brightness, as evidenced by the the two males pictured below. The male pictured on the right is the best male I have ever kept, and about as nice as they can get. The male pictured on the left is what I would consider an average looking male.
Cynotilapia afra Cobue stay relatively small when compared to other mbuna species of Lake Malawi. Males reach a length of 3.5″, while females stay smaller, around 2.5-3″. Females of this species look nothing like the males, sporting a drab brown coloration. However, what the females lack, the males more than make up for. Every male I have ever had keeps their coloration like the ones above constantly.
I find this species to be aggressive when they are the dominant species in the tank. My current male, the one pictured on the right, has a territory that takes up 1/3 of my tank. If a male of another species enters his territory, he will chase them out immediately, and in my experiences of keeping this species, that has always been in the case.
Of all the species I have kept from Lake Malawi, Cynotilapia afra Cobue sports arguably the best colors of all males. While a common species everywhere, they never get boring, and will always be a seen in my tanks!
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