''Labidochromis lividus'' is a species of
cichlid
Cichlids are fish from the family Cichlidae in the order Cichliformes. Cichlids were traditionally classed in a suborder, the Labroidei, along with the wrasses ( Labridae), in the order Perciformes, but molecular studies have contradicted this ...
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...
to
Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi, also known as Lake Nyasa in Tanzania and Lago Niassa in Mozambique, is an African Great Lake and the southernmost lake in the East African Rift system, located between Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania.
It is the fifth largest fre ...
where it is only known to occur over rocky substrates along the western coast of
Likoma Island. This species can reach a length of
SL. It can also be found in the
aquarium
An aquarium (plural: ''aquariums'' or ''aquaria'') is a vivarium of any size having at least one transparent side in which aquatic plants or animals are kept and displayed. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, aq ...
trade.
Aquarium care
Like all cichlids from Lake Malawi they are best kept in specialist cichlid aquariums, specifically with other
Mbuna
Mbuna (pronounced Mmm-boo - nah ) is the common name for a large group of African cichlids from Lake Malawi, and are members of the haplochromine family. The name ''mbuna'' means "rockfish" in the language of the Tonga people of Malawi.Loiselle ...
. It is recommended to separate the pregnant female if raising a whole brood is desired. The fry can be raised on fine flake as well as, small live foods such as
Artemia. Once the fish reach adulthood they can be fed larger live foods such as mosquito larvae, flake food, and food tablets.
[Rudiger Reihl and H. Baesnsch. (1994) ''Aquarium Atlas'', p. 60. Mergus, Germany. .]
References
lividus
Fish described in 1982
Fish of Lake Malawi
Cichlid fish of Africa
Taxonomy articles created by Polbot
{{Cichlidae-stub