Dwarf petrotilapia
Petrotilapia microgalana
Also known as Microgalana petro
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–82°F (24–28°C)
- pH
- 7.5–8.5
- Adult size
- 5.5 in (14 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 79 gal (300 L)
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Social
- Tankmates
- Tankmates with caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Common
- Origin
- Lake Malawi
- Family
- Cichlidae
Overview
Petrotilapia microgalana is a comb-toothed algae grazer and needs to be kept as one: a vegetable-led diet, bright light on plenty of rock, and tankmates sturdy enough to ignore a fish that disputes territory constantly. Keep one male with several females and give the rockwork enough surface that grazing does not concentrate in one spot. Feed spirulina flake and pellet with occasional frozen food. Protein-heavy feeding causes digestive problems in this genus.
In the wild
Petrotilapia microgalana combs algae turf off wave-washed rock in the shallow surge zone of Lake Malawi, where light is strong and oxygen high. Keep it at 24 to 28 degrees Celsius and pH 7.5 to 8.5 in hard alkaline water, with strong flow and rock surfaces it can work over all day.
Good to know
Petrotilapia microgalana reaches about 14 centimeters, small for a genus whose other members are heavyweight grazers. Its teeth are tricuspid and set in loose brush-like rows, an arrangement that strips algae filaments off stone without taking the substrate with them. It is a maternal mouthbrooder.
Did you know
Petrotilapia mouths open almost flat against the rock, pressing a full toothbrush of teeth to the stone at once.
Common questions
What size tank does a Dwarf petrotilapia need?
A Dwarf petrotilapia needs at least 79 gal (300 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH do Dwarf petrotilapia need?
Dwarf petrotilapia are comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 7.5–8.5.
How big do Dwarf petrotilapia get?
An adult Dwarf petrotilapia reaches about 5.5 in (14 cm).
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
- Imperial Tropicals Freshwater fish and inverts bred at a Florida hatchery
- The Wet Spot Tropical Fish Large selection of quarantined tropical freshwater fish, with live arrival guarantee and Next Day Air flat rate shipping to all US locations
…or ask your local fish store.
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