Malawi sand diver
Fossorochromis rostratus
Also known as Sand diver, Rostratus, Malawi sand digger
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–82°F
- 24–28°C
- pH
- 7.8–8.6
- Adult size
- 11 in
- 28 cm
- Minimum tank
- 119 gal
- 450 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Mouthbrooder · Easy
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Open sandy floors of Lake Malawi in East Africa, away from heavy rock.
Overview
The Malawi sand diver is a big, active cichlid that lives over open sand. It is best with a little experience.
Did you know
A frightened Malawi sand diver really does dive, plunging nose first straight into the sand and vanishing in an instant.
Caring for the Malawi sand diver
A Malawi sand diver needs a long tank of at least 119 gal (450 L), since it is a big, active fish. Give it deep, soft sand for sifting and diving. Use real sand rather than gravel, so it can feed and behave normally.
Keep the water hard and alkaline, at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 7.8 to 8.6. Feed sinking pellets and frozen foods.
The Malawi sand diver is peaceful for its size. It does best with other large, calm Malawi cichlids in a roomy tank.
Dominant males show a patchwork of blue and orange, while females and young wear blotchy camouflage. It is a maternal mouthbrooder, and breeding it is easy.
Good to know
The Malawi sand diver is one of the largest sand-dwelling Malawi cichlids. Its habit of burying itself in sand gives the genus its name, Fossorochromis, which refers to digging.
In the wild
The Malawi sand diver lives over the wide sandy floors of Lake Malawi rather than in the rocks. It takes big mouthfuls of sand, sifts out insect larvae and small animals, and spits the clean grains back out.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The Malawi sand diver is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Common questions
What size tank does a Malawi sand diver need?
A Malawi sand diver needs at least 119 gal (450 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Malawi sand diver need?
A Malawi sand diver is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 7.8–8.6.
What does a Malawi sand diver eat?
A Malawi sand diver eats sinking pellets and frozen foods. Give it real sand rather than gravel, so it can feed normally.
How big does a Malawi sand diver get?
An adult Malawi sand diver reaches about 11 in (28 cm).
How can you tell a male Malawi sand diver from a female?
Dominant males show a patchwork of blue and orange. Females and young fish wear blotchy camouflage.
How does a Malawi sand diver breed?
The Malawi sand diver is a maternal mouthbrooder, and breeding it is easy.
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