Malawi sand diver

Care at a glance

Overview

This big active fish needs a long tank of at least 450 liters with deep soft sand for sifting and diving. Water should be hard and alkaline at 24 to 28 C, pH 7.8 to 8.6. It is peaceful for its size and does best with other large calm Malawi cichlids in roomy tanks. Feed sinking pellets and frozen foods, and give it real sand rather than gravel to feed and behave normally.

In the wild

The 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. When startled it dives headfirst into the sand to hide.

Good to know

Fossorochromis rostratus is one of the largest sand dwelling Malawi cichlids and is a maternal mouthbrooder. Dominant males show a patchwork of blue and orange while females and young wear blotchy camouflage. Its habit of burying itself in sand gives the genus its name, which refers to digging.

Did you know

A frightened sand diver really does dive, plunging nose first straight into the sand and vanishing in an instant.

Related species

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  Nicaragua cichlid

  Hypsophrys nicaraguensis

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• 

  Star sapphire cichlid

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• 

  Pearl eartheater

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• 

  Deepwater hap

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• 

  Xingu eartheater

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• Chisel-tooth cichlid

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