Likoma utaka
Copadichromis likomae
Also known as Likomae hap
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 7.5–8.5
- Adult size
- 5.5 in
- 14 cm
- Minimum tank
- 79 gal
- 300 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Mouthbrooder · Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Lake Malawi, Likoma Island
Overview
The Likoma utaka is a plankton feeder built for the middle of the tank rather than the rock floor. It is peaceful by Malawi standards and only moderately hard to keep.
Did you know
Utaka is not a scientific term but a Malawian name for the open-water, plankton-eating cichlids of the lake. These fish were and still are netted in quantity as food. That makes the Likoma utaka a wild fishery species as much as an aquarium one.
Caring for the Likoma utaka
A group of Likoma utaka needs at least 79 gal (300 L) of open swimming room. Leave the upper water clear for swimming. Set rockwork low and to the sides, so spawning males can claim a spot without blocking the open lanes.
Keep the water hard and alkaline, at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 7.5 to 8.5. Filter it well so it stays clear. The Likoma utaka feeds from the water column, so offer small foods that drift, such as fine pellets and frozen zooplankton.
It is social and shows best in a group. Ideally keep one male with several females, so his color comes up without constant fighting. It largely ignores the territorial politics happening down in the rocks.
Breeding males deepen to blue over a darkened body, while females stay silvery. It is a maternal mouthbrooder, and breeding is of medium difficulty.
Good to know
The Likoma utaka is a Malawi haplochromine in the family Cichlidae. It belongs to the utaka, the Copadichromis cichlids, and takes its name from Likoma Island.
In the wild
The Likoma utaka schools over the reefs off Likoma Island in Lake Malawi. It feeds on the clouds of tiny animals in open water.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The Likoma utaka is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the middle. 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 Likoma utaka need?
A Likoma utaka needs at least 79 gal (300 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Likoma utaka need?
A Likoma utaka is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 7.5–8.5.
What does a Likoma utaka eat?
A Likoma utaka eats small foods that drift, such as fine pellets and frozen zooplankton. It feeds from the water column.
How big does a Likoma utaka get?
An adult Likoma utaka reaches about 5.5 in (14 cm).
How can you tell a male Likoma utaka from a female?
Males in breeding color deepen to blue over a darkened body. Females stay silvery.
How does a Likoma utaka breed?
The Likoma utaka is a maternal mouthbrooder. Breeding it is of medium difficulty.
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