Mloto utaka
Copadichromis trewavasae
Also known as Fireline utaka, Trewavasae mloto
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 7.5–8.5
- Adult size
- 5.1 in
- 13 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
Overview
The Mloto utaka is a social, open-water cichlid from Lake Malawi. It is moderately demanding to keep.
Did you know
Utaka is the local name for open-water Copadichromis such as the Mloto utaka. These fish gather in large shoals over the lake and are netted in quantity as a food fish. They are one of the few Malawi cichlids caught for the pot rather than the aquarium.
Caring for the Mloto utaka
Keep the Mloto utaka in a group, typically one male with several females. Give them a tank of at least 79 gal (300 L), with open swimming space down the middle. Bank rockwork along the back and sides over a sandy floor, which leaves the central water column clear.
Aim for 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 7.5 to 8.5, with good mineral hardness. Feed small foods that suit a plankton eater, such as fine flakes, cyclops, and frozen daphnia or brine shrimp.
Mloto utaka swim in the middle and upper water rather than hugging rock. They are fairly peaceful and mix well with other calm Malawi cichlids of similar size. Avoid rowdy mbuna that will harass them.
Males are far more colorful than the plain, silver females. This utaka is a maternal mouthbrooder, and the female carries the eggs and fry in her mouth. Breeding is of medium difficulty.
Good to know
Copadichromis trewavasae belongs to the cichlid family. The species honors Ethelwynn Trewavas, the ichthyologist whose work runs through the cichlids of both Malawi and Tanganyika.
In the wild
Copadichromis trewavasae is endemic to Lake Malawi. These utaka hang in open water over sediment-covered rock and feed on drifting plankton. The lake is warm, hard and alkaline.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The Mloto 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 Mloto utaka need?
A Mloto utaka needs at least 79 gal (300 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Mloto utaka need?
A Mloto utaka is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 7.5–8.5.
What does a Mloto utaka eat?
A Mloto utaka is a plankton eater, so it takes small foods such as fine flakes, cyclops, and frozen daphnia or brine shrimp.
How big does a Mloto utaka get?
An adult Mloto utaka reaches about 5.1 in (13 cm).
How can you tell a male Mloto utaka from a female?
Males are far more colorful than the females, which are plain and silver.
How does a Mloto utaka breed?
Mloto utaka are maternal mouthbrooders, so the female broods the eggs and fry in her mouth. Breeding them is of medium difficulty.
Related species
- 5.5 in (14 cm)79 gal (300 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Likoma utaka
Copadichromis likomae
5.5 in (14 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)
5.9 in (15 cm)70 gal (265 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Atripinnis hap
Copadichromis atripinnis
5.9 in (15 cm) · 70 gal (265 L)
5.9 in (15 cm)79 gal (300 L)77–82°F (25–28°C)Azureus
Copadichromis azureus
5.9 in (15 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)
4.3 in (11 cm)79 gal (300 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Verduyn's utaka
Copadichromis verduyni
4.3 in (11 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)
6.3 in (16 cm)79 gal (300 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Chrysonotus utaka
Copadichromis chrysonotus
6.3 in (16 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)
6.3 in (16 cm)79 gal (300 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Geert's utaka
Copadichromis geertsi
6.3 in (16 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)