Petrotilapia

Care at a glance

Overview

These large, active grazers need a rocky tank of at least 450 liters and a group to spread out their aggression. Keep the water hard and alkaline at 24 to 27 C, pH 7.6 to 8.6. Feed a vegetable heavy diet of spirulina and algae foods, since a protein rich diet causes digestive trouble in dedicated grazers. Provide lots of rock and mix only with other robust Malawi cichlids.

In the wild

Petrotilapia are medium to large mbuna that graze thick algae from rocks in the wave zone of Lake Malawi. They cover the rocky habitat in loose feeding groups, scraping the film off stone with brush like teeth. The genus holds many similar looking species and site forms.

Good to know

Petrotilapia have loose, brush shaped teeth set on movable lips that let them comb algae from uneven rock. They are maternal mouthbrooders like other mbuna. Because so many species look alike, aquarium fish are often traded simply as Petrotilapia with a collecting location.

Did you know

Their lips and teeth work like a soft brush, letting them sweep algae off bumpy rock surfaces that harder toothed grazers cannot clean.

Related species

• 

  Fuelleborn's cichlid

  Labeotropheus fuelleborni

  7.1 in (18 cm)46 gal (175 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
• Threadfin cichlid

  Petrochromis trewavasae

  7.1 in (18 cm)159 gal (600 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
• Silver saum

  Andinoacara stalsbergi

  7.9 in (20 cm)74 gal (280 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)

• 

  Bumblebee cichlid

  Pseudotropheus crabro

  5.9 in (15 cm)53 gal (200 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

• 

  Convict Cichlid

  Amatitlania nigrofasciata

  5.9 in (15 cm)25 gal (95 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

• 

  Featherfin cichlid

  Ophthalmotilapia ventralis

  5.9 in (15 cm)61 gal (230 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)