Praeorbitalis lethrinops

Taeniolethrinops praeorbitalis

Also known as Lethrinops praeorbitalis, Big-dig sand hap

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 75–81°F (24–27°C)
pH: 7.5–8.5
Adult size: 11.8 in (30 cm)
Minimum tank: 119 gal (450 L)
Temperament: Mostly peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Lake Malawi
Family: Cichlidae

Overview

This is a large but gentle sand-sifting cichlid from Lake Malawi, happiest in a group and calm with other peaceful lake fish, so it earns its place as a mild giant rather than a bully. It works the bottom, driving its long snout into the sand and plowing furrows as it sifts out insects and small invertebrates, so a deep, soft sand bed is essential, since this fish truly digs. Feed sinking pellets, frozen foods, and a little green, making sure food reaches the floor before others grab it. Given its size and digging, plan on at least 450 liters with a broad, open sand area and only light rockwork.

In the wild

It ranges over open sand flats across Lake Malawi, often in shallow bays such as Senga Bay, where it feeds by sifting the substrate. Give it a large tank with a deep bed of soft sand, only light rockwork so it has room to dig, and plenty of open floor. Keep the water hard and alkaline, around pH 7.5 to 8.5, and warm at about 24 to 27 C, with strong filtration to cope with the sand it constantly stirs up.

Good to know

Taeniolethrinops praeorbitalis is a cichlid of the family Cichlidae and one of the larger sand-sifters of Lake Malawi, reaching about 30 centimeters. Its species name refers to the enlarged region in front of the eye that gives it a long, deep face. Breeding is of moderate difficulty: it is a maternal mouthbrooder, the female carrying eggs and fry in her mouth, and it has also been farm-raised for the hobby.

Did you know

Its digging feeds a crowd: as it turns over the sand, smaller cichlids gather to snatch food it exposes, following the big fish through the furrows much like birds trailing a plow.

Tank mates

Praeorbitalis lethrinops is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.