Malawi eyebiter
Encyclopedia
Malawi Eyebiter
is a species of fish
in the Cichlidae family. It is found in Malawi
, Mozambique
, and Tanzania
. It is endemic to Lake Malawi, east Africa.
The common name refers to the fact that they have been known to remove (and presumably eat) the eyes of other fishes. No doubt they do, but such events appear to be fortuitous during attacks on large prey fish, and nothing to do with their main diet. The species is an ambush predator in the wild; they are piscivorous
by nature, generally eating small fish whole.
In aquarium they should be housed in at least 100 gallon tank as they tend to grow to a large size. Also, any fish that is smaller in size and of lesser aggression should be avoided as they may be eaten. This species can also exhibit some aggressive behavior towards other similarly colored species. As with all cichlids of lake Malawi, they prefer hard, alkaline water.
is a species of fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
in the Cichlidae family. It is found in Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
, Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
, and Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
. It is endemic to Lake Malawi, east Africa.
The common name refers to the fact that they have been known to remove (and presumably eat) the eyes of other fishes. No doubt they do, but such events appear to be fortuitous during attacks on large prey fish, and nothing to do with their main diet. The species is an ambush predator in the wild; they are piscivorous
Piscivore
A piscivore is a carnivorous animal which eats primarily fish. Piscivory was the diet of early tetrapods , insectivory came next, then in time reptiles added herbivory....
by nature, generally eating small fish whole.
Appearance
The males of this species exhibit a dazzling metallic blue hue and can attain lengths of up to 12 inches whilst the females are a drab silver and only grow to approximately 2/3 the length of males.Aquarium requirements
In the aquarium they usually prefer to swim out in the open unlike the more common "Mbuna"(rock dwellers). They can become quite aggressive during spawning, vigorously defending their spawning site from all intruders. A single male should be kept in a harem style environment with multiple females as this diverts his aggression towards any particular female.In aquarium they should be housed in at least 100 gallon tank as they tend to grow to a large size. Also, any fish that is smaller in size and of lesser aggression should be avoided as they may be eaten. This species can also exhibit some aggressive behavior towards other similarly colored species. As with all cichlids of lake Malawi, they prefer hard, alkaline water.