Aulonocara ethelwynnae Breeding Guide

Breeding the Chitande Aulonocara (Aulonocara ethelwynnae): a small northern Lake Malawi sand-sifter with harem spawning, sexing and maternal mouthbrooding of fry.

Overview

Aulonocara ethelwynnae, the Chitande Aulonocara, is endemic to Lake Malawi, occurring around Chitande Island and a short stretch of coastline between Ngara and Chilumba on the northwestern shore. Females and immatures keep to shallow water while mature males hold deeper territory. It reaches about 90-110 mm standard length, is a sand-sifting benthophage with enlarged sensory pores on the head, and is a maternal mouthbrooder.

Sexing

Males are larger and more colourful, showing a brownish-yellow body with dark vertical bars and violet to blue dorsal fins bearing black lappets; nuptial males add blue pigment between the bars and on the lower head. Females are comparatively grey and plain.

Conditioning

Condition breeding stock over sand on a varied diet of fine prepared foods together with small live or frozen invertebrates such as chironomid larvae, Tubifex, Artemia and mosquito larvae, plus some vegetable-based products.

Breeding Setup

A harem of one male with four to six females is recommended to reduce aggression on any single fish. Provide a sandy substrate with rocky shelter matching its intermediate habitat.

Spawning Behavior & Trigger

The female lays eggs and picks them up into her mouth. The male displays the egg spots on his anal fin, which the female instinctively approaches; contact transfers milt and fertilises the eggs orally.

Egg & Fry Care

Females carry the brood for up to four weeks before releasing fully free-swimming fry. Other Aulonocara species are best avoided in the breeding tank, as most are able to hybridise.