Lion's Cove Afra (Cynotilapia) Care Guide
Cynotilapia sp. "Lion's Cove" is an aquarium-trade location form of the Lake Malawi mbuna genus Cynotilapia, kept as a semi-aggressive rock-dwelling cichlid.
Overview
Cynotilapia sp. "Lion's Cove" is an aquarium-trade form named after a collecting locality in Lake Malawi. It belongs to Cynotilapia, a genus of small rock-dwelling mbuna cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi. Dominant males show a yellow body with dark vertical bars. In the trade the fish is also offered as Cynotilapia afra "Lion's Cove", though its formal taxonomic identity within the genus is not settled.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Cynotilapia (Regan, 1922)
- Trade name: Cynotilapia sp. "Lion's Cove"
- Status: undescribed location form within the genus Cynotilapia
Habitat
Cynotilapia are rock-dwelling fishes of Lake Malawi in the East African rift valley and form part of the lake's mbuna flock. According to Seriously Fish and Wikipedia, Cynotilapia afra and its many colour forms inhabit the rocky littoral zone, where males defend territories around caves in the rock piles. "Lion's Cove" refers to one such collecting site along the lake shore.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 250 L
- Temperature: 24-27 °C (75-81 °F)
- pH: 7.8-8.6
- GH: 10-20 °dGH
- Lifespan: 5-8 years
- Aquascape: rockwork with caves over a sand substrate
Diet
The species is treated as an omnivore in the aquarium. In Lake Malawi, Cynotilapia afra males graze algae and micro-fauna from rocks while females feed largely on plankton in open water (Wikipedia). In captivity a varied diet based on quality dried foods with vegetable content, fed in small amounts twice daily, suits the fish; excess animal protein should be avoided for rift-lake grazers.
Compatibility
This is a semi-aggressive, territorial mbuna best kept in a dedicated Malawi rock community. Suitable companions include similarly robust mbuna and Lake Tanganyika catfish such as Synodontis petricola or Synodontis multipunctatus. Peaceful soft-water fish such as discus, angelfish, tetras and dwarf cichlids (Apistogramma, rams) are not compatible. Mixing different Cynotilapia colour forms is discouraged because they hybridise.
Breeding
Like other Cynotilapia, this form is a polygamous maternal mouthbrooder. According to Wikipedia, females of the genus carry the fry in the mouth for roughly 20-30 days before release. A harem of one male with several females in a rock-structured tank is the usual breeding arrangement.