Melanochromis parallelus Care Guide
Melanochromis parallelus (a synonym of M. loriae) is a parallel-striped mbuna cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi, reaching about 12 cm.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Melanochromis parallelus is a rock-dwelling mbuna cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi. The name was published by Burgess & Axelrod in 1976; in current taxonomy it is treated as a junior synonym of Melanochromis loriae (Johnson, 1975). The fish is named for its parallel horizontal stripes.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Melanochromis
- Scientific name: Melanochromis parallelus
- Accepted name (FishBase): Melanochromis loriae (Johnson, 1975)
Habitat
The species is endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. It was originally recorded around Chipoka Island, and a 2012 revision expanded its known range to populations near Likoma Island, Chisumulu Island and the north-western coast. It inhabits rocky shoreline zones.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 300 L
- Temperature: 24-27 °C (75-81 °F)
- pH: 7.8-8.6
- GH: 10-20 °dGH
- Lifespan: 5-8 years
- Substrate: sand with abundant rockwork
Diet
Like most mbuna, it grazes aufwuchs (the algal mat and associated microfauna covering rocks). In aquaria a vegetable-rich, spirulina-based diet suits this omnivore; excess protein should be avoided.
Compatibility
It is an aggressive, territorial cichlid. It should be kept only with robust mbuna of similar temperament and with Lake Tanganyika catfishes such as Synodontis multipunctatus. Soft-water community fish, peaceful cichlids and slow tankmates such as discus, angelfish, tetras, Apistogramma and rams are unsuitable.
Breeding
Melanochromis species are maternal mouthbrooders; the female incubates the eggs and fry in her mouth. Breeding in aquaria is of intermediate difficulty.
Conservation status
Under the accepted name Melanochromis loriae, the IUCN Red List lists the species as Least Concern, while collection for the aquarium trade is noted as a pressure on wild populations.
Breeding Melanochromis parallelus (Parallel Stripe Mbuna)
Overview
Melanochromis parallelus is a rock-dwelling mbuna cichlid of Lake Malawi (Wikipedia). The genus Melanochromis usually displays strong sexual dichromatism, and its females are mouthbrooders (Wikipedia, FishBase). As with other Lake Malawi mbuna, reproduction follows maternal mouthbrooding in hard, alkaline water.
Sexing
The genus shows strong sexual dichromatism (Wikipedia). In this species the colour pattern of the two parallel stripes differs between sexes, which aids identification of males and females once mature; mature, dominant males are the most strongly coloured.
Conditioning
As a Lake Malawi mbuna the species requires hard, alkaline water consistent with the lake (Wikipedia). Condition adults on an omnivorous diet that includes vegetable matter, in line with the aufwuchs-based feeding typical of rock-dwelling mbuna. Stable warm temperatures support breeding.
Breeding Setup
Provide abundant rockwork to create territories and line-of-sight breaks, as is standard for mbuna. Because the species is aggressive and territorial, stocking a dominant male with several females (harem) helps spread aggression. Sand substrate suits its rock-and-sand habitat.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Reproduction follows the mbuna maternal mouthbrooding pattern: the female takes the eggs into her mouth, where they are fertilised and incubated (FishBase; Wikipedia for the genus). Warm, stable, hard alkaline water and an established territory trigger spawning.
Egg & Fry Care
The female incubates the eggs and developing fry in her mouth and releases free-swimming young that quickly seek shelter among rocks, as documented for Lake Malawi mbuna. Released fry accept fine first foods. Brooding females may be isolated to protect the brood.
Common Challenges
Aggression is the main difficulty: this is an aggressive, territorial mbuna best kept with robust, similarly assertive tankmates and not with delicate community fish. Hybridisation risk also means keeping it apart from closely related Melanochromis is advisable.