Trematocranus placodon Care Guide
Trematocranus placodon is a Lake Malawi hap with crushing pharyngeal teeth specialised for eating snails, useful against snail infestations.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Trematocranus placodon is a haplochromine cichlid from Lake Malawi originally described as Haplochromis placodon by Regan in 1922. It possesses robust pharyngeal teeth adapted to crushing snail shells, and males show blue colour with yellow flanks. The species is sometimes used to help control snail populations in aquaria.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Trematocranus
- Scientific name: Trematocranus placodon
- Common synonyms: Haplochromis placodon, Cyrtocara placodon
Habitat
The species is widespread in Lake Malawi, Lake Malombe and the upper Shire River, occupying shallow waters with aquatic vegetation but recorded to depths around 32 m. It feeds on gastropods including Bulinus nyassanus; because that snail carries bilharzia parasites, declines in snail-eating cichlids have been linked to increased bilharzia in the lake.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 400 L
- Temperature: 24-27 °C (75-81 °F)
- pH: 7.8-8.6
- GH: 10-20 °dGH
- Substrate: sand with some open swimming space
- Lifespan: 8-12 years
Diet
This is a molluscivore. FishBase records it feeding mainly on gastropods, crushing the shells with its pharyngeal teeth. In the aquarium it accepts meaty frozen and prepared foods, and may consume nuisance snails.
Compatibility
Trematocranus placodon is a relatively peaceful hap suited to other Lake Malawi haps, Aulonocara peacocks and Synodontis multipunctatus. It should not be combined with aggressive mbuna, Tropheus, or soft-water fish such as discus, Apistogramma and tetras.
Breeding
The species is a maternal mouthbrooder. FishBase notes that a female can carry over 100 young in her mouth. Captive breeding is rated intermediate.
Conservation status
The IUCN Red List assesses Trematocranus placodon as Least Concern (assessed 19 June 2018), despite some regional declines.
Trematocranus placodon Breeding Guide
Overview
Trematocranus placodon is a Lake Malawi haplochromine that functions as a molluscivore in nature, using specially developed pharyngeal teeth that crush and grind snail shells with ease. It reaches a maximum standard length of about 25 cm. Seriously Fish describes it as a polygamous maternal mouthbrooder, and it accepts most aquarium foods, with snails offered when available.
Sexing
Adult males are slightly larger and far more colourful than females; the record notes males turn blue with yellow flanks. Colour and the male's spawning behaviour make sexing straightforward once fish mature.
Conditioning
Condition adults on a varied diet including live, frozen and dried foods, with snails as a natural component. Seriously Fish lists 24-28 C, pH 7.6-8.8 and hardness 10-25 dH, close to the record's 24-27 C, pH 7.8-8.6 and GH 10-20 dGH. Stable water and good feeding bring fish into spawning condition.
Breeding Setup
Males are highly territorial toward each other, so keep one male per tank (under about 72 inches / 180 cm length) with multiple females; the record lists a minimum of 400 L. A sand substrate lets the male dig and maintain his spawning depression.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
The male digs and defends a depression as his territory and displays vivid colour to attract females. A receptive female approaches the spawning site, deposits eggs, and allows the male to fertilise them before collecting them in her mouth. Up to about 100 eggs may be produced.
Egg & Fry Care
The female does not eat during the roughly three-week brooding period, and her mouth becomes visibly distended. The fry are large enough to accept brine shrimp nauplii from the day they are released, which simplifies their early rearing.
Common Challenges
The main challenge is male-male aggression, which is intense, so a single male and adequate tank length are essential; otherwise this is one of the more straightforward Malawi haps to spawn given clean alkaline water and a settled harem.