Adult male (left) and Adult female (right)
Photos taken at Wharf Aquatics
Photos © Sean Evans
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| Common name: | Malawi Eye-biter |
| Scientific name: | Dimidiochromis compressiceps |
| Synonyms: | Haplochromis compressiceps |
| Size: | Up to 10" (25cm) |
| Origin: | Lake Malawi, East Africa |
| Tank setup: | A large tank (suggest 100 gallons/450 litres plus if kept with other fish) with some rock caves and plenty
of open swimming space. Plants such as Vallis can be added. |
| Compatibility: | Predatory towards small fishes. Combine with other open-water Malawi species which are not too aggressive,
such as Copadochromis and Aulonocara. |
| Temperature: | 23-28oC (73-82oF) |
| Water chemistry: | Hard and alkaline: pH 7.6-8.6 ; GH 7 plus ; KH 10-12 ideally, but at least 5-6. |
| Feeding: | Predator, feed a meaty diet. |
| Sexing: | Males are much more colourful, females are mainly silver. |
| Breeding: | The male may dig a shallow spawning pit and display to attract the female to it. A mouthbrooder,
the female will incubate the eggs and fry for about 3 weeks. The male is likely to eat the fry once released.
Feed fry on small frozen/live foods such as baby brine shrimp, cyclops and daphnia. |
| Comments: |
As the name implies, this cichlid has a strikingly compressed shape. Despite its common name, it is unlikely to take the eyes
of tankmates when fed regularly, and there does not appear to be any verified reports of this occuring in aquaria.
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