Rusty Cichlid – Iodotropheus sprengerae – Juvenile

These beautiful mbuna, or rock-dwelling cichlids were one of the first species exported from Lake Malawi. The Rusty Cichlid has a rounder head and the basic shape of a Pseudotropheus cichlid. Males usually have intense rust-coloration around their head and violet-blue on the flanks.

Malawian and Victorian cichlids are similar in care and temperament, leading to fish from these two lakes being grouped together in the hobby. Several hundreds species of cichlid are found in Lake Malawi, along with many regional variations, but Lake Victoria has far fewer due to the introduction of invasive predators. Most cichlids in both lakes are rock-dwellers. They seldom stray far from the rocky bottoms and sides of the lake and will quickly dart into the rocks to hide. As with all cichlids, they are very territorial and will not tolerate other cichlids around \