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Aulonocara stuartgranti, which has a lot of geographical variants, can be found all around the lake. All these variants have their own specific color pattern and also different trade names, like "Thumbi West" is one of them. Aulonocara stuartgranti "Thumbi West" is the variant which is found near Thumbi West in intermediate zones from rocks to sand. This species was not original living on this location, some species from Cobué have been deported to this place and so this population came into existance. In the lake the males of these species can grow to 11 cm, in the aquarium however they can grow taller because of a good feeding. The males can then grow to about 15 cm, females grow to about 10 cm. Aulonocara stuartgranti "Thumbi West" is searching the sand for food and lives mainly of the invertebrates they find in the sand. They are quietly hanging above the sandbottom and "listen" to the sand. When they "hear" their prey, they take a big bite of sand and jig this sand through their gills so that the invertebrates stay in their mouth. It`s a quiet, peaceful cichlid which can be hold best with other quiet species, mbuna are generally too aggresive. In the aquarium they are comfortable with any food. They take everything they get offered, like spirulina pellets, mysis, artemia, cyclops and shrimp-peas mix. 
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