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Tropheops sp."elongatus mbako" can be found near Likoma Island, specially in the northeastern part in Yofu Bay and sometimes at Makulawe Point but also between Cobue in Mozambique and Undu Reef in Tanzania. They are always living there close to the rocks in rocky environments which are free of sediment but also in the sediment-rich part of the intermediate zone from rocks to sandbottom. These examples were found at Makulawe Point, the northeastern end of Likoma Island. In the lake the males of these species can grow to about 8-9 cm, in the aquarium however they can grow a little taller because of a good feeding. The males can then grow to about 11 cm, females grow to about 9 cm. Tropheops sp."elongatus mbako" is a species that is usually quite fiercely in defending his territory against conspecifics. In an aquarium they can also be quite intolerant sometimes towards the other inhabitants. You can best keep this species with multiple females and other mbunas in a large aquarium with a lot of hiding places. In the lake they are mainly feeding themselves with algae from the rocks and they probably also feed on plankton. 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. Food rich of algae like spirulina pellets or flakes is very important to them so this should not be missing on their menu. 
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