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Aulonocara baenschi "Benga"


Aulonocara baenschi is found near "Nkhomo Reef", about 5 km before the coast of Benga. You can find them there living near spread boulders on the sandbottom at a maximum depth of about 18 meter.
Nowadays there's also imported a look-alike variant which is found at Chitseko Reef, a little southeastern from Chipoka and a little southern from Chidunga Rocks. In trade this species is offered as Aulonocara baenschi "Chitseko" however it looks like being a variant of Aulonocara sp."stuartgranti maleri".


In the lake the males of these species can grow to 10 cm, in the aquarium however they can grow taller because of a good feeding. The males can then grow to about 14 cm, females grow to about 14 cm.


Aulonocara baenschi 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.