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Otopharynx tetrastigma is living in shallow water between the vegetation. They can be found in entire Lake Malawi and also in Lake Malombe which is directly connected with Lake Malawi through the Shire River. The examples shown here are F1 offspring of parental fish from Lake Malombe. In Lake Malawi the males of these species can grow to 14 cm, the females stay a little smaller. In the aquarium however they could grow a bit taller because of a good feeding. The cichlid species which are found in Lake Malombe seems to stay smaller then in Lake Malawi and they seem to become sexually active earlier, probably this is because they live under pressure due to the overfishing in that lake. Otopharynx tetrastigma is in common a real peaceful cichlid. You can keep this species best with other peaceful species and multiple females in a tank with enough places to hide. In the lake they are feeding themselves with invertebrates and small insects which they find between the vegetation. 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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