Metriaclima hajomaylandi can be found near Chizumulu Island where they live in the rocky habitats in the intermediate zones from rocks to sand. In May 2009 I bought a small group of four of these cichlids, one male and three females. In this moment (August 2009) they are still very young, the male is about 7 cm and the females are about 6 cm. I temporaryly keep them in a tank in our breeding room where they can grow up until they are big enough to place them in my aquarium in our livingroom. At this time - february 2013 - they are fully grown up and swimming around in my livingroom aquarium since a while. Specially the male is an eyecatcher with its beautiful orange-yellow head however the females with their beuatiful yellow fins are certainly not inferior to him. All in all this is a very colourful species which can be an acquisition for every "mbuna" aquarium. Against equal species they behave quite peaceful and also against the other inhabitants of this aquarium they behave generally tolerant. Meanwhile we have the first offspring of this species swimming around. In this 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. |