NYASSACHROMIS PROSTOMA "GOME" 3.5"

General

Nyassachromis prostoma is an mouthbrooding cichlid from Lake Malawi, Africa. It was first typed by Trewavas in 1935.

Members of the genus Nyassachromis prostoma were formerly placed in the Copadichromis genus, but Konings advises that juvenile color pattern was one reason why these fish were split into a new genus. Nyassachromis  are characterized by a rather small head and narrow body and conspicuous line on the body. Males get up to six or seven inches while females stay smaller. This is a mostly silvery fish, but males have a nice bright blue sheen to the front third of the body and over the flank. The orange cap variety can have reddish coloration on the head, but it is not always very visible. The dorsal offers some red coloration, but the anal fin is mostly nondescript with only an egg dummy or two. Females are smaller by an inch or two and are silver with a blue sheen.

Habitat

Nyassachromis prostoma is a shallow water fish usually found over sand.

Care

Nyassachromis prostoma is a not a very aggressive cichlid and presents few problems. This fish should definitely be kept over sand since bower building is a prelude to courtship. My group did great in ordinary Chicago water (pH 7.4) at 78F. 

Feeding

In the wild, Nyassachromis prostoma is an open water planktivore, but it is not difficult to feed in the aquarium. Flake food, Repashy Spawn and Grow, New Life Spectrum and Xtreme pellets were all eagerly accepted by my group of fish.