Rusty cichlid – Iodotropheus sprengerae

One of my first fish, this photo is more than 10 years old (actually I don’t remember when it was exactly). I’ve purchased a little group of these species (there was 5-6 fishes as far as I’ve remember), and placed them into 30 gallon tank with aquarium plants and mangrove driftwoods (he-he). Yes, I has almost no experience with Malawi lake african cichlids these days.

The first unpleasant surprise for me was these “animals” chewed up beautiful melon sword plant (Echinodorus osiris). Why it was so tasty I don’t know, but there was some other sword plants and they wasn’t gobbled… for the first time at least.

However, this “pride” find my tank very pleasant and in short time began to spawn. This was surprise for me too, but pleasant one, when I saw first young fish hiding under mangrove roots.

This is our main dominant male on the photo above. It doesn’t looks rusty, absolutely. It has perfect iodine play of colours. And at the left down corner is one of grown up “teenagers”.

By the way, it was first time when I observed hierarchy in the African cichlid community. it was really interesting. Guess it was a reason why I engaged with cichlids in further years.