Pseudotropheus Greshakei
Pseudotropheus Greshakei inhabits Lake Malawi under natural conditions. The fish stick to coastal areas with rocky bottoms and many caves among rocky rocks, at depths of 15 to 35 meters.
Pseudotropheus Greshakei is a rather attractive fish. The body is elongated, slightly compressed on the sides. Males have a blue body with an orange dorsal fin. Females are brown with dark transverse stripes on the body. The head and eyes are large, the lips are fleshy. Adult males have a peculiar fatty growth on the head. The dorsal fin is long. The maximum size of fish reaches 14 cm.
Keep Pseudotropheus Greshakei preferably in a group consisting of 1 male and 2-3 females in an aquarium of 200 liters. It is possible to keep these fish in a common aquarium with other cichlids, preferably with a different color palette to reduce mutual aggression. Due to the fact that in nature the fish prefer a rocky environment, so in the aquarium they need to create similar conditions, placing in it large stones and grottoes reaching the surface of the water, in which these fish could swim freely. Despite the fact that Pseudotropheus Greshakei relatively not aggressive, however, simultaneously two males in the same aquarium can not be kept, the fish even begin to conflict with other males similar to them. The dominant male defends its territory mainly from cichlids of his family. Fish prefer to stay in the middle and lower layers of water.
Water parameters: temperature 23-26° C, hardness dH 10-25°, acidity pH 7,6-8,6. Need filtration, aeration and weekly replacement of 1/3 of the aquarium water fresh.
Medium to coarse gravel should be used as a substrate. On the perimeter of the aquarium can be planted hard-leaved plants with a strong root system. It is desirable to additionally strengthen the roots of the plants with stones.
Fish menu consists of high-quality flake food, krill, artemia. Fish are vegetarians, so feeds with high protein and meat content should be avoided. Plant foods should make up at least 60% of the total amount of food given to the fish.
Reproduction
Its sexual maturity Pseudotropheus Greshakei reach the age of 9-12 months.
Fish spawn in the same aquarium where they live permanently. No special measures to stimulate spawning is not necessary. Spawning paired. Preliminary male selects a suitable place to spawn a female as, which is usually a large flat stone or dug a hole in the ground. During the spawning period in the male strongly changes the pigmentation of the body and he becomes almost white.
The female lays about 30-50 eggs, which after fertilization by the male collects to his mouth, where it is incubated for 3-4 weeks. In acceptable conditions, the female about a month after hatching fry, again ready to spawn.
The fry are fed artemia and cyclops.
Always be careful not to crossbreed with similar species. There are already enough mixed African cichlids in the world that it is impossible to identify.
Pseudotropropheus Greshakei has a life expectancy of 8-12 years in aquarium conditions.
