Protomelas fenestratus
The Protomelas fenestratus inhabits Africa's Lake Malawi in the wild. The largest accumulations of fish are found in the northern and southwestern parts of the lake. The fish stay near rocky shores and on sandbanks.
The head of Protomelas fenestratus is bluish, the body yellow-orange. The male is larger and much more colourful than the female. He has wide dorsal, anal and pectoral fins. The dorsal fin has red edging. The pectoral and anal fins are pale red with pale mottling. The maximum size of the fish is 14 cm.
Protomelas fenestratus are generally peaceful fish, only in the pre-spawning period males become extremely aggressive and territorial. Therefore, in small aquariums is undesirable to keep more than one male. The best is to keep 1 male and 2-3 females.
Keep fish is recommended in a species aquarium of 200 liters. Required water parameters for keeping Protomelas fenestratus, significantly reduce the number of fish that can live together in a common aquarium, but due to excessive aggressiveness of males during the spawning period makes matching mates even more problematic. Keeping Fenestratus in a species tank is ideal. If you do want to join them with other fish, then choose from a cichlid Mbuna commensurate in size, or larger in size of peace-loving fish.
Water parameters: temperature 24-28° C, hardness dH 10-25°, pH 7,6-8,8. Requires filtration, aeration and a weekly change of ¼ of the aquarium water with fresh. The water current in the aquarium should be minimal.
Coarse-grained river sand should preferably be used as substrate. The perimeter of the aquarium should be placed large stones, placed so that between them were splits, which could freely swim fish.
The fish will eat almost any food they are given, but in the overall menu of live and frozen food should prevail. The fish are fed once or twice a day.
Reproduction
Before female spawning, the male occupies a specific area in the aquarium and digs a small hole in the sand. It is in this hole that the female will spawn. Once the nest construction is completed, the male will start luring one of the females to the nest in any way possible. When one of the females responds to the male's advances, she swims up to the nest and spawns there. The male immediately fertilises the eggs, after which the female collects them all into her mouth.
The eggs incubate in the female's mouth for 3 weeks. After this period, the fully formed fry leave the female's mouth and immediately swim into her mouth at the slightest danger.
During the incubation period the female fish eggs should not be disturbed, otherwise she may swallow them or spit them out. After 2 weeks, it is desirable to separate the fry from the female, otherwise she may eat them.
The fry are fed artemia 4 times a day.
Life expectancy Protomelas fenestratus in an aquarium environment is about 6-8 years.
