Champsochromis caeruleus was officially described by Boulenger in 1908. The genus name Champsochromis can be divided into two parts. Champos comes from Greek and means ‘crocodile’. The reference is not explained in the description in the first description. Perhaps it refers to the large conical teeth of some species that were originally part of this genus, such as Rhamphochromis ferox. The second part of the name is Chromis. This common word goes back to the time of Aristotle and is derived from chroemo which means ‘neigh’ and refers to a drum (Sciaenidae) and its ability to make sound. Later the use of this word was expanded to include Cichlids, Damselfish, Dottybacks and Wrasses. the word ‘Chromis’ is often used in a combination for African Cichlids.
The specific epithet caeruleus means ‘blue’, a reference to its greenish-blue color. In the aquarum trade they are also called Haplochromis “Thola”.
Synonyms:Haplochromis bellicosus (Ahl, 1927), Haplochromis boultoni (Nichols & LaMonte, 1931).
The only other species within the genus is Champsochromis spilorhynchus.
Description
Males can reach a total length of 35 cm; the females remain about one fifth smaller.
Very slender and elongated torpedo-shaped body, moderately flattened laterally. The dorsal and anal fin are very long and wide, with the soft rays reaching halfway to the caudal fin in mature males.
Color and markings
Females and juveniles are silver-gray with a diagonal dark stripe running from the neck to the base of the caudal fin. There is a dark spot between the eye and the corner of the mouth. Adult males are a beautiful blue to green-blue in color. The dorsal fin has a light blue border and the soft fin rays are richly provided with yellow-brown round spots, which also decorate the caudal and anal fin.
Sexual dimorphism
In adults, the differences are most noticeable in the color pattern.
Origin
Champsochromis caeruleus has a large distribution area in Lake Malawi. They occur in almost the entire lake.
Diet
In the wild, Champsochromis caeruleus chases schools of the Malawi sardines Engraulicypris sardella that top its menu. In the aquarium we give them quite solid animal food such as beef heart, fish meat, shrimp, earthworms, etc.
The aquarium
Since the species is usually found in nature in open water or above a sandy bottom, we also take this into account when designing the aquarium. A rocky coast biotope such as for Mbunas is not suitable at all. Swimming space is more important. And in order not to unlearn hunting, we can add some food fish every now and then.
Breeding
Maternal mouth-brooder.
Video
Authors
Walter Deproost
John de Lange
Copyright images
References
“Diagnoses of new fishes discovered by Captain E.C. Rhoades in Lake Nyasa”, The Annals and Magazine of Natural History (8) 2 : 240.
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