Mylochromis sphaerodon

Mylochromis sphaerodon

Mylochromis sphaerodon was first described by Charles Tate Regan in 1922. This fish belongs to the family Cichlidae. The genus name Mylochromis is derived from the Greek “mylo” (mill), referring to the large and blunt middle pharyngeal teeth of Mylochromis lateristriga, and “chromis”, a name dating back to Aristotle, possibly derived from “chroemo” (to neigh), referring to a drum (Sciaenidae) and its ability to produce sound. This name was later extended to include cichlids, damselfish, dwarf groupers, and wrasses (all bass-like fishes once considered related), often used in the names of African cichlid genera after Chromis (now Oreochromis) mossambicus Peters. The species name sphaerodon refers to the bulbous crowns on the middle pharyngeal teeth.

Synonyms:

• Haplochromis sphaerodon
• Cyrtocara sphaerodon
• Maravichromis sphaerodon.

Description

General description:
Mylochromis sphaerodon has an elongated and laterally flattened body. The head and flanks are silvery with a diagonal black stripe that runs from the base of the caudal fin to the forehead. The black stripe is no longer visible in adult males that are fully showing their mating color. The fins are usually yellowish in females and bluish in males. This species can reach a maximum length of 18 centimeters.

Differences between males and females:

• Males: Larger, bluish with a white edge on the dorsal fin.
• Females: Smaller, silvery with a yellowish tinge on the ventral and anal fins.

Behavior and temperament:
Mylochromis sphaerodon is generally peaceful and can live well with other peaceful species. They usually live in groups and are not shy. They are bottom dwellers and often swim in the middle waters.

Life expectancy:
In the wild, they can live for several years, while in a well-maintained aquarium, they can live up to 10 years.

Biotope

Mylochromis sphaerodon is native to the southern part of Lake Malawi and occasionally to Lake Malombe, which is connected to Lake Malawi by the Shire River. They live in shallow waters with sandy bottoms.

Natural habitat:
The habitat consists mainly of sandy bottoms with little underwater vegetation. The edges of the water are usually bare without many trees. They live in a tropical climate without seasonal flooding or droughts.

Diet

In the wild:
Mylochromis sphaerodon feeds mainly on sand-dwelling snails.

In the aquarium:
They can be fed mysis, artemia, cyclops and other protein-rich foods.

The Aquarium

Aquarium size:
An aquarium of at least 150 centimeters and 500 liters is required to keep this species. For multiple pairs, an even larger aquarium is needed.

Decoration:
The aquarium should be decorated with a thick layer of sand and some large stones to mark out territories. Plants are not necessary.

Water parameters:
The ideal water parameters are a pH of 7.5 to 8.5, a total hardness of 5 to 15°dGH and a water temperature between 22 and 26°C.

Compatibility:
Mylochromis sphaerodon can live well with other peaceful Lake Malawi cichlids, such as mbunas and Aulonocara species.

Breeding aquarium and conditioning

Breeding Mylochromis sphaerodon is not very difficult. You can breed them in the company of other fish. Ensure no other Mylochromis species are present in the aquarium to prevent hybridization. A special breeding aquarium is therefore not necessary. They also do not have special requirements for food or water to start laying eggs.

The spawn

As soon as the male notices that a female is willing to mate, his colors become brighter. He chooses a spot where he wants to mate with the female. He digs a shallow hole in the sand for this and fiercely defends it against other fish. He swims in front of the female, spreads his fins wide, and shows her his flank. With trembling movements, he tries to lure her to the spot he has chosen. If the female goes with him, the mating dance begins.

The couple circles around each other until the female is really ready. While circling each other, the female lays one or more eggs in the sand. The couple continues to circle, with the male fertilizing the eggs. The female takes the eggs in her mouth. This repeats until all the eggs have been laid.

Raising the fry

The eggs hatch after a few days. However, the female keeps the eggs in her mouth for up to 3 weeks after laying. After this, she can carefully release the young fish between the rocks. The young fish must then take care of themselves. The first food for the young consists of finely ground food such as artemia nauplii. In the aquarium with other fish, most of them will be eaten.

If you want to raise more young Mylochromis sphaerodon, you can catch the female around the 15th day. Place her in a small aquarium with the same water as in the main aquarium. After three weeks she will release the young fish. The first few hours after releasing the young, the female will not eat them. So you have plenty of time to put the female back in the large aquarium.

Particularities

Mylochromis sphaerodon is a rare species that mainly occurs in the southern part of Lake Malawi. They have powerful pharyngeal teeth that help them eat snails.

Conclusion

Mylochromis sphaerodon is an interesting and relatively peaceful cichlid that can be kept in a large aquarium with sandy substrate and some rocks. They are suitable for advanced aquarists due to their specific diet and water requirements. Breeding this species can be challenging, but offers a fascinating insight into their natural behavior.

Video

Author

John de Lange

Copyright images

Ems-Vechte-Aquaristik