Petrotilapia microgalana

Petrotilapia microgalana

Petrotilapia microgalana was first described by Ruffing, Lambert and Stauffer in 2006. This fish belongs to the family Cichlidae. The genus name “Petrotilapia” is derived from the Greek “petra” (stone) and the African “tilapia” (fish), while the species name “microgalana” comes from the Greek “micro” (small) and “galana” (blue).

Former provisional names:
Petrotilapia sp. “nkhata orange”, Petrotilapia sp. “little blue”.

Description

General description:
Petrotilapia microgalana has an elongated body with a slightly curved back profile. The head is blue in males and brown in females, while the flank of males is bright blue with 5-7 faint black vertical stripes. Females are yellow in color. The fins of the males are blue with a black submarginal band in the dorsal fin, while the fins of the females are yellow. Males can grow up to 19 cm, while females grow up to 15 cm.

Differences between males and females:
Males are larger and have a blue color, while females are yellow. Males also have a black submarginal band in the dorsal fin, which is absent in females. Behaviorally, males are more aggressive and territorial, while females are more likely to hide.

Behavior and temperament:
Petrotilapia microgalana is an aggressive fish, especially the males. They live in groups and are territorial, especially during spawning season. They are not shy and usually swim in the middle waters of the aquarium.

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

Biotope

Natural habitat:
Petrotilapia microgalana occurs in Lake Malawi, mainly around Nkhata Bay. They live in rocky environments with little underwater vegetation. The bottom consists mainly of rocks and sand.

Natural enemies:
There are no known specific natural enemies, but they may be threatened by larger predatory fish in the lake.

Diet

Diet in the wild:
In the wild, Petrotilapia microgalana feeds primarily on algae that they scrape from rocks.

Diet in the aquarium:
In the aquarium, they can be fed a diet of algae wafers, spirulina, and other plant foods. They also accept commercial fish food.

The Aquarium

An aquarium of at least 450 liters or 150 centimeters is required for a trio of these fish. For multiple pairs, a larger aquarium of at least 1,000 liters or 250 centimeters is recommended. The aquarium should be set up with plenty of rocks and caves to create territories. Use sand as a substrate.

Water parameters:
The ideal water values are a pH of 7.5-8.5, a temperature of 22-27°C, and hard water.

Compatibility:
This species can live well together with other mbuna species and even with Tropheus and Petrochromis species. Avoid keeping very peaceful or much smaller fish.

Breeding aquarium and conditioning

Breeding:
Breeding can take place in a normal aquarium, but a special breeding aquarium of 250 liters with lots of hiding places is ideal. Use a sponge filter and ensure a temperature of around 25°C.

Conditioning:
There is no need to temporarily separate the man and women. A ratio of one male to three females is ideal.

The spawn

Spawning:
During spawning, the colors of the males become more intensely blue. Courtship consists of the male swimming around and vibrating. The eggs are deposited on a flat rock and then taken into the mouth by the females. The females incubate the eggs for about three weeks.

Raising the fry

Raising the fry:
The eggs hatch after about three days. The young remain in the safe mouth of the female and feed on their egg yolk sac. Only after about 19 to 21 days does the female spit out the young Petrotilapia microgalana. From now on they have to take care of themselves. During this period the female does not eat at all.

In an aquarium with the parents and other fish, not many young will survive, because young fish are seen as food. If you want to keep fry, you can use a separate breeding aquarium. This may be a bare aquarium with only a small filter and heater. An aquarium of 40 x 30 x 30 centimeters is sufficient.

Remove the female around day 15. When catching, she will most likely just hold the fry or take them back into her mouth if she accidentally spits them out. If she doesn’t do this, then there’s no problem. The young are now big enough to fend for themselves.

If all goes well, the female will release the young after 19 to 21 days. You now have a few hours to return the female to her own aquarium. You can raise the young Petrotilapia microgalana with crushed flake food.

Particularities

Petrotilapia microgalana is one of the larger mbuna species and is known for its aggressive behavior. They are popular in the hobby for their beautiful colors and interesting behavior, but are not suitable for beginners.

Conclusion

Petrotilapia microgalana is a beautiful but aggressive mbuna species suitable for experienced aquarists. They require a large aquarium with plenty of hiding places and a diet consisting mainly of plant foods. Although they can be challenging to keep, they provide great satisfaction for the dedicated enthusiast.

Video

Author

John de Lange

Copyright images

Mark Thomas – Marks Fiskenarie