Lake Tanganyika cichlids — species, locations & maps

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Ophthalmotilapia ventralis 'Chimba'.jpg Petrochromis famula 'Chimba'.jpg Petrochromis trewavasae 'Chimba'.jpg Telmatochromis cf. temporalis 'Chimba'.jpg Tropheus sp. 'red' Chimba.jpg
Previous pageNext pagePetrochromis trewavasae 'Chimba'
Tribe / Genus: Tropheini / Petrochromis
Type locality: Moliro, Lake Tanganyika, Democratic Republic of Congo
Biotope: Shallow rocky habitats, typically at depths up to about 5 m.
Geographic distribution: Found between Cape Kachese (Zambia) and Kapampa (Democratic Republic of the Congo). At Kapampa it occurs sympatrically with Petrochromis ephippium. Petrochromis ephippium is otherwise found throughout almost the entire lake, except in the area occupied by P. trewavasae.
Typical adult size: Males reach around 20 cm total length, occasionally up to about 22 cm in aquaria. Females are approximately 20% smaller.
Sexual dimorphism: Males and females are very similar in coloration. Dominant males may lose the characteristic white spotting, while females and subordinate individuals usually retain it.
Recommended aquarium size: A minimum of 500 liters is required, with 800 liters being recommended.
Aquarium setup: The aquarium should contain abundant rockwork arranged into several separated territories using larger rock piles, while still providing open swimming areas. A sandy substrate is recommended. Due to the high food intake typical of Petrochromis, very strong and efficient filtration is essential.
Diet: Herbivorous. In nature, it feeds mainly on algae scraped from rocks. In aquaria, the diet should consist primarily of spirulina-rich flakes and pellets. The species is known for its strong appetite.
Breeding: Typical maternal mouthbrooder. The male attracts the female into his territory, where she lays eggs that are immediately taken into the mouth. While attempting to collect egg dummies on the male’s anal fin, the male releases sperm, resulting in fertilization inside the female’s mouth. Brood sizes are relatively small, usually around 15 eggs in nature and up to about 30 in aquaria. After roughly 30 days, the female releases well-developed fry capable of independent survival. Notably, the female continues to feed normally during incubation, which is unusual among most mouthbrooding cichlids.
Aggression: Highly aggressive toward conspecifics. Keeping the species in larger groups of at least 12–15 individuals is recommended to distribute aggression. Toward other species, aggression is generally lower, although males strongly defend their territories.
Special notes: For a long time, Petrochromis trewavasae and Petrochromis ephippium were considered to be the same species. Petrochromis trewavasae is now recognized as a distinct species, supported by the fact that both species were observed together at the same locality (Kapampa).
Petrochromis trewavasae is a rather shy species and is usually encountered in small groups. No geographical variants are known. Both sexes show a background coloration ranging from chocolate brown to nearly black, depending on mood, with numerous cream-white spots on the body. These spots tend to disappear in dominant males. Unlike Petrochromis ephippium, this species lacks a distinctly coloured dorsal “saddle” and remains smaller, typically not exceeding 20–22 cm, whereas P. ephippium may reach around 25 cm.
Although not among the most aggressive members of the genus, P. trewavasae is rather intolerant toward conspecifics and other Petrochromis, especially its sister species P. ephippium. The general appearance, requirements, and behaviour are otherwise similar to those of P. ephippium.

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Photo: © Ad Konings
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Lake Tanganyika cichlids — species, locations & maps.
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