Thick Bar Chitimba (Petrotilapia sp.) are a large species of mbuna that live only in Chitimba Bay in the northwest side of Lake Malawi. Their habitat includes large sandstone slabs that are covered in sand, which they sift through to find food. Males guard large territories over a slab, and females are allowed to swim throughout the territories holding and protecting fry.
Males color up a bright blue, with navy bands visible and yellow unpaired fins. These fish work well in most mbuna set-ups, though their size requires a tank larger than 55 gallons for full growth and comfort.
Scientific Name: Petrotilapia sp.
Common Name: Thick Bar Chitimba
Max Size: 6"
pH: 7.5-8.4
Hardness: Hard
Temperature: 74-82°
Aggressiveness: Aggressive
Region of Origin: Lake Malawi, Africa
Captive Bred or Wild: Captive Bred