Bi Colour Mbuna

Care

Labeotropheus trewavasae, a member of the Mbuna group of cichlids, possess a distinct mouth shape with "folded over" upper lip. Chisel-like teeth can be found underneath and it is these specialized mouth parts that allow the fish to graze efficiently on the algae that covers the rocky habitat, for the Aufwuchs it contains. As the fish work the biocover, "scrape marks" are often visible. The colouration/markings of this species will vary upon location in the lake - numerous strains are known and are usually named after the island near which they are found. The aquarium should be at least 4ft long and aquascaped to emulate a rocky reef effect. Lighting should be bright to encourage algal growth. Décor such as ocean rock can be used to build sturdy structures which stretch from the base of the tank to near the surface of the water. These structures should be built with the purpose of creating many crevices for the fish to explore but constructed in such a way so as to keep the rocks stable if the fish start to undermine them with their digging habits.