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Aulonocara rostratum is found in the entire lake where it`s living above the sandy bottom, specially in places where the depth is more then twenty meters. These specimens were caught near Hongi Island. In the lake the males of these species can grow to 20 cm, females grow to about 15 cm. The examples which are living near Hongi Island stay smaller than on other locations; sometimes they are offered in trade as Aulonocara rostratum "dwarf". Aulonocara rostratum is searching the sand for food and lives mainly of the invertebrates they find in the sand. They are quietly hanging above the sandbottom and "listen" to the sand. When they "hear" their prey, they take a big bite of sand and jig this sand through their gills so that the invertebrates stay in their mouth. It`s a quiet, peaceful cichlid which can be hold best with other quiet species, mbuna are generally too aggresive. In the aquarium they are comfortable with any food. They take everything they get offered, like spirulina pellets, mysis, artemia, cyclops and shrimp-peas mix. 
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