Tramitichromis trilineatus "Lake Malombe"
Tramitichromis trilineatus is only very rarely seen in the extreme southern part of Lake Malawi. Sometimes they can also be found in Lake Malombe in which the examples shown here were caught.
This species is mainly living above the sandy bottom in fairly shallow waters at depths of up to about 7 meters. Lake Malombe is directly connected with Lake Malawi through the Shire River. The cichlid species which are found in Lake Malombe seems to stay smaller then in Lake Malawi and they seem to become sexually active earlier, probably this is because they live under pressure due to the overfishing in that lake.
In the lake the males of these species can grow to 14 cm, in the aquarium however they can grow a little taller because of a good feeding. The males can then grow to about 15 cm, females grow to about 10 cm.
You can best keep this species with multiple females in a large tank with a lot of swimming space. They are quiet peaceful inhabitants and it`s best keeping them together with species from similar environments.
In the lake they are probably mainly feeding themselves with invertebrates which they jigg out of the sand. 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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