Metriaclima hajomaylandi

Metriaclima hajomaylandi

Metriaclima hajomaylandi was first described by Meyer & Schartl in 1984. The genus name Metriaclima is derived from Greek:”metri” means “temperate” and”clima” means “oblique”. The name refers to the moderate angle of the head of these cichlids. The species name hajomaylandi is a tribute to the German ichthyologist Hans Joachim Mayland.

Synonyms: Pseudotropheus greberi, Pseudotropheus hajomaylandi, Maylandia hajomaylandi.

Appearance, Behavior and Life Expectancy

Metriaclima hajomaylandi is a mbuna cichlid, meaning it is a small, rock-living fish from Lake Malawi. Its body is elongated and streamlined, suitable for navigation among rocks.

Flank color varies greatly depending on the sex and mood of the fish. Males often exhibit a steel blue base color with 9 to 10 vertical dark stripes. The head is yellow to orange, a color that extends across the belly to the ventral fins and is also found in the caudal fin. Females are less brightly colored, with a yellowish to beige base color and less pronounced stripes. Juvenile fish resemble females in color. The fins are generally the same colors as the body, with occasional orange or yellow highlights.

The maximum size of this fish species is about 10.5 centimeters for males and 8.5 centimeters for females in the wild. However, in aquariums males can grow up to 16 centimeters . This is caused by giving too much and too vigorous food in the aquarium.

Differences between males and females: The main differences between males and females are in color and size. Males are significantly larger and more brightly colored than females. Behavioral differences also exist: males are territorial and aggressive, especially during spawning, and will chase females.

Differences between juveniles and adults: Young fish resemble females in color, but are smaller. As they mature, males develop their bright colors and larger size.

Behavior and temperament: Metriaclima hajomaylandi is a very aggressive fish, especially males, which are territorial and chase away other males. They do not live in schools, but rather solitary or in small groups, with several females per male to reduce aggression. They are bottom dwellers, digging their territory into the sandy bottom, which can lead to them churning up plants and decorations in an aquarium.

Life expectancy: The life expectancy in the wild is not known. In an aquarium, they can live an average of 4 to 10 years depending on the right conditions.

Habitat and Ecology

Metriaclima hajomaylandi is endemic to Lake Malawi, and thus occurs naturally only in Malawi. Specifically , it inhabits the rocky shores of the lake, especially around the island of Chizumulu. It is a mbuna cichlid, which means it lives in rocky areas, often in the transition zones between rock and sand.

Habitat description: The natural habitat consists of rocky areas with many crevices and burrows where the fish can hide. The bottom consists of sand and rock. The amount of underwater vegetation is limited, algae and other growths are present on the rocks, as the fish feed on them.

Climate: Lake Malawi has a tropical climate, with little variation in temperature throughout the year. Lake Malawi is so deep and large that there are few fluctuations in water parameters during the year.

Diet

Diet in the wild: Metriaclima hajomaylandi is a herbivore that feeds mainly on algae and other plant matter growing on rocks (aufwuchs). They scrape diatoms and loose algal strands from the substrate. Some sources also mention plankton as part of their diet.

Diet in the aquarium: In the aquarium, Metriaclima hajomaylandi can be fed high-quality fish food in the form of pellets or flakes, supplemented with plant material such as spirulina. It is important to avoid overeating to minimize water pollution. Small portions several times a day are better than one large meal. Avoiding foods that can lead to bloat is also important. The specific composition of the food should be tailored to the needs of herbivorous cichlids. Several brands offer specific foods for mbuna cichlids.

The Aquarium

For a harem of Metriaclima hajomaylandi, an aquarium of at least 150 centimeters side length and 300 liters volume is recommended. Multiple harems require a considerably larger aquarium, for example 200 centimeters of side length and 60 centimeters of depth, with the bottom surface area being more important than the height.

Decoration: The aquarium should have rocky furnishings that mimic the natural habitat. Use plenty of rocks to create hiding places and territories for the males. A dark sandy bottom is suitable as substrate. Plants are not essential and are often destroyed by the burrowing activity of the fish.

Water parameters: Ideal water parameters are a pH of 7.5-8.5, hardness of 5-20°dH (optimal 5-12°dH) and a temperature of 23 to 26°C. Stable water quality is essential for fish health and longevity.

Compatible tankmates: Metriaclima hajomaylandi is an aggressive species, especially the males. They can be kept with other robust, also aggressive Malawi cichlids of similar size, such as other mbuna cichlids. It is important to provide adequate space and hiding places to minimize aggression. Avoid keeping smaller or less aggressive fish, as they will be bullied or killed. Synodontis catfish may be suitable as bottom dwellers, but other species should be carefully selected based on their temperament and size.

Breeding Tank and Conditioning

Breeding Metriaclima hajomaylandi does not require a special breeding aquarium . You can simply breed this species in a mixed aquarium. As long as there is enough space between the rocks to provide cover for the females and some sand to deposit the eggs on , and the fish do go to work.

It is best to keep this species in a harem. One male with two or three females. The males are territorial and fight each other until only one remains. It is possible to keep more males, you will need a very spacious aquarium in which each male can form his own territory.

In a mixed aquarium the newly released young are usually eaten by the other adult fish. If you want more young fish to grow up , a breeding aquarium is recommended. For this, set up a small aquarium with a layer of sand, a hiding place for the female with her mouth full. A small filter and heater is sufficient. Make sure the aquarium is filled with water with approximately equal water values and let it mature well. You will need the breeding aquarium at a later stage .

The Spawn

Once a male gets through that a female is ready to mate, he looks for a spot in the sand to spawn. He then swims toward the female. Puts on his best colors. Swims in front of her. With trembling movements he shows himself to the woman with widely spread fins. He continues to do this until the female moves with him to the man’s chosen spot in the sand.

While circling each other , the female deposits eggs in the sand. They spin through where the male releases some spleen and fertilizes the eggs. The female picks up the eggs and takes them into her maw. This repeats itself until all the eggs are laid and are in the female’ s maw. A nest is not very large and usually contains about 15 to 30 eggs. The male ‘s job is now done. The female usually hides among the rocks during incubation. During this period she eats little to nothing.

Raising the young fish

The eggs hatch in the female’s mouth a few days after laying. She does not release the young fish then. Only 18 to 21 days after deposition the young are released. In a mixed aquarium the young Metriaclima hajomaylandi are often eaten by adult fish.

To avoid this, remove the female from the mixed aquarium on day 15 or 16. Place her in the breeding aquarium. Around day 18 to 21 she will release the young into the breeding aquarium. You have plenty of time to place the female back in the main aquarium. She will not eat her young for the first few hours.

The young fish can be fed with crushed flake food. If you use a well-matured breeding aquarium, they will also graze on algae or the filter material of a sponge filter.

Conclusion

Metriaclima hajomaylandi is an attractive but demanding fish species for advanced aquarists. Their aggressive behavior, specific water parameter requirements and the need for a spacious, rocky setup make them unsuitable for beginners. A good understanding of mbuna cichlid behavior and experience in maintaining a stable aquatic ecosystem are essential for successful housing.

The considerable color variation between males and females, and the changes in color during spawning, are notable features. Their burrowing behavior can cause them to churn up aquarium furnishings. Although breeding in an aquarium is possible, it requires careful handling and an understanding of their reproductive behavior. Overall, keeping this species is challenging, but the reward of observing their vibrant colors and behavior makes it worthwhile for experienced enthusiasts.

Video

Author

John de Lange

Copyright images

Pete Barnes
Mark Thomas – Marks Fiskenarie
Ersin Ulas

Bibliografie

Below is a bibliography of sources used in the previous chapters.

1. Konings, A. F., & Stauffer, J. R., Jr. (2006). Revised diagnosis of Metriaclima (Teleostei: Cichlidae) with description of a new species from Lake Malawi National Park, Africa. Ichthyological Explorations of Freshwaters, 17(3), 233–246.
2. Ciccotto, P. J., Konings, A., & Stauffer, J. R., Jr. (2011). Descriptions of five new species in the genus Metriaclima (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from Lake Malaŵi, Africa. Zootaxa, 2738, 1–31.
3. Stauffer, J. R., Jr., Black, K., & Konings, A. F. (2013). Descriptions of five new species of Metriaclima (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from Lake Malaŵi, Africa. Zootaxa, 3647(1), 1–34.
4. Stauffer, J. R., Jr., Bowers, N. J., Kellogg, K. A., & McKaye, K. R. (1997). A revision of the blue-black Pseudotropheus zebra (Teleostei: Cichlidae) complex from Lake Malaŵi, Africa, with a description of a new genus and ten new species. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 148, 189–230.