Protomelas

Protomelas is a genus of fish belonging to the cichlid family. All these fish originate from Lake Malawi in Africa. Within the Malawi cichlids, they belong to the group we call “Utaka.” The males of the Protomelas species are known for their beautiful, bright colors, while the females often have a much simpler, silvery color. They are generally somewhat larger and relatively peaceful fish, which do need a spacious aquarium to feel comfortable. Like many cichlids from Lake Malawi, they are mouthbrooders. This means that the female protects the eggs and young fish in her mouth for a while.

Name and meaning

The genus Protomelas belongs to the large family of Cichlidae, or cichlids.

The scientific name Protomelas was officially described in 1989 by biologists Eccles and Trewavas. The name is derived from two Greek words: ‘Protos’, meaning ‘first’ or ‘primary’, and ‘Melas’, meaning ‘black’.

This name refers to the dark stripe pattern on the flanks of the fish. Scientists consider this a ‘plesiomorphic’ characteristic. This is a difficult word to describe a very original pattern that the fish have inherited from their distant ancestors.

Characteristics

Fish from the Protomelas genus are an impressive sight in the aquarium. Here are the most important characteristics at a glance:

Color difference between males and females

The most striking feature is the enormous difference in color between the sexes. We call this ‘sexual dimorphism’. The males are the real eye-catchers with their brilliant and bright colors, which vary from deep blue and red to bright yellow and orange. The females, on the other hand, are much more simply colored. They usually have a silvery to gray-brown base color with dark spots or stripes.

Size and physique

Protomelas species are generally somewhat larger and more robustly built cichlids. Depending on the species, they can reach a length of about 15 to 25 centimeters in the aquarium. They have a somewhat taller body that is compressed at the sides, giving them a powerful appearance.

Pattern

As the name suggests (“first black”), a basic pattern of dark spots or stripes is characteristic of this genus. This pattern is particularly noticeable in females and young males. In adult, dominant males in breeding mood, this pattern can almost completely disappear under their bright show colors.

Fins

Dominant males in particular often develop beautifully elongated dorsal and anal fins, which further enhances their imposing appearance.

Origin

All fish belonging to the Protomelas genus originate from East Africa. They are ‘endemic’ to Lake Malawi, which means that they do not occur anywhere else in the world in the wild. Lake Malawi is a huge, deep lake that borders three countries: Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. Some species, such as Protomelas kirkii, can also be found in the nearby, smaller Lake Malombe and in the Shire River, which flows out of Lake Malawi.

Within the lake, the different Protomelas species have adapted to different habitats, also known as biotopes:

Sandy coastal areas: Many species, such as Protomelas kirkii, live in the shallow, sandy parts of the lake, often in sheltered bays. They stay in water that is only one to five meters deep, where aquatic plants such as Vallisneria sometimes grow.

Rocky shores: Other species, such as the well-known Protomelas taeniolatus, prefer the rocky shores of the lake. Here they search for food among the rocks and the algae that grow on them, usually in the top ten meters of the water.

This specialization ensures that the different species do not get in each other’s way too much when searching for food and a place to live.

Behavior

Fish from the Protomelas genus are generally relatively peaceful, especially when you consider their size. Nevertheless, it is important to understand their behavior well, because “peaceful” does not mean that cichlids will accept anything.

Territorial behavior: Males in particular can be quite territorial, especially during the mating season. They mark out their own section of the aquarium and defend it fiercely. This aggression is usually directed at male conspecifics or fish that closely resemble them in color and shape. They generally leave other species of fish alone. It is therefore wise to keep only one Protomelas male per aquarium, unless you have a very large aquarium.

Social structure: The best way to keep these fish is in a so-called ‘harem’. This means that you keep one male together with several females, for example three or four. This ensures that the male’s attention and sometimes rough advances during mating are divided among several females, which causes less stress.

Swimming behavior: Protomelas species are fish that like to have some swimming space. You will often see them swimming in the middle and upper layers of the aquarium. They are not overly shy and are often active and curious in the tank.

A notable exception: Within the genus, there is one species with very different behavior: Protomelas krampus. This fish is a so-called “pedophage,” which means that it eats the eggs and young of other fish. It has a special hunting technique in which it rams mouthbrooding females to force them to release their young from their mouths so that it can eat them. However, this is a rare specialization and does not apply to most Protomelas species found in stores.