Copadichromis trewavasae
"Lupingu"
by Todd Raysby 10/06/2013
"Lupingu"
by Todd Raysby 10/06/2013
If you are a fan of the Malawi peacocks (Aulonocara spp.) you will undoubtedly love Copadichromis trewavasae. Copadichromis species inhabit the areas in Lake Malawi that transition from rocky habitats to open sandy areas. In appearance and behavior they are very similar to the peacocks. Some of their appealing characteristics include long, pointed ventral fins and deep blue and black colors (not all species exhibit these colors, but many do). C. trewavasae from Lupingu exhibits both features. The above picture does not do this fish justice. During sparring and breeding the males exhibit an almost black body color with the dorsal portion of the body displaying a beautiful blue/white stripe that extends from the nose through the tip of the dorsal fin and the upper portion of the tail.
C. trewavasae is a maternal mouthbrooder. Males of this species build sand bowers for breeding, typically at the base of a rock. In the aquarium said bowers may be quite small and almost unnoticeable. I have thus far had difficulty breeding this fish in numbers. My group of 4 (1M, 3F) is housed in a 30 gallon aquarium with a wide variety of tankmates (A. calvus, rainbows, one redtail shark, barbs, and more). I have noticed spawning activity several times and have seen holding females with buccal cavities distended, only to find they are no longer holding a few days later. Only one female has successfully held to term for me, and she yielded four healthy fry about .25" in length. In nature the females move about in small groups, but I have observed a lack of tolerance for one another in the aquarium. They do not do serious damage to one another, but they seldom look comfortable, always on the lookout for the other females.
My group is young yet, so I have hope that they will become more productive as they age. I imagine, given a tank of their own, the male would display more and the females would perhaps be more receptive of his advances. These fish can be kept in relatively small tanks. I would recommend at least a 40 gallon breeder for a group of four or more. Adults reach a maximum size of around 6", with females being slightly smaller than males. They make excellent tankmates, as they are typically uninterested in fish other than their own kind. I would not suggest mixing Copadichromis species in the same tank, though some do exist together in the wild. I suspect that hybridization within the confines of the aquarium is likely because the females of various Copadichromis species look very similar, often exhibiting very little difference in color, though there are a variety of spot variations. Females of C. trewavasae "Lupingu" exhibit a pattern of three small black spots along the mid-lateral line, beginning mid-flank and ending at the base of the caudal peduncle just before the tail.
C. trewavasae is a maternal mouthbrooder. Males of this species build sand bowers for breeding, typically at the base of a rock. In the aquarium said bowers may be quite small and almost unnoticeable. I have thus far had difficulty breeding this fish in numbers. My group of 4 (1M, 3F) is housed in a 30 gallon aquarium with a wide variety of tankmates (A. calvus, rainbows, one redtail shark, barbs, and more). I have noticed spawning activity several times and have seen holding females with buccal cavities distended, only to find they are no longer holding a few days later. Only one female has successfully held to term for me, and she yielded four healthy fry about .25" in length. In nature the females move about in small groups, but I have observed a lack of tolerance for one another in the aquarium. They do not do serious damage to one another, but they seldom look comfortable, always on the lookout for the other females.
My group is young yet, so I have hope that they will become more productive as they age. I imagine, given a tank of their own, the male would display more and the females would perhaps be more receptive of his advances. These fish can be kept in relatively small tanks. I would recommend at least a 40 gallon breeder for a group of four or more. Adults reach a maximum size of around 6", with females being slightly smaller than males. They make excellent tankmates, as they are typically uninterested in fish other than their own kind. I would not suggest mixing Copadichromis species in the same tank, though some do exist together in the wild. I suspect that hybridization within the confines of the aquarium is likely because the females of various Copadichromis species look very similar, often exhibiting very little difference in color, though there are a variety of spot variations. Females of C. trewavasae "Lupingu" exhibit a pattern of three small black spots along the mid-lateral line, beginning mid-flank and ending at the base of the caudal peduncle just before the tail.
Because I only have one male in my breeding group, I cannot speak to the aggressiveness between males, but I have kept C. melas before, and if they are similar, the males will give each other quite a difficult time. That, of course, is typical for cichlids in general, so no surprise there. Males often flare their fins, presenting a wonderful profile view. Because of their wonderful colors, relatively peaceful nature, and tendency to display, these fish are great additions to any room in the house, be it bedroom, living room, or dedicated fish-room.
