Biology

Inhabits the sand/rock interface; territorial males defend their bower with a bowl in front of a spawning cave that spans about half a circle or less, about 19-33cm in diameter; females gather in small groups or are solitary, and feed from the plankton and benthic invertebrates near the bottom (Ref. 57549). Aquarium trade names: 'Haplochromis chrysonotus mbenji', 'Haplochromis chrysonotus maleri' (Ref. 5595).