Difficult
Protopterus annectens
24–28°C · pH 6.5–7.5 · 2000L
£62.99
Jumbo Malasa locality form of Cyprichromis leptosoma — a peaceful, 12 cm open-water Tanganyika cichlid for hard, alkaline aquariums of 300 L or more.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.
Cyprichromis leptosoma
Cyprichromis lept. jumbo malasa are a shoaling species — they need 6+ to feel safe and show their full colour.
Jumbo Malasa locality form of Cyprichromis leptosoma — a peaceful, 12 cm open-water Tanganyika cichlid for hard, alkaline aquariums of 300 L or more.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.
Cichlids are one of the most diverse fish families in the hobby. From tiny apistogrammas to massive oscars, this guide covers the basics of keeping them well.
Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors
Malasa is the kind of locality name Cyprichromis collectors go looking for on purpose, and this jumbo form of Cyprichromis leptosoma gives Tanganyika specialists a genuine reason to plan a tank around it. Growing to about 12 cm and living around eight years, it is a long-term resident rather than a quick splash of colour — the sort of fish a hard-water aquarium gets built for.
Behaviour follows the genus blueprint: peaceful, always in motion, and loyal to the middle of the water column where most cichlid communities have an obvious gap. One detail sets this listing apart on paper — the record classes the Malasa jumbo as a carnivore, so centre its menu on meaty foods it can take in open water before they reach the bottom. Water parameters are textbook Lake Tanganyika: 24–27 °C, pH 7.5–8.5 and hardness from 12 to 30 dGH, with consistency mattering more than hitting any one perfect number. For adults of this size, treat 300 litres as the floor rather than the target.
Care is rated moderate overall. Nothing here is delicate; the real task is simply maintaining stable hard-water conditions and giving a 12 cm open-water cichlid the room it deserves. If you are stepping up from general community keeping, this is a sensible first locality-form Tanganyikan: the chemistry targets are clearly defined in the record and the equipment list is ordinary. The main planning decision is the footprint — an open swimming lane running the full length of the aquarium will do more for this fish than any amount of extra rockwork.
Pair the Malasa jumbo with other peaceful Tanganyikan cichlids, Synodontis catfish from Lake Tanganyika, or carefully selected non-aggressive Neolamprologus species. Avoid large aggressive cichlids, highly territorial mbuna, fin-nipping barbs, very boisterous community fish, anything predatory enough to swallow it, and pushy feeders that would strip the food before it gets a share. We send all livestock with a licensed live-animal courier under a live arrival guarantee.
24–28°C · pH 6.5–7.5 · 2000L
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