Rostratus Cichlid

Fossochromis rostratus is a distinctive haplochromine with a pronounced, elongated snout adapted for digging through sandy and silty lake floor sediment to find invertebrates and small fish. Males develop attractive blue colouration at maturity. It requires a deep sandy substrate in the aquarium to perform its natural foraging behaviour and will rearrange the tank regularly.

Water: 24-28°C, pH 7.5-8.5, hard alkaline. Tank: 350L minimum with a thick fine sand substrate of at least 10cm depth. Feeding: Sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm, mysis; allow sand-sifting behaviour. Behaviour: Active digger; will uproot any plants; piscivorous toward small fish. Compatibility: Large Malawi haps only; incompatible with delicate species.