Elongatus Chewere
Metriaclima sp. "Elongatus Chewere"
Elongatus Chewere is a Lake Malawi mbuna with a slimmer profile, strong display potential, and the territorial personality expected from rock-dwelling mbuna. It is best for aquariums built around rock structure, hard water, and compatible African cichlid tank mates.
Physical Characteristics
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Size: Up to about 6 inches.
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Coloration: Dimorphic; mature males show stronger pattern and color, while females and juveniles are typically more muted.
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Body Shape: Elongated mbuna body with a streamlined, laterally compressed profile.
Origin and Habitat
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Native Region: Chewere is in far northern Lake Malawi on the Malawi-side western shore, close to Phowo Point, Lushununu, and Matambukira Bay.
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Natural Habitat: Intermediate habitat of mixed rock and sand; recorded from about 16-131 ft. Non-breeding fish are generally in shallower parts of this range, while territorial males are usually deeper.
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Same-Locality Cichlids: Other cichlids recorded from Chewere include Maylandia sp. 'zebra long pelvic' Chewere, Aulonocara stuartgranti 'Chewere', Copadichromis borleyi 'Chewere', and Cynotilapia aurifrons 'Chewere'.
Behavior and Temperament
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Temperament: Mildly aggressive.
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Social Behavior: Best kept with compatible mbuna where rockwork breaks sightlines and spreads out territories.
Aquarium Care
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Tank Size: A 55 gallon aquarium or larger is recommended.
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Water Parameters: 74-84°F, pH 7.4-8.4, hard water.
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Tank Setup: Use sand or fine substrate with plenty of stacked rockwork, caves, and visual barriers. Strong filtration helps maintain stable water quality.
Diet and Feeding
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Primary Staple: Feed a quality daily diet such as Ron’s Mbuna Food.
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Juveniles: Growing fish can be fed Ron’s Juvenile Food.
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Fry: Newly released fry should be started on Ron’s Fry Food.
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Feeding Frequency: Feed 1–2 small meals daily and avoid overfeeding.
Breeding
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Breeding Type: Maternal mouthbrooder.
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Breeding Notes: Males claim territories and display to females. Females hold eggs and fry in the mouth, and fry survival improves with rock cover or a separate grow-out tank.
Tank Mates
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Compatible With: Other compatible Lake Malawi mbuna and sturdy African cichlids with similar temperament.
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Avoid: Small community fish, delicate species, and overly aggressive tank mates that may dominate the aquarium.
