Lake Malawi is the ninth largest of the planet's lakes. Lake Malawi, like Lake Tanganyika is long and narrow, and very deep. The pH values in this lake are in the range of 7.7-8.6, which is slightly lower than Tanganyika and not nearly as varied as the measurements taken in Victoria. Most water saturation occurs at the surface here, as in Tanganyika. Deeper water levels in the lake are devoid of oxygen, thus fish life is restricted to the aquazone near the surface.

Most of the colorful fish familiar to hobbyists are found in rock pilings near the shore and in boulder reefs where predator evasion is easiest. These fish are called "mbuna", a word spoken by the people of the area that means 'rock fish'. Along with rocky outcroppings, Lake Malawi also has sandy stretches and grassy areas. Each biotope has it's own compliment
of animals.

Melanochromis elastodema

I categorize Malawian cichlids kept by aquarists into two broad groups.
The first, the mbuna, are torpedo shaped and generally very fast
(try netting one out of a large tank). These fish all appreciate a spacious
tank full of rock work that form many crevices and caves. Dominant males
will often stake one of these spaces out as theirs, and ward off all ...