Champsochromis spilorhynchus (Regan, 1922)
Suggested pronunciation: shamp-sew-CHROME-iss spy-low-WRENCH-uss

 

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Species description

• Description....
• Champsochromis spilorhynchus is an elongated torpedo-shaped fish.
• They have a large head that ends in a large terminal mouth. The large eye is gold coloured.
• Juveniles have an oblique black stripe starting just in front of the dorsal fin and running at an angle to the middle of the caudal fin.
• The most characteristic feature of this obliquely striped fish is the distinct black blotch on the snout.
• All Malawi cichlids, in both "hap" and mbuna flocks, display at least a remnant of a dark "preorbital bar" over the lacrimal bone, below and in front of the eye. Such a bar is a primitive feature of the colour pattern in all African cichlids.
• In C. spilorhynchus, however, this preorbital mark has become emphasised by enlargement and darkening of the pigment, and in some individuals by a contrasting white lower edge.
• The dorsal fin of the male has a red outer margin with a white band below this. They have red and blue barring at the back of the dorsal fin and a lot of red in the caudal fin.
• Females (right) remain a silvery colour and retain the black stripe and eye blotch of the juveniles.
• Taxonomy....
  • Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata: Sub-phylum: Vertebrates - Group: Fish
• Class: Osteichthyes (Bony Fish): Sub-class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fish)
• Order: Perciformes (Perch-like Fish
• Family: Cichlidae: Subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae
  • Genus: Champsochromis
    • Species: spilorhynchus
• Geographical variants....
  • There are no geographical variants or colour forms of this species.
• Similar species....
  • Champsochromis spilorhynchus is most similar to the more elongated Champsochromis caeruleus. Champsochromis caeruleus is almost indistinguishable from Champsochromis spilorhynchus as juveniles, except that Ch. caeruleus swims with a different action - they are known as Trout Cichlid because their swimming action resembles that of a Trout.
  • Champsochromis caeruleus also has a shallower, more slender body.
  • Mature male Ch. spilorhynchus have a red spot marking each scale on the body, that is absent in Ch. caeruleus.
  • Images:
    • Champsochromis spilorhynchus (below left); Champsochromis caeruleus (below right)
      
      
• At first glance they could also be confused with several similar looking fish with a black body stripe when juveniles.
• Images:
• Aristochromis christyi (below left); Buccochromis rhoadesii (below centre); Dimidiochromis compressiceps (Malawi Eye-biter) (below right)
• Lichnochromis acuticeps (below left); Tyrannochromis macrostoma (below right)

Habitat information

• Champsochromis spilorhynchus occur mainly over sandy and muddy substrates in Lake Malawi nd the upper Shire River. They are also found in Lake Malombe.
• They occur inshore all around the lake and in the upper Shire River, but also extends well offshore.
• They are known as pelagic fish as they swim in the open water.
• Large fish live at depths around 20 metres.
• Juveniles and subadults are found in shallower water.

Aquarium care
The following information relating to tank size, decoration and tank mates is indicative and intended to be used as a rough guide only. Other possible tank mates are listed under Compatibility.

• Tank ideas....
  • In captivity, this large, fast-swimming, open-water predator should be given large quarters.
  • An aquarium of 1000 litres would be ideal for a mature specimen in a community tank (1200 litre tank - right).
  • A longer aquarium should be preferred over one with greater depth, to maximise swimming room.
  • Example - African Rift Lake display tank:
    • Tank capacity: 460 litres
    • Tank type: HR-1800B
      • 180 centimetres (72 inches or 6 foot) tank
      • 1 x 40W; 2 x 30W; 2 x 20W fluorescent tubes
    • Fish ideas:
      • 1 x Champsochromis spilorhynchus
      • 1 x Cyrtocara moorii
      • 1 x Fossorochomis rostratus
        
      • 1 x Nimbochromis polystigma
      • 1 x Lepidiolamprologus elongatus
      • 3 x Gephyrochromis acei
    • Building the tank:
      • Background - external printed rock background.
      • Substrate - marble chip, approximately 60kg
      • Decoration - Sandstone, scoria and lava rock
        
• Maintenance and Disease....
  • The tank should be decorated with rock formations along the back and sides of the aquarium to allow plenty of open swimming area.
  • Large open swimming areas are important.
  • Regular partial water changes and good filtration are essential. Water quality must be good and with no ammonia or nitrite and low nitrate levels.
  • They are not particularly susceptible to disease. However, they can waste away if they don't get enough food.
  • By the same token, they shouldn't be overfed.
  • They may be subject to bloat if they are fed too much dry food, so include live or frozen brine shrimp and frozen cichlid dinner or marine greens as part of their diet.
  • They will tolerate water movement at the surface as they live at the wave surge zone in the lake.
  • Water parameters:
    • pH: slightly alkaline to alkaline (7.2 - 8.8: optimal 8.0)
    • Hardness: moderate to hard (10 - 18dH)
    • Temperature: 23 - 27oC.
      
• Compatibility....
  • They must be kept with large fish of around the same size, as they will eat small fish.
  • Because their usual prey in the wild is Utaka (Copadichromis sp), they shouldn't be kept in the same tank.
  • Conspecifics will usually be chased, but they are generally tolerant towards other large fish.
  • When a male is kept with smaller haplochromines, he will generally become the dominant fish.
  • Don't keep them with Champsochromis caeruleus as there may be a chance of hybridisation and males will fight.
    
    

Ideas for suitable tankmates.... The fish listed below are indicative of the species that can be kept with this fish. Other fish may also be suitable - please ask us which other fish are compatible. ______________________________ Lake Malawi Tyrannochromis nigriventer Blue Dolphin (Cyrtocara moorii) Protomelas sp Taiwan Reef Otopharynx lithobates Fossorochromis rostratus Nimbochromis venustus ______________________________ Lake Tanganyika Cyphotilapia frontosa Lepidiolamprologus elongatus Clown Syno (Synodontis decorus) ______________________________ South America Glyptoperichthys multiradiatus (Pleco)

• Breeding....
• In the aquarium, breeding males do not construct spawning sites. Spawning takes place on the bottom, not in a cave.
• The female may lay around 150 small eggs, which she incubates in her mouth.
• They need to be in good breeding condition to spawn.
• A good way to induce them to spawn, particularly if they are overfed, is to stop feeding them for about a week.
• If the female has ragged fins and is being harassed, the male should be removed from the breeding tank.
  

• This beautiful fish is a big predator.
• Juveniles can start in a smaller tank (around 120 centimetres or 4 foot) but ultimately their adult size will mean they have to be moved to bigger quarters.
• The drawings below show the differences between Champsochromis spilorhynchus and Champsochromis caeruleus - the only two members of the genus. (Champsochromis caeruleus is left).

Nichols and LaMonte, 1931;
Regan, 1922

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• References....
  Web sites
  Fishbase
  Malawi Cichlid Homwpage
  Malawi Cichlids

 

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