{"product_id":"malawi-thicklip-chilotilapia-euchilus","title":"Malawi Thicklip | Cheilochromis euchilus","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFamous for its rubbery, oversized lips, the Malawi Thicklip is an oddball hap with real charm — it presses those fleshy lips into rock crevices to suck out hidden invertebrates. It grows large, to around 30–35 cm, yet is fairly mild-mannered, making it an unusual and rewarding centrepiece for a spacious Lake Malawi tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eEndemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa, this species patrols the rocky and intermediate zones, working its specialised lips over crevices to extract prey. The lake water is hard, alkaline and very stable.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA large, elegant hap; dominant males turn metallic blue with a dark horizontal band and a pale blaze, while females and juveniles are silvery with dark markings. The greatly enlarged lips are the giveaway feature. Males reach around 33 cm and the species can grow to roughly 35 cm.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eGenerally mild-mannered towards other fish, but not tolerant of its own kind, so keep one male with several females or a single specimen. Small fish may be mistaken for food. It suits a community of similarly sized, moderately robust Malawi haps.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA carnivore that naturally sucks invertebrates from crevices. Offer quality cichlid pellets as a staple, supplemented with frozen or fresh meaty foods such as mysis, brine shrimp, prawn and mussel. A little vegetable matter rounds out the diet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eProvide a large tank with a sandy base, generous rockwork forming caves and crevices, hard alkaline water and strong filtration. Anchor rockwork well, as it may shift substrate. Regular large water changes keep this big fish healthy.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA maternal mouthbrooder. The female incubates eggs and fry in her mouth for around three weeks before releasing free-swimming young; removing her to a separate tank improves survival.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCheilochromis euchilus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMalawi Thicklip (Big-lipped Cichlid)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLake Malawi, East Africa\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 30–35 cm (males larger than females)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8–10 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMild-mannered but intolerant of its own species\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e300 litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e450 litres or more\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore (invertebrate-sucker; meaty foods)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24–28 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8.0–8.6\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10–18 dGH (hard)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntermediate keepers; large Lake Malawi hap tanks\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGenerally — but may disturb substrate and plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eOther moderately robust Lake Malawi haps and peacocks such as \u003cem\u003ePlacidochromis\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eCopadichromis\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eSciaenochromis\u003c\/em\u003e and larger \u003cem\u003eAulonocara\u003c\/em\u003e, in a spacious, well-filtered tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSmall fish it can eat, other \u003cem\u003eCheilochromis\u003c\/em\u003e males in cramped quarters, and very aggressive cichlids that will bully it. Avoid soft, acidic water.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232780927267,"sku":"AA3548-S","price":33.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232780960035,"sku":"AA3548","price":38.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm)","offer_id":55232780992803,"sku":"AA3548-L","price":43.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"X-Large (15-25cm)","offer_id":55351958110499,"sku":"AA3548-XL","price":48.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/malawi-thicklip-chilotilapia-43879585743139.webp?v=1790305551","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/malawi-thicklip-chilotilapia-euchilus","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}