WILD MALAWI : Malawi Cichlid Habitats

Go fin-to-fin with the wild mbuna cichlids of Lake Malawi! A guide for African cichlid hobbyists for authentic aquascaping and the provision of natural lake elements.

See the various habitats of wild cichlids in Lake Malawi. Part II of the WILD MALAWI video series features shallow water rocky outcrops, sand and mudflats, reed beds and vallisneria eelgrass meadows. A guide for cichlid enthusiasts to better recreate the natural habitats of Malawi mbuna, catfish and barbs.

The native Chewa people of Malawi call their colorful cichlids 'mbuna' meaning 'rock fish'. Over 800 species have been identified in Lake Malawi, which hosts up to five times more cichlid species than the next great African Rift Lake, Lake Tanganyika, which hosts 'only' 200 cichlids.

Mbuna are unique because most never stray far from their rocky territories, living in relative isolation from other rocky formations which may only be 20 or so meters away. These conditions have spawned an incredible diversity in cichlid species, color morphs and forms.

This video features Rift Lake Reef habitats and is the second of a series of videos showing the various habitats of Lake Malawi.

Taken by explorer Gregg Yan in and around Thumbi Island, Monkey Bay and Cape Maclear at the southern half of Lake Malawi in Central Africa.

Dive guides are Felix Sinosi and Dave Zakaria of SCUBA Shack in Cape Maclear. Dive support provided by Mufasa Eco Lodge in Monkey Bay. Cameras and accroutements by Ngoc Dinh Le and Ike Dimacali. Original music by Sam Sozela and Gidess Chalamanda.

Please feel free to share with proper credits (Gregg Yan / 2022).

Видео WILD MALAWI : Malawi Cichlid Habitats канала Tiger Yan