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Dimidiochromis compressiceps (Malawi Eye-Biter) |
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Written by Bill Dent
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Scientific Name: Dimidiochromis compressiceps
 Common Name: Malawi Eye Biter Origin: Lake Malawi (wide distribution) Habitat: Reed stands in sediment-rich bays. Diet: Carnivore Gender Differences: Dimorphic Breeding: Maternal Mouthbrooder Temperament: Peaceful Conspecific Temperament: Mildly Aggressive Maximum Size: 11" Temperature: 78 - 82°F pH: 7.8 - 8.6 Water Hardness: Hard The "Malawi Eye-Biter," is a large and impressive predator. Appearance wise, it is typically a whitish-silver with a single brown horizontal stripe on its side. Mature males put on a nice display of colors like electric blue with reds and oranges on their fins. This fish looks distinctive, in that its jaw is approximately one-third its total body length. With this huge mouth, females are able to brood 250 fry at a time! If you ever see one of these monsters open its mouth, you'll see why. An interesting note on this fish is its unique hunting style, next to Nimbochromis Venustus (The Giraffe Cichlid) it has the coolest hunting style: Dimidiochromis compressiceps, whose name is derived from its compressed body, uses its narrow body to its advantage when ambushing it's prey. It hunts with its head angled downward, and its narrow body toward its prey so as to minimize its visibility. D. compressiceps is also very cruel to its prey, if it does not use the "swallow your prey whole method" using suction, it instead tears and cripples it prey, leaving it to die. Hence, how it got the it's nickname. This fish is incredibly quick and can turn its long body instantly. This fish is "built to hunt" in every sense of the phrase. |