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Pseudotropheus Barlowi

Pseudotropheus 'Zebra Fusco' ~ Golden Fuscoides Family: Cichlidae

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Pseudotropheus barlowi (juvenile)
(Syn: Maylandia Barlowi and Metriaclima Barlowi) Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy Frank Schneidewind

   Only occasionally available today, the spunky Pseudotropheus Barlowi has actually been around for quite some time!

   Though not scientifically described until 1986, the Pseudotropheus Barlowi from Lake Malawi, Africa was sold in the hobby under the name Pseudotropheus 'Zebra Fusco'. It is believed to have been available since the mid to late 1970's. When finally described it was named after George Barlow, an American ichthyologist. It was a popular Mbuna in years past, but even though demand for them waned, they are gaining popularity again.

   Growing to only about 3” in length, the Pseudotropheus Barlowi is a big personality in a little package. Their coloring is dependant on location, but in general the males are all a golden yellow with the anal fin being blue and having one yellow egg spot. The female is brown.They are not demanding and their bright yellow coloring is a great addition of color to your Mbuna tank. Their spunky personality means they can hold their own.

   The Pseudotropheus Barlowi is not a community tank specimen to be housed with fish other than cichlids. They are moderate to care for, because although this cichlid only reaches about 3" in length, the males are aggressive toward the females. A male needs to be kept with three or more females to help dampen the aggression. Along with a deep sandy bed, provide lots of caves and rocks for them to explore and to hide in, especially when the male is abusing the females. Arranging the rocks in a manner to make “territories” will help ease aggression, as will keeping them in a large aquarium with other Mbuna species. Success is dependent on the aquarists willingness to do frequent water changes, have sufficient hiding places, and provide appropriate tank mates.

   Here is another cichlid known by three different genus names, yet ironically no one has come up with an accepted common name. The Pseudotropheus Barlowi is in a group of cichlids called Mbunas. There are 12 genera full of very active and aggressive personalities. Pseudotropheus is the genus name that the Pseudotropheus Barlowi was put in when discovered. Recent revisions have split this genus into three sub-genera depending on the characteristics of the fish: Pseudotropheus Pseudotropheus, Pseudotropheus Tropheops, and Pseudotropheus Metriaclima. So three names are used for this fish: Pseudotropheus barlowi, Metriaclima barlowi and Maylandia barlowi. But for now, until scientists decide its official “resting place” its valid name is Pseudotropheus barlowi. The Mbuna's have been bred in captivity and with all the different hybrids that have been formed, there is no way to tell exactly what you are getting unless it is from a reputable dealer. Try and keep the different species blood lines pure.

For more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Freshwater Aquarium

Dream Aquarium Build your own aquarium The Coolest and Funnest Screensaver in the World.

Distribution:
   The Pseudotropheus Barlowi was described by Mckaye and Stauffer in 1986. They are found in Lake Malawi, Africa at the Marleri Islands, Mbenji Island, Thumbi West Island at Cape Maclear, Mazinzi Reef, Chidunga Rocks or Chipoka, Nkhundzi and the Eccles Reef. They inhabit rocky areas in large groups and pick at algae for food which may contain Aufwuchs. Aufwuchs refers to tough stringy algae that is attached to rocks. “Loose” Aufwuchs can contain insect larvae, nymphs, crustaceans, snails, mites and zooplankton.

  The genus Pseudotropheus was formerly used for a variety of Lake Malawi mbuna species.  Recent revisions split the genus into three sub-genera: Pseudotropheus Pseudotropheus, Pseudotropheus Tropheops, and Pseudotropheus Metriaclima. (There is some debate on the naming of this last sub-genera, these fish may be found described as either Metriaclima or Maylandia.)

Status:
   This species is listed on the IUCN Red List with the status of 'LC', meaning 'Least Concerned'.

Description:
   The Pseudotropheus Barlowi has the typical Mbuna elongated 'torpedo' body shape. Their coloring is dependant on location, but in general, the males are all a golden yellow with the anal fin being light blue to blue and having one yellow egg spot. The female is brown. For the males, here are the differences according to location:

• Chidunga location: This variety has has a blue dorsal and anal fin. The tail fin is yellow with back part of the tail fin having blue as well.
• Luwala location: This variety has fhas a blue anal fin and the tail fin is yellow with the back part of it being blue..
• Maleri and Mbenji locations: These varieties have a light blue anal and dorsal fin that has a yellow edging along the top. The tail fin is all yellow..
• Nakantenga location: This variety has has a blue anal fin, and a mix of light blue and yellow in the dorsal along a darker tail fin.

   All cichlids share a common feature that some saltwater fish such as wrasses and parrotfish have and that is a well-developed pharyngeal set of teeth that are in the throat, along with their regular teeth. Cichlids have spiny rays in the back parts of the anal, dorsal, pectoral, and pelvic fins to help discourage predators. The front part of these fins are soft and perfect for precise positions and effortless movements in the water as opposed to fast swimming.
   Cichlids have one nostril on each side while other fish have 2 sets. To sense “smells” in the water, they suck water in and expel the water right back out after being “sampled” for a short or longer time, depending on how much the cichlid needs to “smell” the water. This feature is shared by saltwater damselfish and cichlids are thought to be closely related.

Size - Weight:
   The Pseudotropheus Barlowi grows to a length of 2.5” to 3” (6.4 to 7.6 cm).

Care and feeding:
   The Pseudotropheus Barlowi is an omnivore that can be fed a good quality cichlid flake or pellet along with spirulina. At times they can be fed mysis and cyclopeeze. They need vegetable matter, so having algae growing in the tank is one great way to supplement their diet. It is always better to feed them small amounts several times a day instead of one large feeding. This keeps the water quality higher for a longer period of time. Of course, all fish benefit from added vitamins and supplements to their foods. It would not be wise to house this fish with other genus of cichlids that eat beef heart or other mammal meat, as these foods will cause intestinal infections and death in these fish.
   A 40 gallon tank will work for a single fish, but a 5' tank of 125 gallons or more will be needed to keep more than one or a mixed mbuna tank. They do fine in either freshwater or brackish freshwater but need good water movement along with very strong and efficient filtration. Provide a deep sand bed for them to dig under the rocks and make a tunnel for breeding. They need lots of caves and rocks for them to explore and to hide in, especially when the male is abusing the females. Arranging the rocks in a manner to make “territories” will help ease aggression.
   Malawi Cichlids will deteriorate under poor water conditions. Along with an established filtration system, a water change of 25% or more a week depending on fish load is needed for their health. Malawi bloat is a typical disease especially if their dietary needs are not met with quality foods. It is caused by too much protein matter. They can contract other diseases that ail all freshwater fish.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom:
   These fish will swim in the middle and bottom areas of the aquarium.

Acceptable Water Conditions:
   The streams that flow into Lake Malawi have a high mineral content. This along with evaporation has resulted in alkaline water that is highly mineralized. Lake Malawi is known for its clarity and stability as far as PH and other water chemistries. It is easy to see why it is important to watch tank parameters with all Lake Malawi fish. A higher PH means that ammonia is more lethal, so water changes are a must for these fishes. A very slow acclimation to different PH levels can sometimes be achieved.
   Hardness: 12 - 16° dH
   Ph: 7.4 - 8.5
   Temp: 75 - 79° F (24 -26° C).

Social Behaviors:
   The Pseudotropheus Barlowi is aggressive and is not considered to be a community fish. In fact, it should only be housed with other aggressive Mbunas. Only keep them in a community Mbuna designed tank with lots of rock structures. Do not house them with similarly colored species that are the same size and shape.
  The Pseudotropheus Barlowi needs be be grouped with one male and at least 3 or more females. They are very aggressive toward the females and will kill any rival males in the tank. Keeping them in a large aquarium with other non-similar Mbuna species will help ease aggression.

Sexual Differences:
   Males are yellow and females are brown.

Breeding/Reproduction:
   The Pseudotropheus Barlowi has been bred in captivity and is a mouthbrooder. The male will dig out a tunnel under a rock in the sand. Females will enter the male's tunnel to spawn. The female will lay between 20 to 40 eggs and then immediately take them into her mouth. The male will then flare out his anal fin which has an 'egg spot' patterning. The female mistakes the patterning for her own eggs and tries to take them in her mouth as well. This stimulates the male to discharge sperm (milt cloud) and the female inhales the cloud of 'milt', thus fertilizing the eggs in her mouth. In 7 days at about 80° F, the eggs hatch and the fry are free swimming in another 2 weeks. The female will protect the fry in her mouth for 3 to 4 weeks. Feed the fry crushed flake, Cyclopeeze and freshly hatched artemia. See the description of how cichlids breed in Breeding Freshwater Fish.

Availability:
   Pseudotropheus Barlowi are only rarely found in fish stores or online, though may be special ordered if you are willing to wait for them if they are out of season.
   When acquiring a Pseudotropheus Barlowi, with all the different hybrids that have formed in captivity, there is no way to tell exactly what you are getting unless it is from a reputable dealer.

Author: Carrie McBirney

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