Lake Malawi Cichlids

(Cichlidae)

Seneca Park Zoo is home to multiple species of Lake Malawi cichlids. The cichlid aquarium can be found inside the Animals of the Savanna building. Many of the species have very similar behaviors, and almost all of them eat algae and plankton. However, they do live at varying depths.

Animal Facts

Diet

Hundreds of cichlid species reside in Lake Malawi, and each species has a very specific diet as either algae scrapers, fish eaters, or insectivores.

Status in The Wild

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List status

These cichlids are endemic to Lake Malawi, which runs through areas of Tanzania, Mozambique, and Malawi. They are found in varying depths and micro-habitats within the freshwater lake.

Their threats include pollution, invasive species, and overfishing for the pet trade.