Cichlids by Sanderling

Alonocara jacobfreibergi

 

A.jacobfreibergi  adult male in spawning coat

 

Reference:	Konings (1995); Cichlid Fishes of Lake Malawi
Distribution:	Widespread; Otter Point, Cape McClear, Lupingo, Pombo Rocks-Undu Reef, Lake Malawi
Maximum Size:	~125 mm (5.0 in)
Maturity:	~75 mm (3.0 in)
Food:	Invertivore, Piscevore; mix of dry and frozen (or live) foods
pH/gH/kH	7.6 to 8.2/ 7 to 8/ 8 to 12

Aulonocara jacobfreibergi or ‘Jakes’ as they’re often called are widespread in their native Lake Malawi. Specimens from Otter’s Point and Cape Mc Clear were among the earliest imports of this popular species and tend to show a lot of orange-blue coloration. Males in spawning coat are almost completely orange across the dorsal with a bright pale blue flag on their finnage.

Otter’s Point Lake Malawi

A.jacobfreibergi in the wild can be found in boulder strewn areas in the intermediate zone, and will forage over sandy or muddy substrates looking for small fish and invertebrates. Males will establish territories around crevices and gaps between boulders where spawning takes place.Brood size  usually ranges from 20 – 60 depending upon female size.  Hatching occurs in approximately 12 days at 80 F.  Fry are free-swimming by 21 days.

In captivity these fish should be kept in tanks with one or two males and a 4:1 female to male ratio. Aquariums should be a minimum of thirty gallons- the longer the better as these fish establish territory along shorelines. Juveniles have the typical drab brown with vertical stripes and females resemble juveniles. Adult colouration begins to develop when the young fish exceed 5 cm in length. Fry will feed on crushed flake and hatched or frozen brine shrimp nauplia.  Jake fry grow rapidly and will eat other smaller fry if given the opportunity .

Cichlids by Sanderling offers first generation (F-1) offspring to the discriminating collector that are  proven hardy, and a true representation of the species as it exists in nature.