Paretroplus damii

Cichlidae

Lake Pambilao, Nossi-Bé, Madagascar

Par (from Gk “Para” meaning “close to”, “next to”) + Etroplus (genus of closely related Indian cichlids) damii (in honor of naturalist and traveler van Dam).

Fish from Sambirano river grow up to 35 cm TL; the Dridrimena subspecies individuals grow up to 25 cm TL.

Sparks, 2008: "A Paretroplus belonging to Clade E, comprising P. damii, P. nourissati, P. tsimoly, and P. lamenabe, and distinguished from all congeners by the presence of a triangular, black pectoral-axil patch in combination with the absence of a series of vertical bars on the flanks. In life, unstressed individuals can easily be distinguished from all congeners by the presence of a broad, vertical pale yellow band on the anterior half of the flanks. Young Paretroplus damii are unique among congeners in the possession of a dark blotch, surrounded by a hyaline ring, posteriorly on the soft dorsal fin near its base."

No sexual dimorphism or any differences in other characteristics. Size is also the same for the two sexes. The only time to tell the male from the female is during spawning, when the one individual lays the eggs while the other fertilises them.

Widespread in northwestern and far northern Madagascar. Along the northwestern versant of the island, the known range of Paretroplus damii extends in the south from the Anjingo-Ankofia River basin and Lake Andrapongy northward to the rivers (Sahinana and Sampiana) draining the western slopes of the Montagne d’Ambre massif in far northern Madagascar (de Rham and Nourissat, 2004).

6.5 – 8 (safe range, can tolerate brackish water).

25^o C - 27^oC.   

Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls). Rivers and lakes with sand, rock or mud substrate, water soft but alkaline with a Ph 8 or higher. Aquatic vegetation normally absent (De Rham & Nourissat, 2004). Individuals from Ramena River (probably a contraction of "rano mena" = red water) in the granitic basin of the Sambirano River live in an acid water (ph around 6.5) and slightly black with a very low hardness (no more than 1°dGH). Yet in some other lakes water can be quite alkaline (ph over 8) but still with very low hardness (2-3° GH). Water temperature often surpasses 30°C.

Any general food in the form of sinking pellets. One part carnivore and one part herbivore food is a good choice if you want them to thrive. Frozen bloodworms once a month are eagerly taken. Slow eaters, they eat from the bottom by shifting the sand.

Any other Paretroplus species is an excellent choice. Will do well with other Madagascan cichlids like Ptychochromis or Paratilapia small spot “East Coast”. Medium sized and not overly aggressive central American cichlids (P. loisellei, C. salvini) are very good choices, too. Catfish are safe with adults, juvenile Pe damii have been shown (in more than one occasions) to attack small sized Loricariids and kill them.  

The species is quite hardy though very susceptible to Ich infestations. We have found that if you add salt (3 ppt or more) and raise the temperature to 32^oC once the first symptoms appear the fish can be saved. The hypothesis that this would somehow lead to fish becoming immune to subsequent infestations by Ich is not valid. 

Reported to be difficult to breed. In our opinion it is difficult to raise during the first thee weeks after hatching; following that the fish will take care of itself if the tank conditions are right. Breeding will happen sooner or later if the fish are properly kept. They prefer a large group of conspecifics (8 or even more), in a large tank (we keep 11 of them in a 1000 L tank) without any other cichlid species. Catfish do not bother them. For a breeding report see Spawning the Paretroplus damii; Keeping and Breeding the Paretroplus damii.