(Aulonocara rostratum)

Remarks: Aulonocara rostratum have a unique, long snout, which they use to dig in the sand for small invertebrates. They are a sand-dwelling Aulonocara, and they inhabit the sandy shores of Lake Malawi at depths between 15-30m. Their vertical bars are much lighter in color than Peacocks that stick to the rocky reefs. Males have a tall blue body with black fins and gold egg spots. When they are in breeding dress, their fins turn jet-black and their body darkens considerably, as seen in the photos here. This species spawns in large breeding colonies, where males dig spawning craters to entice nearby females.  Scientific Name: Aulonocara rostratum Common Name:  Max Size: 7.5" pH: 7.5-8.4 Hardness: Hard Temperature: 74-82° Aggressiveness: Aggressive Region of Origin: Lake Malawi, Africa Captive Bred or Wild: Captive Bred Diet: Flake or pellet Compatibility: Victorian Haps, Malawi Haps, Malawi Peacocks, Synodontis Tank Mate Options: Aulonocara sp. Ruby Red Red Empress Aulonocara sp. Eurek