The common names of Lake Malawi cichlids are Peacocks, Mubuna, Zebras, Haplachromis, Cytrocara, Electric Yellows, Blue Dolphins, Venustus, and Livingstoni.
Here is a list of the scientific names of some of the species of fish found in Lake Malawi. There are approximately 2480 species of fish found in the lake today. I've listed only the more common ones:
Alticorpus, Aristochromis, Aulonocara, Buccochromis, Caprichromis, Cheilochromis, Chilotilapia, Copadichromis, Corematodus, Ctenopharynx , Cyrtocara, Dimidiochromis, Diplotaxodon, Docimodus, Eclectochromis, Exochochromis, Fossorochromis, Hemitaeniochromis, Hemitilapia, Lethrinops, Lichnochromis, Maravichromis, Mylochromis, Naevochromis, Nimbochromis, Nyassachromis, Pallidochromis, Placidochromis, Platygnathochromis, Protomelas, Rhamphochromis, Sciaenochromis, Stigmatochromis, Taeniochromis, Taeniolethrinops, Tramitichromis, Trematocranus
A biotope aquarium can be done with fish from any part of the world and look very beautiful when completed. Cichlids, tetras, angelfish, and discus are just a few fish that can be tried in biotope tanks. Be sure to do your research and find out the ideal conditions for each type of fish.
If you wish to carry this type of tank a little farther you can even try to simulate the type of lighting and duration of light that these fish would receive in their natural habitat. Remember, the fish that are found close to the equator will require more daylight hours than fish that are further north or south. You can even buy timers that will reproduce sunrises and sunsets. There are even lights that simulate the moon.
The hobby of fish keeping can be more than just having a tank going in your living room, although some people are contented with this. There are many things to learn and enjoy, as you get deeper into the hobby. You can learn about the behavior patterns of fish, their breeding habits, water chemistry and natural resource management.
The most important thing that I really believe in is the preservation of the wild caught fish, so that our children may also enjoy the beauty in twenty or thirty years from now.
For further information you can refer to these sites that offer sound advice. I've also included Amazon.com because they have many great books and videos on this subject. http://www.mongabay.com/fish/biotope.htm
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/det...
http://www.theaquarians.net/ArticlesandW...
After reading these sites and trying your own setup please let me know how it works out for you, and most importantly did you enjoy doing it. I'm also available to answer your questions.
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